I haven't updated this blog in quite a while, and for good reason. Rather than leave readers and supporters hanging any longer, I feel that an explanation of my blogging hiatus is in order, followed by an update on all of the recent exciting news about Erika. There is bad news, and there is good news. Let's start with the bad.
I have taken the break from blogging for personal reasons. Specifically, I am getting divorced, after 18 years of marriage. I don't care to elaborate much, other than to say that the kids are doing well, and their dad and I are working together to ensure that this transition to a new normal is done with the best interest of all three of our children in mind. I was requested to stop blogging about Erika during this period, and I found it in my best interest to do so.
While I know that new challenges lie ahead, I am looking forward to this new phase in my life. I am eagerly anticipating my return to work, and the great news is that Erika has made great progress this past year, affording me the opportunity to move forward with my career.
Showing posts with label Risperdal. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Risperdal. Show all posts
Wednesday, January 25, 2012
Thursday, March 10, 2011
Off to school in a straight jacket
On the day before Christmas break, when most parents were scrambling to complete all of their last-minute Christmas preparations, I sat in a brainstorming session at Erika's school, working with her teaching staff and school administrators on a comprehensive plan to deal with some of her behaviors. Erika has been dealing with extreme anxiety, and the behaviors which come along with it are tough ones, ranging from unhygienic to uncooperative and, at their worst, violent. Whether you call it oppositional defiance or anxiety, we came up with about twenty different interventions to try to deal with her behaviors, and to ensure the safety of her classmates and teaching staff. Revisiting her medication, which obviously was not working for her, was put at the top of my to-do list.
Since then, we have changed her medication, completely eliminating an ADHD med which her pediatrician wanted to try her on before moving her to anything else. The medication did nothing to curb her behaviors or anxiety, and even made her sleepy during the day. Her violent outbursts at school (in which her teaching staff needed to physically restrain her) continued, but now they were followed by a forty-five minute nap. A few follow-up doctor visits later, we are seeing some nice results from Risperdal (it took a second visit to get the proper dosage). She is now taking 0.75 mg/day (a fairly low dose), 0.5 mg in the evening and 0.25 mg in the morning. On this dosage, Erika's days at school have been going well, with no violent outbursts and a very high level of compliance. An added bonus is that she no longer needs melatonin before bedtime, which she has needed since she was three years old.
Erika has had a rough time at school these past two years, and I know that she needs this kind of intervention. I regret that we didn't find out about this medication two years ago. In first grade, Erika was doing well in school and spending time every day in a classroom with her non-disabled peers. In second grade, with a new teacher and a new school, she was being put in solitary confinement on a
Since then, we have changed her medication, completely eliminating an ADHD med which her pediatrician wanted to try her on before moving her to anything else. The medication did nothing to curb her behaviors or anxiety, and even made her sleepy during the day. Her violent outbursts at school (in which her teaching staff needed to physically restrain her) continued, but now they were followed by a forty-five minute nap. A few follow-up doctor visits later, we are seeing some nice results from Risperdal (it took a second visit to get the proper dosage). She is now taking 0.75 mg/day (a fairly low dose), 0.5 mg in the evening and 0.25 mg in the morning. On this dosage, Erika's days at school have been going well, with no violent outbursts and a very high level of compliance. An added bonus is that she no longer needs melatonin before bedtime, which she has needed since she was three years old.
Erika has had a rough time at school these past two years, and I know that she needs this kind of intervention. I regret that we didn't find out about this medication two years ago. In first grade, Erika was doing well in school and spending time every day in a classroom with her non-disabled peers. In second grade, with a new teacher and a new school, she was being put in solitary confinement on a
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