Better Living Through Pharmaceuticals. That's my new motto. I've been a little resistant to giving Little One the melatonin, despite the fact that trouble falling asleep seems to be a common issue with girls with Turner Syndrome and melatonin is the recommended remedy. My pediatrician and I talked about it last fall, and I finally bought some when this whole not-sleeping-thing really got out of hand. But I kept feeling like this was somehow my fault. I wasn't keeping a good enough schedule. I couldn't find the magic combination of nighttime routine. I wasn't wearing her out enough during the day. (Forgetting my usual advice to people, "It shouldn't be THAT hard.") But I couldn't let myself off the hook.
Until last night. It was 10:30. She had spent the better part of 4 hours jumping in a moon-bouncy-type thing. And she was getting really cranked up. It was her usual... everyone else is dozing off and she is starting to bounce off the walls. I decided to try the melatonin.
Within 20 minutes, she was sitting calmly on the couch, rubbing her eyes, not agitated ... just happy and ... well... sleepy. I put her pajamas on, put her in bed, rubbed her back for 3 minutes and she was OUT. OUT. ASLEEP. It's a MIRACLE, I tell you. And she slept all night! Hallelujah!
This morning, I was really hoping for better behavior, because she has really gotten totally out of control the last few days. Yesterday, she ran off from me at at t-ball and went right into the street. (A whole year in physical therapy when she was little... WHAT was I thinking?) She stripped off ALL her clothes at Big Guy's baseball game. Dumped out an entire bag of Goldfish on the floor of my car. I could go on and on. Those were just the first few hours of the day.
I was thinking that today would be better.
It was the worst day ever. She was out-of-control. Like Helen-Keller-before-Annie-Sullivan out of control. Lord. I thought this day would never end. But, she took her Happy Pill right before bed, and drifted off to dreamland within 20 minutes.
I still have my doubts. Am I drugging my kid for my convenience? Melatonin is a natural hormone produced by the body that induces sleep. Normally, your body produces more melatonin when it gets dark. Some non-neurotypical kids, it seems, produce less at that time. That's sure what it seems like with Little One. She is more wound up and crazy at bedtime than any other time during the day. And it's not just overtiredness.
My pediatrician said I'd either see a big difference, or none at all. And if none, then that isn't the problem. I see a big difference. So I guess I am doing the right thing? I know her behavior when she's exhausted isn't safe. She's a fast runner and one of these days I am going to seriously lose her somewhere. I've already stopped taking her to stores if at all possible. I guess if I see big improvements in her behavior, I'll know I'm doing the right thing.
And P.S. Yeah. I dropped the potty training thing. That was a crazy idea.
3 comments:
Sue! Stop it with the mommy guilt!!! You are doing an amazing job! Like you said Melatonin is natural, and your doctor recommended it. And it worked. Hopefully after a few good night's sleep Little One will be easier to handle. She needs to sleep and you need to sleep. (Do YOU feel better after her good night sleep?)
And good thinking stopping the PT-ing. Once she's all caught up on sleep (you know, after a least a week or two of good nights) you may resume.
Good Lord yes - stop with the Mommy guilt. You're not giving her the melatonin for your convenience - you're doing it so she can sleep. You're HELPING her!
It sounds like melatonin is what she needs. Don't feel guilty - it is a hormone her body would be naturally producing. I'm so glad it worked well. HUGS! Hopefully she'll get a little easier during the day once she gets a few more nights of sleep.
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Go ahead. I can take it.