I don’t know if I should blog about this, but I need to. Evan’s a nut. He’s super hyper, but he also is brilliant and has a vibrant spirit. You take the good with the not-as-good I suppose.
When he was in preschool we had him “evaluated” for ADHD. Basically the pediatrician gave us a form, one for us and one for his teacher with whom he spent 3 hours twice a week. Based on this form, he diagnosed ADHD, as well as ODD (John says well of course he’s odd, tell us something new) and possibly borderline CD.
The pediatrician said, based on this form, that at the age of only 4 he needed medication and prescribed focalin. I asked if we could get a second opinion, upon which he sent us to a neurologist who only echoed what the pediatrician said.
We ended up not putting him on the medication, but instead trying to understand him, not give him much sugar, little stuff like that. Fast-forward to Kindergarten and he did really well. He had issues but his teacher was a rock star and was willing to work with him. He came out even smarter and fairly well-adjusted.
Our story has changed. He can’t control himself lately. He screams randomly. He is mean and aggressive to the dogs and sometimes even to me. For the most part he gets along with other kids but he gets on their nerves. He has already been labeled “that kid” by his teacher I’m sure. His teacher, by the way, apparently believes that his behavior is due to him being an only child. WTF? I digress…
I walked out of the school cookout in tears because I was so humiliated by his behavior. He had the whole table hollering about how he thought the lunch lady was “hot” (she is), and just generally being mean and obnoxious; totally ignoring both the teacher and me.
As you know if you’ve been reading, he and I have both been seeing a counselor, and she wholeheartedly agrees with me that he got ripped of on his first evaluation and we need to start all over.
At this point I’m not as opposed to drugging him either. I just want to be sure it is necessary and will help his particular situation. I’m terrified that he will lose himself and not be fun any more. I don’t want a zombie. I want Evan, only a little nicer.
I have been hunting for the right shrink, and have found that the Austin area is desperate for pediatric mental health professionals. Maybe that’s what I’ll be when I grow up…again I digress. I thought I’d found a dream come true in the Austin Child Guidance Center , so I excitedly called and had Evan placed on the waiting list; the ten to twelve week long waiting list. *sigh*
The whole point of this short story made longer is that the only other child psychiatrist I could find was Dr. William Streusand. I couldn’t find any information on him, so I reached out to a list serv and got only one reply, but that person was gushing about him. I called to get an appointment and was informed that his office had moved to The Texas Child Study Center . Cha-CHING! Just like the other place only NEW and SHINY and filled with young, innovative Longhorns just waiting to turn my child into his better self!
The BEST part is upon reading the article I discovered that the elusive Dr. Streusand is the CHIEF OF PSYCHIATRY at the Children’s Medical Center. Who’d’a thunkit??
So I’m nervous, relieved, excited for us. Now we just need to win the lottery because we have to file insurance ourselves, and the initial evaluation on Monday – yes, we got in to see the Chief on MONDAY – is $400+. Say a prayer and all that, and if you read this far you are rewarded with a SNICKERDOODLE.
UPDATE: We have to spend $750 oop before insurance kicks in. We don’t have that. I think I might cry. Again.
the reinvention of me 
Just found your blog while Googling ADHD. I’m in Austin, too!
I HATE dealing with insurance. It’s ridiculous. We pay and pay and pay and then when we need something, they either don’t cover it (my allergy shots) or they pay only partial (Cassie’s speech). ARGH! I hear ya, honey.
No real commentary, except to say I’m thinking of you guys. I hope it all turns out okay…
Oh, please let us know how it goes/went with Dr. Streusand. My son’s psychologist just recommended we take him to see a psychiatrist for “larger personality-level” problem diagnosis. Anything you can share about your experiences will be greatly appreciated.
I am not anxious to start giving my child medication, and prefer to concentrate on developing coping skills and modifying the environment as best we can. However, when they get so emotional that they can’t use the skills they learn, it’s time to get them to a place they can think.
Hey Sara. How old is your little one? We didn’t even really consider medication until first grade, but he was no longer able to focus/control himself well enough to learn effectively. Dr. Streusand has been great. He doesn’t seem very thorough at first, but I feel like he is, and he just knows kids very well and it doesn’t take him long to know what’s going on.