My son is taking a lot of medication, recently he was diagnostic with low tiroid function, and ADH and Compulsive behavior.

His doctor changes his medication everytime we visit him. How do I know if he is taking the necesary dosage ? My doctor is wonderful but he is a family doctor and I wonder if I will have to take my son ( 18 years ) to a Psiq. or a Pscicol.

He is a wonderful son, never got in trouble, but lately he gain weight, lost hair and his skin was very dry. So the testing started...... he is using the patches for the ADH, somethins el for CB, the tiroid medicationa plus ambien to help him to sleep.

Sugestion.......????? Thanks Worried mom

Hi, Corona. Sorry to hear about your son's problems, although I believe they are perfectly treatable and your son can lead a normal, healthy life, with the proper treatment.

If by ADH you mean Attention Deficit with Hyperactivity, then, by all means, considering also the compulsive behavior, he should be seen by an appropriate therapist - these conditions aren't managed by the family doctor. He should undergo psychotherapy in addition to the pharmacological treatment, for better results. There is absolutely no shame or embarrassment in visiting a psychotherapist. Many people that don't experience any psychological discomfort go see a therapist, for various purposes: self-assessing, assistance in taking important decisions, ordering of thoughts and ideas etc. Seeking professional help when a slight psychological disorder was diagnosed is an absolute must-do.

As for the thyroid dysfunction, that should be better handled by an endocrinologist, who only deals with hormonal disorders and has more expertise in the matter than a general practitioner.

I'm almost certain that your son's condition will improve under the proper management and with age (18 is a very problematic age, and his hormonal and psychological disorders are probably due to adolescence), and it's very important that he has a steady medication scheme and a psychotherapist that he trusts and likes.

Best of luck and strength to you, and lots of happy and healthy years to come!

Hi Nadina,

I don't know you

are you a new moderator?

welcome dear !!!

Yep, I'm the new gatekeeper .

And we will know more of each other, little by little.

Thanks, it's really good to be here.

i see that it's in fashion now for teenagers to be diagnosed with ADH. my brother is 15 years older than me, he had the exact same problems in school that i did, the exact same behaviour, except he wasn't diagnosed and graduated fine, and i was diagnosed and graduated as fine (without any medication, i didn't want to mess up with my brain just cause some shrink thought i can't concentrate enough). i'm always on the opinion that as long as it works, don't fix it, and i think this ADH thing is just a fancy name for a naughty, undisciplined, disinterested child. i mean, no wonder you don't wanna study the cr_p they feed you in school, it's boooooooring, it's not interesting, it doesn't help you in any way and you forget it five seconds after your term paper, so what's the point? as a child, you've got less motivation than adults anyway and it's very hard to make yourself learn and concentrate on that. so then you've got ADH. i really don't think it's a real disease.

I tend to disagree, Wwire, although you do have some valid points.

The fact that it's a newly named disorder doesn't make it invented, less real, or less important. Although it being newly named and now in fashion is debatable too - it was first described as early as in 1845, by a Dr. Heinrich Hoffman.

It's true that teenage (and puberty) restlessness, playfulness and recklessness may be sometimes wrongfully diagnosed as a psychological disorder, and the fact that the school curricula is sometimes too arid, tedious and difficult to "digest" makes children less interested and less willing and/or able to concentrate. Also, a child bursting with energy and desire to play and do stuff may tire and exasperate an impatient parent or grandparent, who can mistakenly take the bouncy behavior for a disease. Maybe the ADHD label is sometimes applied too easily or hastily, but that can happen with any disorder, psychological or otherwise.

My own mother was misdiagnosed with cancer, but that doesn't mean cancer doesn't exist... Obviously, that's too stretched a comparison, but I think you see my point. Of course, it's easier to misdiagnose ADHD than cancer, and this is the whole point of this conversation.

On the whole, I believe that sometimes ADHD is credited for too much of an overactive child's behavior and difficulty to concentrate, and that restlessness is inherent to some children, without being pathological, and hyperactivity can sometimes be a personality trait rather than a psychological disorder. And, of course, that education and psychotherapy should try to resolve this type of condition long, way long before any pharmacological medication.

Thanks for the courage to join in. I have Bipolar One disease and addiction/alcoholism for which I have been in treatment and recovery for more than four years. My docs have suggested ADHD also, and perhaps it's true, but my treatment now gives me the tools to manage my condition whatever the diagnosis.

It has been so important to me however to make sure I discuss my diagnoses with my peer group--others who have my diseases. Sometimes those doctors DO "miss the mark", but, more often than not, I am in denial. Association with others like me helps to reinforce my trust in diagnosis and treatment, and sharing experience helps me to know what questions to ask and what to look for in my own treatment and recovery. Also, if and when there is even a small possibility of substance abuse in a patient's profile, the doctor or other health professional often will "miss" the indications. Substance abuse may interfere with or complicate both diagnosis and treatment. That's just my experience, but ....

I can't underscore too much the need to connect with peers in the matter of support and service.

It is of course always good to read and ask questions--to get as well-educated on the disease and treatment as your resources will allow.

Thanks again!

Kindest regards,

Jim Rist

www.blessedtobebonkers.com

Thanks for everybody advice. We got authorization from our insurance to take our son to a Psiq./psic. and he adjusted his medication, he is doing better and he is very excited to go back to school. That will be the proof of fire... We are praying that he will be able to be very succefull at his classes. He is very optimistic too and it looks that we are getting our son back from his behavior.

these are good news

lots o luck!

Obviously I know only the little bit that you have shared here but one thing to consider is whether the low thyroid activity (hypothyroidism) is not at least partially responsible for your son's behavior issues. If his thyroid levels are in the normal range with treatment and he is still having behavioral symptoms then treatment with medications for Attention deficit disorder and/or other psychiatric issues may be appropriate. If his thyroid levels are not normalized, then I would definitely speak to your son's doctor about whether he thinks that this might be contributing to your son's difficulties. I am not second-guessing your son's physician - he obviously knows much more about your son's condition than i do : Just something to consider. ADHD can be very effectively managed by a family doctor or general pediatrician and many of us devote a significant portion of our practice to treating ADHD and other psychiatric issues. Given the time constraints, however, most actual counseling is referred out to a child psychologist.

Hope this helps.

Steve McNutt, M.D.

Lubbock, Texas