Is this pediatric Bipolar

[goingnuts747]

I have a 5 year old son with a history of significant behavioral problems. They started around 3 years old. He also has a feeding disorder requiring a G-Tube. He is very mean at times and has terrible tantrums as if he was 2. Last year he went through a couple month period of getting so angry he would tip over furniture and through things at us and his 8 year old brother. He is extremely hyper from the minute he gets up until he goes to bed. He sleeps pretty good, but lately has been waking 1-3 times per night with bad dreams and now has to sleep with a night light, the hallway light and the vaporizer (for the noise). He does not fear anything and climbs the counters, his dresser, the computer desk and jumps over to couch. He has no fear. He has been biting again this month (3 times). He does night like anyone talking to him when he does something wrong and yells at you for doing so. He says he gets annoyed or we are giving him a headache. He constantly annoys his 9 year old brother to no end. He has to be first at everything and does not share. This always causes an argument with other kids. He is much better at school though, although has been unraveiling a bit there too. At other times, he can be the sweetest kid. It's like he has two side. We were told last year (by the school) that we basically needed to have better control at home. We have been seeing a psychologist and psychiatrist for some time. They were treating him for ADHD/ODD and he went through a handful of stimulant meds like Adderral, Ritalin, Daytrana and others. Nothing seemed to work or they made him too catatonic. Early on, one Dr. mentioned possible Bi-Polar. We just don't know what to do. We swithced psychologists and he mentioned to try Abilify.

[Camsmom]

One of the first things I would suggest is getting a book called The Bipolar Child. It has some very good information and cheklists that you can go through to help determine if your son has Bipolar disorder.

My son was diagnosed at about 4 1/2...and it has been a roller coaster of  meds etc. My son was also on Ablify, and Lamictal and Risperdal and Zyprexa and.....the list goes on.

First and foremost you will need to learn to be an advocate for your son -especially at school. There are some special IEP's that can be written for kids with Bipolar....in fact there is a sample one available at a web site called BP Kids - google it and you should find it.

If your son has Bipolar, there are so many aspects of this disease that are unknown - especially the meds used to treat kids. It's scary and a lot of work, but there are many resouces out there for parents - you just need to look for them and really educate your self.

Good luck - my prayers are with you - and I'll check back here soon to see if you have any other questions.7

Susan in South Dakota

[wahmliz]

Abilify? Haven't heard of that one, but I'm fairly new to this whole thing.

What you describe sounds a lot like a couple of the scenarios presented in a book I read in doing my own research into bipolar disorder. ODD can be a co-existing disorder with bipolar. You might try talking to that psychiatrist from "early on" and reconsider his/her advice. When put on the right meds, it could make a significant difference in his and in your lives. As is often stated, Bipolar should be looked at no differently than if someone were to say they are Diabetic. Both conditions require medication to manage the problem and allow for healthy function in a person's life.

My family chose, because of the shame of having a mental illness, to deny they truly were manic/depressive - bipolar. I feel a bit angry about this as it effects my children's and their descendants futures.

Maybe I don't fully recognize the effect this diagnosis can bring into a child's future. I know that I have no problem telling people that I have PMDD. It's better to know that there is a reason for why my moods go crazy when I PMS. Maybe your son and even you and your family would feel better knowing the truth behind the crazy stuff you're living with daily.

Blessings,
Liz