For months, since July actually, I have been in search of a psychiatrist to manage my meds for me. It wasn't until yesterday that I had found one, and after I left his office I had this feeling of euphoria because of what he said/did in only an hour's time. I have never had a doctor be so thorough and sit there and go through all the psyche meds known to man just so that he could figure out what would work best for me.
I have not be quite as stable as I wish that I could be and having been on Seroquel for so many years has taken its toll on me.....causing me to gain weight and not being able to lose any. Seroquel is infamous for this and no other doctor cared enough or listened to me when I told them that I desperately wanted to lose weight.
So the doctor made a deal with me, that I was to do my part and eat regular healthy meals and exercise 30 minutes a day and that we would work together on this. I almost started to cry because it really felt like he genuinely cared about me. Ever since I was diagnosed in 2004, no doctor has shown much empathy for me. In fact, one doctor put me on Risperdol and it made me eat in my sleep.....everything except the paint off of the walls! And my weight ballooned significantly and he didn't care at all about it.
Before I was diagnosed and started on all kinds of drugs, I was lean and in excellent shape (130 lbs. solid muscle) but I would settle for about 150 lbs. The doctor said that that would be a good healthy weight for me. I am so excited because I just know that it is going to be so much better now that my meds are changing. And if this change doesn't help then in 2 weeks I will see him again and he will try something else. Most doctors won't see their patients again so soon, usually it is at least a month out or even two months. I am just so grateful for this doctor, and an added bonus is that he is quite handsome....hee hee!
Griffin and I went to see the PA for meds yesterday. She wasn't too keen on the idea of keeping Griffin on Remeron and Abilify but they work so well she couldn't contest it. She told me that they prescribe Clonidine instead and that if he were to wake up in the middle of the night then I would give him another dose. I can't do that! I am on sleep meds myself and have to sleep through the night and probably wouldn't even wake up if he did. He would quietly go to the computer and I wouldn't even know it. So I told her that he needs to stay on these meds so that he will sleep all night. She wants me to get some bloodwork done to check his sugar levels because of the Abilify.....boy is that ever going to be a fun time!
Later on yesterday, we went to see the behavioral psychologist and it was great because I had such good news to report. Everything that he had suggested to do has helped exponentially. We are using a timer for all activities and it works like a charm. I use a schedule for him and I let him know way ahead of time that it is bath night or homework is in an hour, or bedtime is in an hour etc... He does best when I let him know ahead of time and especially if something is going to change from the regular routine.
3 comments:
My son who is 8, and pretty much nonverbal, takes guanfacine (a blood pressure med) and abilify. He sleeps all night and doesn't seem to be eating as much as he did when he was on risperdal a few weeks ago. He sleeps with my husband and I as he has all his life since we want to know when he gets up as he has huge safety issues (he doesn't know what safety is). We have 3 other children as well who are 15, 10, and 8 - our son's twin. I don't personally care what this is going to do "to" him as long as he is safe. We have thought about how we are going to get him used to his own bed - in our room at first. I'm sure it will take a while and be quite a transition for him. I've always wondered how a schedule would work with Casey but since there are 6 of us in 2000 square feet it is pretty much a big calamity with not much scheduling going on but "bed time". He just started on Abilify a couple of weeks ago, after being Risperdal and quanfacine for years, so we still are seeing if he has any changes. We changed because of the continuing weight gain with Risperdal. He weighs 95 pound and is quite tall. The guanfacine stayed the same. I know without anything he is a live wire bouncing off the walls pretty much. I need to get going but it was interesting reading about someone else with autism in there life. -Kara
Thank you for your comment Kara, it is always good to hear from other parents of autistic kiddos. Griffin is still sleeping in my bed most of the time and yes, it is okay for me too because of his safety. I am glad that I am not alone in doing that. It helps me feel like I am not doing something that is totally "wrong" or that I am doing something that is not good for him. I think that he will be just fine and that I shouldn't worry so much. I hope to hear from you again in the future and that you continue to read the blog. If you have a blog I would love to visit it.
I am so glad that you found a doctor that listens to you, Lora!! I have had similar struggles with my thyroid and endocrinologists, so I know that it is not just psychiatrists. I really hope that you find the right med combination for you! You deserve it!
As for the bloodwork, I had to have Conor's blood drawn twice because his pediatrician wanted to check his thyroid (because mine is *that* bad) and it honestly wasn't that big of a deal. I brought lollipops to distract him as soon as the needle went in, so he wouldn't pull it out. He got a little upset when it went in, but I had explained to him that it would hurt a little but like a buggy bite. He actually came out and told the entire waiting room, "It doesn't hurt you!" Of course, all of the adults just loved that. :-) I know that Griffin will be just fine!
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