The other day, I'd written a post about CUTTING BACK on my son's Seroquel to see if there was an ability to actually take him all the way off of it.
For the last few nights, I had him taking only 25 mg of the medication, instead of the 50, which he'd been dropped to for the last three weeks, from his top dose of 100 mg.
Sadly, those hopes of completely pulling Bryce off of the Seroquel have been dashed as of this morning.
There have been noticeable changes in his moods and behaviors. And this morning, it became extremely clear that the 25 mg was just not enough to stabilize him.
He has become belligerent, has been spewing "verbal venom" towards me and his sisters, and has gotten physically combative.
These are telltale signs that the 25 mg is just not enough to help him with his ability to have a calm discussion and not want to resort to violent tendencies.
I knew deep down that I shouldn't have gotten my hopes so high and so positive, it's like rainbows were shooting out my ass towards the thought and BELIEF that finally my child could be FREE of even just ONE drug flowing through his system as to help his brain have better control of its self, and Bryce of himself.
But then again, as a mother, how can I *not* at least TRY to be positive in the HOPES that something (for once) goes right for my child in the world of Mental Illness? Is it really too much to ask for some kind of peace for his ever-going mind?
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Monday, February 28, 2011
Saturday, February 26, 2011
Cutting Back
Once again, we are scaling back one of B.'s medications. One I'm in high hopes of phasing out altogether. To me, less is more, if at all possible. And I'm hoping in doing so, it helps curb the Tardive Dyskinesia (Tic Disorder that is usually medication-induced with Psychiatric Drug Therapy) as well.
So far, we've gone from 150 of Seroquel (mood controller and sleep aid), down to 100 mg dose. Then over the last several weeks, went down to a 50 mg dose. As of a couple of nights ago, we have now brought the amount down to 25 mg per night.
His other medications (Vyvanse and Intuniv) will remain the same, though. During the Summer Vacation time, we might try to next scale back the Vyvanse to see what happens.
Some people would say that it's "about time" that I stop "doping" my kid up for MY gain and ease of parenting. But I say to them... You don't live our life as a family, or as I as his parent, so YOU have NO room to judge or condemn me or parents like me with kids in the same situations.
True, most of these drugs that treat mental disorders can have some pretty harsh side effects. No doubt about it. But SOMETIMES, you must take the chance of the side effects as to "balance out" what is imbalanced in their minds and give these kids the BEST possible shot at a "normal" life as they can potentially have.
These medications have been known to SAVE the lives of these kids, and save the lives of those around them. Especially in times of being in severe volatile states of emotion and action. I personally in the past have had my son come at me with scissors, knives and hammers. He would tell me in explicit detail of how he was going to kill me.
Then, just like that, the rage was over and he honestly could not remember (most times) what he had said and done. What kind of life is that for a CHILD? This is why he has been on SOME KIND of medication or other since the age of six years old.
So while I have high hopes for completely getting my child off AT LEAST one (if not maybe even two) medications, I will always have it in the back of my mind that there is a very distinct possibility that again, he will HAVE TO go back on them. For his sake, my sake, and the family's sake. And for all of our safety.
So far, we've gone from 150 of Seroquel (mood controller and sleep aid), down to 100 mg dose. Then over the last several weeks, went down to a 50 mg dose. As of a couple of nights ago, we have now brought the amount down to 25 mg per night.
His other medications (Vyvanse and Intuniv) will remain the same, though. During the Summer Vacation time, we might try to next scale back the Vyvanse to see what happens.
Some people would say that it's "about time" that I stop "doping" my kid up for MY gain and ease of parenting. But I say to them... You don't live our life as a family, or as I as his parent, so YOU have NO room to judge or condemn me or parents like me with kids in the same situations.
True, most of these drugs that treat mental disorders can have some pretty harsh side effects. No doubt about it. But SOMETIMES, you must take the chance of the side effects as to "balance out" what is imbalanced in their minds and give these kids the BEST possible shot at a "normal" life as they can potentially have.
These medications have been known to SAVE the lives of these kids, and save the lives of those around them. Especially in times of being in severe volatile states of emotion and action. I personally in the past have had my son come at me with scissors, knives and hammers. He would tell me in explicit detail of how he was going to kill me.
Then, just like that, the rage was over and he honestly could not remember (most times) what he had said and done. What kind of life is that for a CHILD? This is why he has been on SOME KIND of medication or other since the age of six years old.
So while I have high hopes for completely getting my child off AT LEAST one (if not maybe even two) medications, I will always have it in the back of my mind that there is a very distinct possibility that again, he will HAVE TO go back on them. For his sake, my sake, and the family's sake. And for all of our safety.
