true symptoms of ADHD/Bi-Polar

[tweety2453]

Two of my children have been diagnosed with ADHD and Bi-Polar. My question is what is exactly the doctor looking for or listening for, for him to diagnose my children with this mental disability.  My son who is now 10 has been taking meds. since he was around 4, and my daughter who is now 13 has been taking meds. since she was around 5 or 6,  I am having alot of problems with my children still but I do not think they have been diagnosed properly,  Can anyone help me to find out if my children have been properly diagnosed.

[freebird227]

I am going to go out on a limb....Doctors can only diags. the symptom being presented. It would take several one on one sssions to get a full sprectrum of mood swings.
Having said that I feel like they are old enough to present to the dr. verbally how they feel .Definantly time to revisit the meds.
Their is a lot of controversay  in the bi-polar community about children under the age of 10 to 13 being diag. you may want to post there also.Much sucess

[HoneyNut]

Hi Tweety,

I guess my question would be what problems are you experiencing with them?

From my personal experience (I was diagnosed at the age of 9 of having bipolar and ADHD), bipolar symptoms in kids can vary from bipolar in adults.  Nine was a young age, especially back then (I'm 22 now), to diagnose a child with bipolar, and I would think that would still be somewhat true today... Because originally, I was diagnosed with an adjustment disorder, until my psychiatrist finally settled on me having ADHD and bipolar.  I have seen probably about four different psychiatrists over the years, and they pretty much all have come to the same conclusion.  So to try to keep it short... go see another psychiatrist to get a second opinion, if you feel that they are not properly diagnosed, ask for him/her to change their medication -- it really is all about trial and error to find the right combination of medications for each individual.

I also want to add that the medication I took as a child, didn't seem to really help me either, and in the end put a strain on the relationship I had with my mom... she didn't understand my disorders, how I felt/what I was going through.  So I think it's great you're asking for help/looking for answers.  I am still struggling with finding the right medications for me, so keep trying... it's hard, but hopefully one day it will get better.  I wish the very best for you and your children.

~* HoneyNut