We are at a time of adjusting medications. He started out with great results from Strattera ; since summer has gained 15 lbs and shot up in height so his body began absorbing the medication. The effectiveness was wearing off. I am not a huge believer in giving lots of medications. I would like to try environment although he was loosing valuable education time by not going on medications. One doctor wants to try adding another medication for the day (Tenex) to see if the two can compliment one another. There is a slight warning about mixing medication with Strattera which has in some cases harmed the liver (Jordan's tests show no signs of negative affect on his liver) 4 children resulted in death out of millions. the other doctor would like to raise the stratterra first then move it to morning administered which is where we are. Many people say they see a change....me..I am not so clear.
We had two days at school with vomiting after or before breakfast after giving the medication. NEVER at home??? Maybe the bus ride or a bug?? We have given morning here and no vomiting and he is eating. His behavioral support says she sees less explosion. When something sets him off he curbs the time it takes and the explosion is much less..You know as his mom I may feel it isn't changed because I was ready for a cure... and now it is more work because with the meds working it is time to really focus on environment and consistent follow through, THE HARD WORK. Jordan has been able to focus more to play purposely with little people ad play city activities. In Jacksonville he really liked this huge playhouse which Tressa would die for..It was taller than him and many rooms with people to go into the rooms. Even a baby nursery with a baby and all the baby equipment which he loved playing with. So I went on a search for one at 2nd hand shops for Tressa and Jordan to play together..It would need to be in her room (age appropriate) We did find a circus, playground and zoo which we were able to get a lot for twenty dollars..SCORE! All the kids are interested in it at first (yesterday) and today Lucas and Jordan are most interested as long term.
Jordan struggles with learning. Remembering he has multiple disabilities down syndrome, Dandy walker and ADHD really plays a role in his inability to express everything inside his brain.. Everything needs to be repetitious and ongoing. Not meaning re-do over and over till it is boring and ineffective. I believe we are at that point with shapes and colors and we need to drop those..he knows them, just doesn't express like a text book or test would like him to respond. If you gave him a brown apple he would say yuck, it is rotten. He knows what color an apple is suppose to be. he knows all his siblings cars and their colors may not say them but given a choice he chooses the right one... So we move to reading...he can show you his classmates names when displayed although not picking up a reader and reading any words. I need to make word cards with meaning and action. Jordan is a physical person with lots of energy and always in motion. We will make obstacle courses with words to tell him what and where to go or do next after practice visually saying words so he can make it through the course.. lots of fun and in the end when he sees the word JUMP and he jumps, he has read the word and shows us he knows the meaning. This will also build comprehension to his reading. This will be a game they all play because comprehension is something they all need practice with.
Jordan's meds in the photo are upside down is I am not administering them. That is one I am waiting to see if we need them. I want one more blood test done before I move on. He has resisted a blood draw and it is time to face that fear... not looking forward to it.