Monday, February 21, 2011
Psychological Effects From A Robbery
On Saturday, February 12th, my home was broken in to. Thankfully, none of us were home at the time of the robbery. I don't care about the money that was taken. And even if more than money was stolen, I wouldn't care about that either. What I DO care about is the psychological effects that it has had on my three children. Especially my son.
Both of the girls are handling things okay. For the most part. They get a little more antsy and jumpy if Dad has to work a late shift. But my son is worried, jumpy and scared of WHEN IT DOES, not IF it happens again.
Now any and every little bump or creak, primarily at night has him practically jumping out of bed (and his skin), begging for the answer to "what was THAT?!?".
In his little mind, which was already in a CONSTANT speed of thought before the robbery took place is now constantly thinking of WHEN IT DOES happen again and has been hatching different "plans of action" for if it happens if we happen to be home, and without Dad around.
It's bad enough he has an Anxiety Disorder. But this makes it a bit worse with his already-constant worrying.
It's no secret in my home that I have young children. Not with books, toys and pictures strewn all over the place on shelves, table tops and in boxes.
Instead of the person thinking about the FACT of there being SMALL children in the victim's home, they ONLY thought of themselves, the money, and the DRUGS that they were wanting to score.
The perp(s) not only rifled through MY bedroom, the living room, and even my laundry room, but also through my daughter's purse (thankfully she had her money on her that night) and both of the kid's bedrooms looking for money.
They did NOT just violate me, my psyche and my things. They violated my children! Now all three of them are worried of there being a next time. Though the girls are dealing with it much better. Sure Bryce could be A LOT worse with his anxiety level being even higher than normal. But it's worse enough.
They took away my children's innocence, security, safety and psychological ease when they took the money.
And now, the Walgreen's up the street the other night was robbed. ONLY OF MONEY. Strange. My husband and I strongly wonder if by chance the guy that was arrested for that was OUR robber as well. Being that in BOTH places, he only wanted cash. And in BOTH places, there are some "good" prescription drugs that he COULD HAVE taken to get high with, but did NOT. Only wanted the cash both at the Drug Store and here in my house. And he is built like a man that could have kicked my kitchen door in, that was BOLT locked, only to tear one side of the door frame clean off.
Do the math. If it DOES happen to be him, heck yes, I'm pressing charges. And not JUST for robbery.
Both of the girls are handling things okay. For the most part. They get a little more antsy and jumpy if Dad has to work a late shift. But my son is worried, jumpy and scared of WHEN IT DOES, not IF it happens again.
Now any and every little bump or creak, primarily at night has him practically jumping out of bed (and his skin), begging for the answer to "what was THAT?!?".
In his little mind, which was already in a CONSTANT speed of thought before the robbery took place is now constantly thinking of WHEN IT DOES happen again and has been hatching different "plans of action" for if it happens if we happen to be home, and without Dad around.
It's bad enough he has an Anxiety Disorder. But this makes it a bit worse with his already-constant worrying.
It's no secret in my home that I have young children. Not with books, toys and pictures strewn all over the place on shelves, table tops and in boxes.
Instead of the person thinking about the FACT of there being SMALL children in the victim's home, they ONLY thought of themselves, the money, and the DRUGS that they were wanting to score.
The perp(s) not only rifled through MY bedroom, the living room, and even my laundry room, but also through my daughter's purse (thankfully she had her money on her that night) and both of the kid's bedrooms looking for money.
They did NOT just violate me, my psyche and my things. They violated my children! Now all three of them are worried of there being a next time. Though the girls are dealing with it much better. Sure Bryce could be A LOT worse with his anxiety level being even higher than normal. But it's worse enough.
They took away my children's innocence, security, safety and psychological ease when they took the money.
And now, the Walgreen's up the street the other night was robbed. ONLY OF MONEY. Strange. My husband and I strongly wonder if by chance the guy that was arrested for that was OUR robber as well. Being that in BOTH places, he only wanted cash. And in BOTH places, there are some "good" prescription drugs that he COULD HAVE taken to get high with, but did NOT. Only wanted the cash both at the Drug Store and here in my house. And he is built like a man that could have kicked my kitchen door in, that was BOLT locked, only to tear one side of the door frame clean off.
Do the math. If it DOES happen to be him, heck yes, I'm pressing charges. And not JUST for robbery.
Monday, February 14, 2011
ALL FOLLOWERS PLEASE READ ME!
I have decided to not blog for a while. Could be a few days, a week or longer. I have my reasons. If you wish to drop/no longer follow me on Blogger, on Twitter, or on FaceBook I'll understand.
Friday, February 4, 2011
If your child is on MEDICATIONS, read this *NOW* and learn from my problem.
I'd initially wrote this post on my main blog page, "The (Not Always) Happy Homemaker Diary", but also wish to share it with you readers here as well. Mind you, this took place yesterday/last night.
