[tri-med] ? about altering neuron firing and serotonin

Hi Everyone :o)
I have questions for anyone who might be able to explain something to me.
Devon went for his neurology clinic yesterday for follow up. To be
honest.we're not sure how effective the Strattera is just because there's so
much other stuff going on at the same time with behavioral issues. Devon has
a real problem with schedule changes and transitioning. For instance when we
take him to an appointment or a store.upon entering he gets hysterical and
kicks, flails his arms and screams (out of control crying). He also gets
very upset when someone comes over and when they leave even if he adores
said person. Most of the time once he's in the exam room or once we start
walking and keep moving he settles down.but when we have to leave he gets
hysterical again even if it's some place he doesn't really want to be. It's
very stressful for all of us :o( And when someone comes over.he usually will
settle down in a few minutes and he doesn't get upset when my sister comes
on the weekends (but he gets very upset if she doesn't). The funny thing is
that he has very set ideas about how long each individual is allowed to
stay. When he thinks they've been here long enough he will start to get
whiney/crying thing mixed with laughing at the same time and he will bring
the person their shoes and/or purse and take them to the door.
So.anyway.when the doctor asked us if we thought the Strattera was helping
with his hyperactivity we told him that we believe it is helping at least a
little bit as he DOES sit down and relax with us for short periods of time,
and even though we're not sure it's related or not.he's been more vocal
lately. It does not knock him out or make him dopey which is a good thing as
well. He was going to try a drug used for anxiety because when he asked us
if Devon has a lot of anxiety.we told him about the transitioning thing and
the schedule thing.and we think he does get overwhelmed with anxiety at
those times. When I reminded him about Devon being on 50mg Trazodone since
he was 7 for his disordered sleep he changed his mind about the other drug
for anxiety and decided he wanted to keep Devon on the Strattera during the
day and up his Trazodone dosage to 100mg. He said Devon is a big boy to
still be on the 50mg dosage.AND it will have an effect on neurons firing in
his brain and something about serotonin. I wanted to ask him to explain
better for us so I could wrap my brain around what exactly that means.but
Devon was getting very upset by that time and MY anxiety level went through
the roof!!

Sooooooo.what effect on anxiety do firing neurons and serotonin (more firing
or less firing I'm not sure?) have??? He told us his hats off to us LOL :o)
And he'll see us again in 4 months. In the meantime he said that there's a
lot of options we can try if this isn't the right combination and not to
give up :o)

 

Well.although we DO get tired of all the stresses sometimes.we NEVER give
up.so we'll deal with whatever we need to :o) 

 

Thanks in advance :o)

 

Love,

Penny...loving & devoted wife to Joe, the best husband in the world...mom to
Nick (16 yrs old...lover of Fishing, Dragons, Turtles, Blue Collar Comedy
Tour, RollerCoasters, Chocolate Icecream w/ Ovaltine sprinkles, Devon (11
yrs...lover of Barney, Blue, Nappy ol' Bear w/dreadlocks, Elmo, & food in
general. Full trisomy 13 w/balanced translocation 5 and 13) , and Trooper
the Wonder Dog...our 10? year old yellow lab adopted from FL Lab Rescue
12/13/02 :o) Please visit the webpage my wonderful friend Karen made for me
on our trisomy listserv at:

http://www.trisomyonline.org/victor.html      

AND...Devon's moment of glory in Exceptional Parent Magazine...

http://www.eparent.com/familiarfaces/ffaces_4_01.htm

AND...see our Trooper on FL Lab Rescue's website at:

http://www.labradorrescue.net/success/index.html (Look for the name Trooper)
AND :o) http://livingwithtrisomy13.org/album9.htm

AND http://web.coehs.siu.edu/Grants/TRIS/

"Those who matter don't judge me .... those who judge me don't matter."

 



                  Building ___ooOOoo__ Rainbows
                       www.trisomyonline.org
                  Families Helping Families On-line

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