Beanbag Chairs

CrazyChick asked:


Okay, my five-year-old has started kindergarten and is having a REALLY REALLY REALLY hard time sitting and doing what he’s supposed to be doing. His teacher is great, but he’s going over to the beanbag chairs while he’s supposed to be in circle time and talking out, going “Look at me, I’m in the beanbag chair!” He’s not being argumentative, he’s not mean to other people, he’s not even purposely disrespectful, he just can’t seem to stay at one thing for more than four seconds at a time.

After having a meeting with the teacher, the counselor and the principal, I’m okay with putting him on a trial run of ADHD medication, if he’s even diagnosed (my friend, a psychologist, thinks he will be) to see if it helps.

I don’t like the idea of giving my kid medicine that isn’t for an actual medical ailment, but I also don’t want him to hate school or fall behind because he can’t focus on anything.
My husband is afraid we’d be “drugging him” and does not want him to be stuck walking around like a “zombie kid”. Apparently, he thinks I’m wanting to give him Ambien or something, instead of an age-appropriate dose of recommended prescribed medication.

So, anyway, finally got him on board, and I called my son’s doctor, and she won’t treat ADHD — along with about 80% of the pediatricians in the city we live in, and 100% of the pediatricians on our insurance plan. We’d have to get a referral to a child psychiatrist.

The doctor’s office called me today to let me know that they were able to squeeze him in with the psychiatrist — IN FEBRUARY 2008. Six months from now. More than 2/3 of the school year away.

Is that normal????
My questions:

1. Why would pediatricians not treat ADHD?

2. Are there age-appropriate medications for a five-year-old with ADHD?

3. Will the medication cause my son to act like he’s drugged or zoned out?

4. Considering the wait, can a regular psychiatrist, not a pediatric psychiatrist, diagnose and treat his ADHD?

5. Is the six-month-to-get-in-to-see-a-doctor wait common?

6. What do we do in the meantime?

Thanks. I know I sound ignorant, and I’m really not trying to be, I just don’t have anyone who actually KNOWS who can really answer my questions.

I appreciate any help or advice you kind folks could offer.

Chad