If I could, I would have this shooting out of my head..
And have these shooting from my eyes...
Why?
Because, for the now third or fourth time, my local Walgreen's Pharmacist has messed up. It's one thing to miscount the number of pills. It's also one thing to not even fill one of them. Heck, it's even one thing to place your child's medications in the WRONG "filled and ready to go" bins.
But when your "mistake" at reading the prescription goes as far as one, filling it with the WRONG refill number, as well as with the WRONG DOSE, that is when I am DONE.
And that is also when I write to Corporate Office, and to the District Office, and to the Local Store. Yep. Every single level of Walgreen's got a copy of my letter of complaint about this "mix up".
The medications that my child is on are pretty "powerful" and can have some pretty bad side effects if given wrong. The one that was completely dispensed wrong can hurt his Blood Pressure or even his heart.
What SHOULD HAVE BEEN 2 mg. of a dose at 2 refills was ACTUALLY FILLED as 3 mg. dose with 3 refills.
How does someone read a "copy" wrong? When in doubt CALL THE DOCTOR that prescribed the medication, THEN proceed to fill it. It's not rocket science.
Please, my readers, for your safety and for the safety of your family, especially your children, READ LABELS on the medication bottles. Every time. No matter how many times you filled the same medication.
Here is a copy of my letter to all of the branches of Wallgreen's...
To Whom It May Concern,
I'm writing to complain about the (now) third or fourth "accident" in regards to my son's medications being improperly filled.
My nine-year-old is on medications that can have a great impact on his heart and his blood pressure.
His Intuniv was filled COMPLETELY wrong. I was supposed to have 2 mg dose with 2 refills. Instead I received 3 mg dose and 3 refills.
I cannot tell who had filled my son's medications last night, seeing as you do not have your Pharmacists place their names on the prescriptions that they are having to fill. That alone to me, is discouraging. Because I now cannot tell you in fact WHO ACTUALLY filled my child's medications.
At this time I am NOT "taking my business else where", but do know that I will NOT be talking very kindly about your store, and especially not in regards to this branch.
When filling medications, it means that your staff is literally holding their customer's/patient's lives in their hands. Including children.
Thank you,
Melissa C
If I could, I would have this shooting out of my head..
And have these shooting from my eyes...
Why?
Because, for the now third or fourth time, my local Walgreen's Pharmacist has messed up. It's one thing to miscount the number of pills. It's also one thing to not even fill one of them. Heck, it's even one thing to place your child's medications in the WRONG "filled and ready to go" bins.
But when your "mistake" at reading the prescription goes as far as one, filling it with the WRONG refill number, as well as with the WRONG DOSE, that is when I am DONE.
And that is also when I write to Corporate Office, and to the District Office, and to the Local Store. Yep. Every single level of Walgreen's got a copy of my letter of complaint about this "mix up".
The medications that my child is on are pretty "powerful" and can have some pretty bad side effects if given wrong. The one that was completely dispensed wrong can hurt his Blood Pressure or even his heart.
What SHOULD HAVE BEEN 2 mg. of a dose at 2 refills was ACTUALLY FILLED as 3 mg. dose with 3 refills.
How does someone read a "copy" wrong? When in doubt CALL THE DOCTOR that prescribed the medication, THEN proceed to fill it. It's not rocket science.
Please, my readers, for your safety and for the safety of your family, especially your children, READ LABELS on the medication bottles. Every time. No matter how many times you filled the same medication.
Here is a copy of my letter to all of the branches of Wallgreen's...
To Whom It May Concern,
I'm writing to complain about the (now) third or fourth "accident" in regards to my son's medications being improperly filled.
My nine-year-old is on medications that can have a great impact on his heart and his blood pressure.
His Intuniv was filled COMPLETELY wrong. I was supposed to have 2 mg dose with 2 refills. Instead I received 3 mg dose and 3 refills.
I cannot tell who had filled my son's medications last night, seeing as you do not have your Pharmacists place their names on the prescriptions that they are having to fill. That alone to me, is discouraging. Because I now cannot tell you in fact WHO ACTUALLY filled my child's medications.
At this time I am NOT "taking my business else where", but do know that I will NOT be talking very kindly about your store, and especially not in regards to this branch.
When filling medications, it means that your staff is literally holding their customer's/patient's lives in their hands. Including children.
Thank you,
Melissa C
Friends Are Hard To Come By In This World. (BLOG HOP..Add your link!)
No, I don't mean within THE world in general. But within MY world, and that of my son's.
Unless you (generally speaking) and your child go through what kinds of things we do on a daily basis, then no one can quite understand or comprehend my family's reality of daily living.
