Needing help with an 8 year old - difficulties at school and MORE

Heathboard Forum

Please, We Need Help!

Our youngest son is 8 years old. We have had him on Ritalin RA, Adderal, Straterra and currently back to Concerta 54 mg over the past 2 years. He began to further decline this year with uncontrolled behaviors in school. He has outbursts, refuses to do class work and hides under his desk. He has no friends as he frightens the other children with his outburst (per the teacher).

He's had problems with insomnia and weight loss. We have modified his diet to weed out food dyes, processed foods and have changed to "natural" cleaning products.

In December, he stated he "didn't want to live anymore". The Dr. referred us to a psychiatrist and he placed him on Zoloft in addition to the Concerta. He has become so out of control and angry, I stopped to Zoloft because I felt his behaviors had heightened since the introduction of the drug.

He hates school and constantly says he wants to be kicked out to the point of stealing and lying. When asked why he did it, he states "I was hoping they would kick me out". He is an extremely intelligent child and we have urged the school to challenge him more. I feel he has actually gone backward in his intellect due to not receiving an appropriate education.

The school calls us at least twice a week to pick him up early because "he won't cooperate". We are at such an impass with the school, we have retained an attorney. He does have a 504 Plan and I have requested a CSE meeting to be scheduled for an IEP to be discussed.

We have recently had him tested for Asberger's/Autism, which the results were negative. We have scheduled an OT evail for the near future.

We feel so hopeless and frustrated. I am watching my loving, artistic and brilliant star fade away. I am willing to try anything. I have read your thoughts on beCalm'd and I have also looked into Attend/Extress. I am not sure which would be the best? I have also looked into PlayAttention. Does anyone have any feedback? Is there anything else anyone can suggest? At this point, the drugs haven't worked and he is worse. Please, if anyone has any suggestions we would be so grateful!

Many thanks in advance...from upstate, NY

[quote]He's had problems with insomnia and weight loss. We have modified his diet to weed out food dyes, processed foods and have changed to "natural" cleaning products. In December, he stated he "didn't want to live anymore".[/quote] These things are things that remind me of those exposed to 2-butoxyethanol (aka ethylene glycol monobutyl ether). If the child wasn't were either of the parents prior to his birth? Such as being a 'gulf war syndrome' or an Exxon Valdez oil spill cleanup worker? This is the chemical of harm for the EVOS workers FOR SURE and also one of the exposures of the 1990-1991 Gulf War Vets (& other military, too may I add for the past 50+ years)

Insomnia for these would be indicative of nervous system damage.
Weight loss could be an indication of liver damage for this group.
Suicidal tendencies is also indicative of nervous system damage for these.

No sense fighting the school. They obviously need a lot more help to do right by your child, and isolating him will make him feel rejected on top of everything else. He could skip a year or do home school until other things are understood.

Usually drugs make things worse for this group.

Please check my other posts as this is the only topic I usually reply on - those that could have some cause/effect from the chemical that is used all too often in our country & which unsuspectedly harms many, many people.

Another thought: Did any of these symptoms start recently? What was going on then? Maybe something new in his environment or something to do with a new medication is complicating his situation? Did you move to a new town, did he sleep in a freshly painted room; or did you add new carpet?

Quote:

* Children absorb greater concentrations of pesticides (poisons) per pound of body weight through inhalation, ingestion and contact with the skin.
* Children are more likely to play on treated floors and grounds.
* Because many pesticides (poisons) are heavier than air, children’s breathing areas are likely to have higher pesticide (poison) concentrations.
* A child’s biology is different. Their immune system is less developed and may be less protective.
* Children are extremely vulnerable to classes of synthetic pesticides (poisons) that mimic naturally occurring hormones or enzymes.

Is a new type of manufacturing going on in a nearby community? The additives to high octane gasoline were ordered out of the State of Alaska some years ago, and people's health improved. How about your water?

2-15-04