No Restrictions
posted Sunday February 3rd, 2013
Last Tuesday morning, Sophie followed me into the bathroom, took my hand, and placed it over her One Direction pajamas, over the big bump on her chest where the bones mended — first, when she was 4 months old, then 4 years.
“How does your heart feel?” I asked, smiling.
“Good!” she said. “I don’t need to ever have surgery again.”
Well, never say never. (I didn’t say that to her.) But when the cardiologist announced Sophie was going from annual appointments to every other year, it was cause for celebration, for sure. Ray typically takes her to these visits, and he took her to this one — reporting the details Monday afternoon on the phone as they left the doctor’s office.
“No restrictions!” he said; we were both thrilled.
Just one thing gave me pause — but not the way you’d think.
“He says she can take the ADD drugs if we want,” Ray said.
Fuck. To be completely honest, it was the one nice by-product of a not-entirely-mended hole in the heart — we didn’t have to make that choice. Years ago, chatting at a playground with an old family friend who is also a child psychiatrist, I mentioned that we quite sure Sophie had ADD.
“What does her cardiologist say about medication?” he asked.
“She can’t take it,” I said.
“Well,” he replied, “then you need a new cardiologist.”
No, I thought. I need a new family friend. That really pissed me off, that this guy would be so flip about my kid’s heart. I vowed then to not give that medication a second thought, even though I’ve seen other kids benefit, even as I’ve seen Sophie ping pong around life, obviously in need of some help.
Now we can reconsider. I should be happy about that, right? Instead, I’m just stressed out. And probably in need of some ADD drugs myself.
That photo is pure perfection, as is she! Meds are hard. I was VERY against my son taking ADD meds, but he shared with me his thoughts on it and calmed my concerns a bit. They work well for him and my fears were unfounded. Good luck finding the best solution for Sophie!
thank you CJ!
Well you’ll think it over and make a wise decision. You may not want to read my somewhat controversial FB post on today’s NYT article on ADHD treatment for youths…. For me I think if the pressure is about her happiness and meds would help that’s one thing but if it is about performance wait since our kids may need some extra time for more mature behavior to develop? I’d be unhappy with that friend too.
She is so cute! Love the nails. Wish I could get Kayli to not chew her nails…
Don’t overlook food dyes
After the first few weeks it’s pretty easy to avoid them. You can get almost anything in the dye-free version at Trader Joes (cheetos, lollipops, yogurt). I do this for my boy and after a week I really did see a big difference. He adjusted fast; now he won’t touch any colored food (like school snacks) unless he is sure it’s dye-free. He is one of a few kids in his kindergarten class that can sit still, and before that he climbed the walls. Check out the research on it if you’re not already familiar; it’s amazing. You probably know this, but just in case try first.
my Sophia desperately needs intervention for her ADHD, but due to itty bitty-skinny-ness, she can’t take meds. We are trying to put weight on using a high-cal boost product. I keep wondering if she adds enough weight, will I really have to use meds? Maybe she will settle in to her own self just by being healthier? Endless cycle – up one hill, down another.
It doesn’t excuse that creepy lady, but I also would quite like to bring Sophie home with me. I could look at that little face all day.
I love Sophie, and always will. She is a very unusually special little soul.
Edit earlier comment….cut word “very”…..30
amen, sharon!