So, as you can imagine, friends who REALLY can understand and WANT TO understand, let alone accept my kid for WHO he is, not how he can act are pretty hard to come by.
Same goes for Bryce. He has a few friends. But otherwise, he is pretty much an "outcast" at school. Let's just say, kids can be pretty mean. Even in the fourth grade. And I know with Middle School looming upon him, it WILL get worse before it gets ANY better.
But, what few friends that my son DOES have, they see PAST his disabilities and his Tics, and see the REAL Bryce. The sweet, friendly, caring boy that he really is.
So, take the time to make a new and "different" kind of friend. And don't let outward and seemingly awkward appearances fool you. Because if they are like my son, once a friend, you have a friend for LIFE.
Now, after ADDING *YOUR* BLOG link to my link up tool (below), go find some more FAB FRIENDS to check out over at FOR THE LOVE OF BLOGS by clicking on their button.
Have a FAB Friday, everyone!
Unless you (generally speaking) and your child go through what kinds of things we do on a daily basis, then no one can quite understand or comprehend my family's reality of daily living.
So, as you can imagine, friends who REALLY can understand and WANT TO understand, let alone accept my kid for WHO he is, not how he can act are pretty hard to come by.
Same goes for Bryce. He has a few friends. But otherwise, he is pretty much an "outcast" at school. Let's just say, kids can be pretty mean. Even in the fourth grade. And I know with Middle School looming upon him, it WILL get worse before it gets ANY better.
But, what few friends that my son DOES have, they see PAST his disabilities and his Tics, and see the REAL Bryce. The sweet, friendly, caring boy that he really is.
So, take the time to make a new and "different" kind of friend. And don't let outward and seemingly awkward appearances fool you. Because if they are like my son, once a friend, you have a friend for LIFE.
Now, after ADDING *YOUR* BLOG link to my link up tool (below), go find some more FAB FRIENDS to check out over at FOR THE LOVE OF BLOGS by clicking on their button.
Have a FAB Friday, everyone!
Tuesday, February 1, 2011
So far, so good..
It's now been a week since we have decided to cut Bryce back on his Seroquel. But only night five last night of doing so, seeing as my pill cutter went missing.
The Seroquel is for helping with mood stabilization and to help him fall as well as stay asleep. But we also strongly believe that this is the medication that is causing the Tardive Dyskinesia also.
So, for the next three weeks, we are only giving him 50 mg. instead of 100..Before then it was 150. If all goes well, then I will again knock it down, but to 25 mg. at night.
The only real problem that I am seeing with the weaning-off process is that Bryce is having a harder time FALLING asleep. But once he is out, it's for the entire night. That alone is a feat in it's own right.
I've also noted though on the other hand a difference between him taking and NOT taking his Vyvanse for the ADHD..When he does have a done, at some point during the day once the medicine has kicked in, his oral movements (tics) become prominent. So, instead of calming the tics, it seems that the Vyvanse is actually "showing off" the tics more. And the doctor said that it may well be the case.
But when I do skip a dose of the Vyvanse, then Bryce's tics, while there, are not nearly as visible. If anything, unless you have a "trained eye" to look for them and take note, then they are to the point of subtlety that they are practically invisible to the naked eye.
I guess all in all, things are looking up. I'm trying to get him off at least one medication. But if need be, later on, depending on any possible violent tendencies or severe mood swings, we may have to place him back on a third medication. It just won't be the Seroquel.
Gotta love the "Medication Merry-Go-Round"!
The Seroquel is for helping with mood stabilization and to help him fall as well as stay asleep. But we also strongly believe that this is the medication that is causing the Tardive Dyskinesia also.
So, for the next three weeks, we are only giving him 50 mg. instead of 100..Before then it was 150. If all goes well, then I will again knock it down, but to 25 mg. at night.
The only real problem that I am seeing with the weaning-off process is that Bryce is having a harder time FALLING asleep. But once he is out, it's for the entire night. That alone is a feat in it's own right.
I've also noted though on the other hand a difference between him taking and NOT taking his Vyvanse for the ADHD..When he does have a done, at some point during the day once the medicine has kicked in, his oral movements (tics) become prominent. So, instead of calming the tics, it seems that the Vyvanse is actually "showing off" the tics more. And the doctor said that it may well be the case.
But when I do skip a dose of the Vyvanse, then Bryce's tics, while there, are not nearly as visible. If anything, unless you have a "trained eye" to look for them and take note, then they are to the point of subtlety that they are practically invisible to the naked eye.
I guess all in all, things are looking up. I'm trying to get him off at least one medication. But if need be, later on, depending on any possible violent tendencies or severe mood swings, we may have to place him back on a third medication. It just won't be the Seroquel.
Gotta love the "Medication Merry-Go-Round"!
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