Thread: I need advice about my daughter who is ADHD/Bipolar and school

--I have a 13 yr old daughter who is adhd/bipolar(she is currently not on meds but has an app. Feb 19th)
-- It seems like the school has been on her a$$ every since Kindergarten-and then in 2nd grade she was tested for adhd and started Ritalin(it helped alot in the beginning but its like even though they would up her dosage she bacame immuned to it)
-- Well she has also been on Adderall and concerta(these helped at 1st also then quit working) for adhd and zoloft and depakote for the bipolar-She was on adderall xr(2 a day),200mg zoloft,and 500mg depakote last year and still failed her grade and had to go to summer school-
-- She was seeing a tdoc and pdoc in Gainesville(hr away){this caused her to miss alot of school} and they just kept upping the dosage and she had side effects of alot of bruising,headaches,and bad nose bleeds-
-- Well the tdoc said I was wasting my time coming to her cause there was nothing wrong with her except she was pi$$ed at me(this was after she has been to several therapists{and they all said ADHD and the last couple said bipolar also} since the age of 5 and on meds since 2nd grade)-
-- Well I stopped going to those drs and she has been med free since the summer-Well she is really struggling in school this year not doing any of her work and she has 50,30, and 20 averages. I have tried and tried to help her but I think she has finally gotten so frustrated she has given up-the teachers all say she just has a no care attitude-
-- I have been to so many teachers meeting it ain't even funny-Well the teachers look at me like I am crazy and they say they do not believe me when I say stuff about my daughter and things she does and I have asked them to send me a weekly progress report(which they have not done) I also write numerous notes in her agenda(which they hardly ever respond to)they have my address,phone#,and email addy and I never hear from them-the last meeting I went to that was set up-I had to go look for them-one of her teachers forgot all about it and never told the others-and then when I got in there they were in a hurry but we did plan different ways to handle things like the weekly report and stuff but its like they just think she does not care and have just gave up on her-
-- The meeting before this one her science teacher got up and left 3 different times during the meeting-I've looked into home schooling her but I feel like even though I graduated HS that I do not know enough to help her. She is supposed to be in an afterschool program but has only stayed 2x in 4 wks-I have asked them to remind her or something and she just keeps getting on the bus and coming home-I have wrote several notes(noone responded) and even called the principal. She needs help and I do not know what else to do. They were supposed to have her tested her last year for learning dis. but never did I finally got one of her therapists to do it and she was on borderline so she does not qualify for extra help-they are supposed to be doing other tests on her but have not done them yet-that was something we decided at the last teacher/parent meeting.
-- Her Dad does not want her on meds at all so I have no support at home with her either. I feel like I am failing her and do not know what to do-I cannot afford a tutor. I am sorry this is so long. I'd really appreciate any suggestions and help you can give me.
-- You can reply here or email me @ [email protected]
TIA,
Aletta
EDITED TO ADD: She is on medicaid and alot of the Tdocs and Pdocs will not except it around here and also these drs move around alot-she has been to mental health a few times and the drs keep changing the other day I took her and he will be retiring in a few months

have you looked for a support group for bipolar in your area? I understand exactly where you are coming from my heart goes out to you...I am in Cumming...email if interested in talking... [email protected].

There is a support group @ mental health but its for adults(I am also BP)but when I was going to dr there she said she did not think it would help much-its kind of a mixture of illnesses

My stepdaughter is bipolar as well as other things...I am interested in that support group you are talking about...as for the adhd aspect as well as the BP your daughter qualifies for an IEP.

Wow as I sat here and I read what you are going though I had to ask my self did I write this and for get that I did it I know what you are going though with your daughter I to have a child that is ADHD,Bipolar and it is one of the hardest things in the world to go though and you feel as though you are a let down and I bet like me you have spent many hours crying becuase you just don't know what to do next and where to go. First off there is alot that you can do with that school and you can make them wish that they would have done something for you and I am going to tell you how to do just that. I don't have much time right now but if you want to hear what I have to tell you in my experence and how I finally got things done for my child email me and we will talk as long as you need to hun. [email protected]

Check NAMI.org and see if they have a support group in your area. This is the National Alliance for the Mentally Ill and they work to be sure that those with mental health issues are taken care of. They might also be able to refer you to doctors who can help.

Thanks everyone for your help and replies and emails
Bears984 I emailed ya
YankeeMary what exactly is IEP? (Email me at [email protected])
I do not know if this has anything to do with SSI but one of the DRs told me to sign her up for that but they have turned her down 3x and I have appealed again
I am a member at a yahoo group for child bp but it seems like everytime I post I never get replies

My daughter is being tested again to see if she needs an IEP which is someone who can help our child one on one attention. If you dont get anywhere with the school do what I did call the superintedents (sp) office that doesnt work go to a school board meeting. My child is borderline add we have that under control thru therapy and she also has OCD bad has since she was little we just didnt notice as much till she got older she is 10 with out her meds OMG the poor thing and they also diagnosed her with anixety disorder if you need to talk you can PM me

I emailed you.