My story

[Linda Collins]

I have twins with Aspergers Syndrome and Adhd. It has been a challenging ride so far---they were diagnosed at age 4 and are now 11. We live very rural and have no resourses within an hour drive of us, and the ones in those area are very very limited. Talk about feeling alone, myself and others like me do feel that way. More on my story later. Linda

I am back with more on my story. My Rob has gotten so HYPER. over the last 2 weeks. I took him off his Adderall over the summer because he had stomaches. I couldn't tell the difference on or off the medication so it wasn't doing any good anyway. He is almost manic today and with two of them it is really rough!!! I feel sorry for him and get angry at him at the same time wanting him to calm down just a little, but knowing in my soul that he can't do that. It goes in cycles for about 30 minutes he is manic then he calms and listens to music or watches a movie for a while then it hits a again. Damage is sometimes done in that 30 minutes though. I am thankful that this summer we aren't so far seeing the aggression that we have seen in the past during this manic phase. We had a season of time that we had to keep the boys seperated during the cycle because Rob would attack Stamp.What I am desperate about is what medication to try next? It seems like we have tried them all. I have reseached and it seems the best fit is Clonipin..heavy duty for an 11 year old but what do you do? The only other ones we haven't tried are Focalin and Vyvanse. Rob has such high anxiety that I will just have to wait and see which one the doc thinks is best. Stamp needs a change as well, I just hope they are on the same one this time!! Such a mess with them on different ones. I have asked the doc if he is biplar and she says not. I still wonder--that is why I am willing to try the Clonipin this time.
The worst problem going on is that my doc is leaving the country to practice pysch for the government in Germany(PTSD) for out military men and women, Lord knows they need it, but what about us here in eastern KY. She is the only doc we have within an hour's drive and if you want a good one you have to go 3-6 hours away. I had been going 5 hours away until she began her practice close and Rob became a complicated case to follow. I was so sure I had one to stay because she is a local gal turned nurse turned doc and I thought she would stay for sure......wrong! Now I am without a doc. She has told her patiences to follow up with their family doctors. My fmd is willing to take over the medication of my guys because I am a nurse and am knowledgable of the disorder and because they are in counseling. How many others will be without? I may be really glad I not a teacher this year can you imagine all the kids without medication or on the wrong medication? It could be interesting here in the mountains this year. More later. Linda

[norma.thomas]

Hi, Linda.

I'm a mom of 2 girls, one of whom is 4 years old and diagnosed with autism. I can understand if you're feeling overwhelmed and alone given all of the challenges that you face on a daily basis. I hope that, as a community, we can be of help and support and comfort to you during your ups and downs.

[Linda Collins]

Thanks. Feeling less alone helps more than most people ever know.

[Debra Ewing]

Hi Linda

I'm the mom of a 20 year old son with Aspergers, he will be 21 next week. I know about the overwhelmed and alone feelings. My son was not diagnosed until about the age of 10 - 11. Feel free to ask any questions and if I can help you with advice I will be glad to. Hang in there. Debra

[Linda Collins]

Debra, I am really dreading those adolescent years. The tweens years are beginning to get a little tough I can only imagine what I am up against. I read a whole lot and found a great book that I want my guys to read next summer to I hope help them understand how to communicate with girls without overdoing it. That is my biggest concern I think. I have one who really hangs on to a girl if he likes her--almost possessive and that scares me! The other will be ok I think. We don't have the availabilty of courses to go to and network with others or seminars to learn more from and that really bothers me. I am a retired due to illness nurse and I want my guys to have the best but we don't have that where we live and we can't uproot them and go elsewhere. So many others are in the same boat as me. We just do the best we can and we do have go people in school who work hard with the kids and that's a good thing. Thanks for listening.