The trial-and-error phase begins

MOMMY: Once daughter's psychologist diagnosed ADHD, the next stop was the pediatrician. My husband and I both agreed we would consider medication for her if it would help. If there's a medication out there that can help help straighten out those chemicals in her brain and bring her mind back into focus, why wouldn't we? After watching her anxiety for the last two years in school (headaches, stomach aches, insomnia, etc.) and seeing it spiral out of control this year -- hearing her cry about not understanding why she can't pay attention. Why would we deny her anything that would help?

I told her one day that her brain was kind of like my eyes. They just don't focus very well. And I need to wear my contacts or glasses to make things clear. And we were going to see if medication would do the same for her brain. She seemed to like that analogy. Score one for Mommy!

We talked to the doctor about all the medication options and decided to try "the patch." It's called Daytrana. There were two reasons we decided to go with this option. The first is that the doctor said of all the stimulant medications, Daytrana seemed to be the least likely to have the appetite-suppressant side effect (which is our biggest concern for her, as she is only in the 10th percentile for her weight as it is). The second is that it comes in patch form, and she hasn't yet learned to swallow a pill.

It seemed like a good plan. Several people (doctor, counselor, teacher) warned me that finding the right medication can be a trial-and-error process--what works for one child can be all wrong for the next child. I dreaded that process for her. The last thing I want my little girl to be is a medical guinea pig. So I was hoping we'd get it right the first time.

No such luck. She wants to write about what happened.