We had taken Jonah off all the meds completely and it lasted about two days before Andy decided to put him back on the Risperdal; I’m calling the psychiatrist today to advise him. We were not exactly thrilled with the effect of Risperdal on Jonah but my God, keeping him entirely unmedicated is definitely not the answer.
Off all meds, Jonah turned back into the boy who drove us to the psychiatric center in October, constantly swatting, alternately laughing and crying, able to play and sing but also vicious in his ability to ramp up from 0 to 100 in 0.2 seconds with no antecedent whatsoever, hurting Andy, hitting and throwing things.
I think Andy was ready to go berserk, and maybe still is, but this weekend we were lucky enough to have my cousin D come to help us, 4 hours each day. We we able to pay her well (thanks for a respite sitter grant from Catholic Charities) and I came over too to help out.
Both days we mostly rode Jonah around while Andy rested, took walks, went grocery shopping… We managed him okay, though he did try to attack us – but D knows how to hold kids with autism and other behavioral problems – she works with kids at the Center for Disability Services – so I felt safe and had an awesome person to hang out with while we were spending time with Jonah.
Lately Jonah’s been asking for waterfall and signing it too, so on Sunday…
(after we cleaned up the coffeepot and grounds from the kitchen floor that greeted us when we arrived; Andy had Jonah on a time-out in his room for throwing the whole works, so it gave us time to put things back in order – this is the point at which Andy decided to medicate him again and gave him a Risperdal pill)
…we drove him out to the Rensselaerville Falls even though there is still lots of snow there and we couldn’t walk all the way down to the falls. He loved it!
With big cousin D:
Then we took pictures of the falls, where a whirlpool spun these circles of ice in an ever-rotating pattern that amazed us!
Of course on the ride hom he threw his shoes, his drink box, and his peanut butter roll at us, but we got home safely and uninjured. It was a better weekend, probably for all of us, than we’ve had in a long time.
Thank God.
Tomorrow Andy and I have a meeting at 2pm with the folks from Springbrook, who are coming to Wildwood to observe Jonah. I am nervous about the appointment but also glad we are closer to figuring out a good, safe, hope-filled education plan for our little boo…
Hi, Amy. Good luck tomorrow at your appointment with the folks from Springbrook. May you and Andy have the best possible outcome from that meeting, for Jonah and for his loving, nervous and exhausted mom and dad. All three of you are in my thoughts and prayers.
LikeLike
Hi Amy, I hope the meeting goes well and so glad you had a relatively ‘good’ weekend. I am thinking of you though might not be around much for a week or two as our second grandson was due yesterday and I am on standby! (My daughter would like me to be there with her and her husband). As she is finding the fnal days of pregnancy rather hard I am popping over now and then to help out – hence not much time for blog reading but be assured I always read yours. Take care X
LikeLike
Hi Amy,
My son is 12 and has been on Risperdal for a long time. I would love to wean him off this drug some day, but don’t know how/when that would work. Just an FYI, there is a time-released version of Risperdal called Invega. It is basically the same as Risperdal, but has fewer side effects. It seems to even out my son’s behaviors. Maybe you would discuss this as an option?
FYI, I’ve heard that some Mom’s are actually using medical marijuana with much success. I know this is controversial though.
LikeLike
I came across this blog via the parenting magazine blog; as I was reading I realized I’ve “spoke” with you before. Our sons are the same age, both with autism…you were a member of writing.com.
I know in the whole scheme of things telling you that you are doing what is best for your son makes no difference, its heartbreaking and nothing will change that.
I will keep you, Jonah and family in prayers
Jane
LikeLike