Itchy Skin

Mr. C went to the Doc yesterday to have his skin checked. He doesn’t have skin creepy crawlies, but he has had an irritation on his skin from the Daytrana patch he takes for ADHD. It’s weird because he started on the 10mg with no side effects what so ever. We moved up to a 20mg last months because the lower dosage just wasn’t cutting it.

Since starting the 20mg, he has red, raised areas when removing the patch, similar  to what skin looks like after a band aid comes off. Not bad you think, but then within 24 hours the area turns to a scaly, dry patch, worse then severe dry skin. It looks nasty… ewww. We rotate sides and locations just like we are suppose to , but it happens regardless.

So, Doc’s suggestion - move him to the 15mg. OK. The 20mg is too potent for his skin, the 10mg was just fine, so he wants to see if the 15mg can still be as effective on the ADHD, but not irritate his skin. If this does not work then we have to go back to a pill form. UGH! We went to the patch because of the issues with the pill.

Well, there is some good news on the ADHD pills, there is a medication that Doc wants us to go to if the lower dosage does not work - a capsule that can be broken and placed in water for him to take, viola! An alternative just in case.

Well, wish me luck because this has been a long, windy road with Mr. C it would be nice to have this go smoothly.

Posted in Life's Little Adventures | 1 Comment »

No Christmas for You

There are going to be some parents out there that might find this appalling, but as I sit here writing this I am really thinking about telling my twelve year old that there will be no Christmas for him.  Yes, it might seem drastic, but what other way do I get through?

He has been very disrespectful; talking back, calling names, hollering, cruel to his sister, the list goes on.  I have worked with him to take somereposnsiblity for is actions and behaviour, but there are many times you can see, he doesn’t really care.  I have tried rewards & consequences, taking things away, grounding, again a continual list o parenting tools, bu none are working.

I am at my wits end with him and when I put my kiddos to sleep tonight, I thought about just not giving him Christmas.  Does he deserve Christmas this year?  Right now sitting here, pissed, I say no.  I might see the situation different tomorrow.  I also think not having Christmas might be a wake up call. 

Posted in Life's Little Adventures, The Bitch Session | No Comments »

New Kid on the Block

OK… many people will of course have something to say when it comes to ADD/ADHD.  You can say what you, I allow opinions on the matter, but don’t be rude and don’t question why I do it.  Some people can be so nasty about it.

Diagnosed since he was 7, Mr. C has been on a roller coaster ride with ADHD and we have found some success with medications - if he TAKES it.  We have been on 3 types of medication, 2 types have both been pills and he can’t stand taking them.  He has built up this mental wall on taking medication that is in pill form.

So within the past year or so, I have tried to give him his space on taking them.  I figured with watching to make sure he takes it might be one of the issues.  Well, I started seeing some changes with him.  His anger was out of control, he started failing - not just doing poorly - but failing school, and he would lash out for no reason.

So, I scheduled a visit with the Doctor to review his medication.  I was doing some cleaning the weekend before we were to go to the Doctor, cleaning behind the big appliances.  I moved the oven out some and noticed one of the Strattera pills.  As I kept moving the oven out, I found a TON of the pills.  He hadn’t been taking them, but dumping them.

Well after a talk with Mr. C it had been some time since he last took his Strattera.  I asked him if he noticed how he had been behaving off the medicine and how he is failing in school.  He recognized it, but didn’t like taking the pills.  So after a long talk and then another long talk with the Doc, we all decided on the new Datrana patch and it is awesome.

It was instant with the change in Mr. C.  Attitude, concentration, anger control, all of it has improved.  Plus with the patch, no pills to take, so Mr. C is happy with that. 

Posted in Life's Little Adventures | 4 Comments »