This is my first time posting and I hope I'm catagorizing right. Both of my children are ADD,AD/HD. They have been with the same pedatrician from birth. He is the one that diagnosed them, no out side drs. Now that they are older and I have read more about ADD I'm concerned that he is the only one seeing them. He is a great doctor and I have no problems with the kids and getting refills. We recently had a problem with our pharmacy mixing my husbands(who is a Jr.) ADD meds and my son's (he is the 3rd) up, they were saying I was getting my son's filled by two different docs. within days, and the ped. was on top of it calling me to discuss it. Anyway should I continue with just the ped. or should I look into getting them seen by another doctor?
Thank you all for your advice. While their Dr. is great I just get this feeling that they need some other input. My son was diagnosed because of his grades in 2nd grade and my daughter because of hostility towards our pets and she could not sit still in school. Faith is doing beautifully in school while Mikey still strugles. He has never been seen by anyone other than the DR. and when I tried to get an IEP plan (special help) through the school I was told he didn't need it. (I hate Delaware schools) I will definatly start looking for another Dr. or center to help set my mind at ease. If not for their ADD AD/HD maybe to help Mikey with anger issues he has been having lately. Thank you all again.
Yikes, that's a big red flag with the pharmacy. :(
I think that getting another point of view could be useful. Someone who specializes is more likely to be up to date on new ideas.
Btw, have you tried the Feingold program?
Hi, this is my first time responding so there it goes. I have a degree in early childhood education and have worked as a nanny and in various daycare centers for the past 6 years so I have worked with my fair share of children struggling with ADD/ADHD. I want to strongly encourage you to seek at least a second opinion. While your doctor probably is wonderful, you never know what a second doctor may find. Most importantly many doctors are getting away from giving meds or just giving more mild ones. We tend to put doctors on a higher level than the rest of us, and yes they are very well educated but they are still human, and you know as well as I do that everyone has a differnt opinion about everything. The other(s) may come to the same conclusion as the first but you never know, what would it hurt to just make sure?? Good luck!
Go to another Dr. 2nd oppions are never a bad idea see what the other Dr. has to say and then disscues it with your regular Dr. and see how he feels about it it might give im a new angel to look at it which has a better chance of helping you childern. Just remeber 2nd oppions are never a bad idea.
I would probably try to see another doctor, as well as, what do your children's teachers say. Are they aware and do they see the same things? or even the counselor at the school?
Their doctor sounds wonderful, but we are all human and I don't see the harm in confirming his diagnosis.
It sounds to me that the problem is with the pharmacy not the Drs. Can you get the RX filled at a different pharmacy for one of them?
Hi my name is J.,i have a 15yr old son with ADHD/LD/ODD.I'm not only a parent but also the CHADD leader in my area.I have always found with my son its best to get them other help,cause as they get older other things come into play.Getting him someone who he can talk to is always a good thing for these kids.Also i went to outside help to get him DX.I dont think a reg peds is the right person for this.I know here in Pa a peds can not be the one that diagnosed any child.I have a ton of info if u ever want it.And iam here for you to talk.take care,J.
Hi J.,
My girlfielnd's son has ADD. He see's his PCP, a psychiatrist, and a behavioral specalist. It has been working for them. Every child is different. It never hurts to get a second opinion. If seeing one doctor is working for your family and you believe that they are getting the best care possible then I wouldn't change.I hope this helps!!!!!!
Does your son seem to be doing well? Are you continuing to have problems?
Most ped doc send you to another doctor because they do not specialize in ADD/ADHD, while a few because it is becoming so mainstream, can handle most of it on thier own.
My only concern would be are your childern at least seeing anyone else for behavior modification? Did they get tested for anything else before settling on ADD? How actually did the Ped Doc go about to decide your children were ADD?
At the very least behavior mod is important because they need to learn how to control themselves even if for some reason those meds are not available, or they become adults and decide to go off of them! (Much like my husband, yah me!)
Hi, J.: If you are close to Erie, you might consider trying the Cleveland Clinic for ADD. There is an excellent center in Pittsburgh that can help w/this also--West Penn & Childrens'. My daughter was diagnosed w/depression & anxiety-had to test alone in the quiet, couldn't pay attention or remember anything--took her to CCF Sleep Center after I was diagnosed w/Narcolepsy & Cataplexy--she had it--no more anti-depressants-just treatment for the N&C. She is 17 now & for the first time loves school-as a senior. My point is, sometimes you have to think outside the box that has been drawn for you/your child. CCF has excellent shild neurologists & support staff. You may be looking at something else entirely. If you are feeling it may be time to move on to another Dr. for this issue, then--it probably is. Try the closest large teaching hospital (Childrens', CCF, West Penn, Rainbow Babies-part of Case Western's University Hospital System). As a mom/parent--you should never question yourself on finding other avenues or input--good intuition was given to us for a reason. God Bless--J.
I am a child therapist who sees many children with ADHD. Personally, if you think that your kids are properly medicated (the meidcation is working for them), don't switch. It is difficult to get a great doctor to begin with and he knows their whole hx. Psychiatrists will not have the time to spend with your children as your family doc would. However, if you are questioning what your family doctor is prescribing, then by all means, seek out a "CHILD" psychiatrist.
Hope this helps. My concern with going to other doctors if there is no problem currently, esp with your daughter, another doctor will diagnose her with something else and change medications. I see it all of the time. If you are concerned about your son, then I would make the school get more involved. They are to give you an IEP if you request it. Did you request educational testing as well. A school has to give testing if you request it. Seek out an educational advocate from Delaware, they will help.
If your daughter is doing well, I wouldn't change a thing.
Hi J.,
When my daughter was diagnosed with adhd, she was diagnosed by a psychiatrist & psychologist, She went through numerous testing. They also spoke with her and observed her. I had paper work to fill out with the things I observed. They their ones who put her on meds. they sent a letter to my doctor
so he could depense her meds. This way if she had any problems with the meds, he was closer and more available for me to get in contact.
hopre this helps. K.
Hi all, in my opinion it is a good idea to get a second opinion from someone that specializes in that field. I also thought my sons dr was a good dr until I started noticing that it gets harder and harder to reach her. You are one of the lucky ones. As far as the pharmacy goes they should have noticed more quickly and consulted your sons prescriptions and your husbands prescriptions that they should have on file as to who is the one that takes that type of medication. And with your feedback as to what happened, you should be able to contact a school advocate through the MH/MR(Mental Health Mental Retardation) in your county for your state. They will help you every step of the way to push to get the help you need to get you son tested by the school psychologist and help get a IEP in place if one is needed. I have had to use one and she was wonderful. She helped us get things moving faster then if it would have been just us trying to do it. I also have to children with ADHD ODD. My youngest has Autism also. They are 7 1/2yrs old and 6yrs old. I hope that this little bit of info has help you.
