New meds, new David?

So after getting the results of David's short EEG and MRI we also started new medication.  We had been tapering down on his Depakote and David's neurologist and psychiatrist decided to start him on a medication called Lamictal in the hopes that it would be able to treat both the seizure issues and treat the behavior issues related to his ASD.  At this point David was only on Depakote, as we had stopped all of his other medications in response to all of his other symptoms.

Well no meds equals hell on wheels.  David was incredibly defiant, increasingly agitated, irritable and aggressive.  In short he was hell.  He was also dangerous.  He was unwrapping paperclips and trying to stab himself in the hand with them.  He was also trying to do this to my mom who was watching him during part of the day.  He got mad at his brother and wrenched his arm, luckily with no damage. And decided a chopping knife was a fun new toy.  The latter was the most disturbing to me not so much because of the "danger" aspect (and yes, that did scare me), but more so because David is terrified of knives.  He doesn't even like butter knives and he cowers if someone has a knife that is sharper than a steak knife near him.  So it was just so abnormal.  This was also the first time he has been this "unmedicated" since he was first diagnosed with ADHD and eventually ASD. David continued this fabulous behavior with a wonderful 36 hours of being awake which makes for very irritable, less than tolerant, crabby parents.  Sufficed to say it was a very difficult few days.

We continued to have sleep problems, despite the new meds, although we did see some behavioral improvements.  So we headed to Chicago to check out the new Ann and Robert H Lurie Children's Hospital, because we had nothing better to do on a Thursday afternoon, and because that is wear David's  sleep medicine specialist is at.   And while I figured David's wonderful sleep medicine doctor would not have a magic answer or magic pill/ treatment to fix him I have to admit a part of me was sad when he said he wanted to wait to see what happens when his meds stabilize before trying to add or do anything else.  On the upside, I got some much needed validation on my parenting and constant solution seeking from his doctor, which is one of the many reasons I love him.  He looked at me and just knew I was exhausted, a bit lost, and needing someone other than my husband, family, or friends to tell me that I was doing the right thing.  And he was right I needed it desperately.

After almost a week, David started another medication to help with sleep as well behavior to replace the medication that caused all of the distonia.  Since then his sleeping has improved and so has his behavior and attitude.   He is looking forward to going back to school, although he is a bit concerned about being behind.  We are hopeful that once we can get his medication stable he we be back in school quickly.

Presenting Dr. Joaquin...

while at our appointment on of the doctors' let 

Joaquin play with his stethoscope

Examining the patient