Desperate for referrals. We can’t live like this anymore.

[Anonymous]

OP, I’m sorry you’re going through this. My autistic child was routinely aggressive as child. We reached the breaking point at age 7, during 2nd grade, when she was on the cusp of being thrown out of school, and when the daily aggression was harming my other children.

We put our kid on Abilify, which has an off-label use for autism-related aggression/irritability. It was a huge decision but the right one, as it solved our problem. Now several years later we are taking our child off it, with great success. It’s been years since we’ve had an aggressive episode. And my child is now getting decent grades at a mainstream middle school with minimal support. And is happy.

OP, I’m definitely not pushing this drug. Just giving a small anecdote to give you some hope.

[Anonymous]

We’ve had a great experience with Dr Dougherty, a psychiatrist at the Ross Center, though I dont know if he usually treats children that young

[Anonymous]

Very few places will do inpatient with a 4 year old. Look at old threads as there are recommendations on other hospitals about an hour or two away that have sooner availability. I'd also try to get in with a developmental ped.

[Anonymous]

Will MoCo mobile psych unit see a kid that young?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Will MoCo mobile psych unit see a kid that young?

Meant - mobile crisis team.

Also - have you tried the crisis center?

[Anonymous]

It’s odd to me that all these professionals declined to take the action you want. Maybe the situation isn’t what you think it is?

If it’s that bad, pull out your phone and video his “rages.” Then show providers and let them decide. Or set up a ring camera to be always on.

[Anonymous]

Try calling Child Find. It's recently been 3 month wait so do it asap to see if you can get in before the school year starts. Even if your child doesn't have educational needs, you can request to have a psychologist look at him while he is being tested. Does he go to preschool? If so, how does he do there?

Anonymous wrote:If he’s going into kindergarten this fall, send the principal an email. Tell him or her what you’ve told us. Ask how soon you can get a meeting to discuss special education. They’ll need to get started on the IEP as soon as they’re legally allowed to. I’m not sure when that is. I once taught a child where the family tried to hide his needs and give him a “fresh start”. We unwittingly put him in a classroom with another child with known severe behavior problems. It was hell. Be vocal. The school will thank you and do their best to get you help.

[Anonymous]

Go online to Quince Orchard Psychotherapy (it's in Rockville). Look on the bottom right, there is a yellow "book online"sign. They have a Family Psychiatric & Mental Health Nurse Practitioner named Sarah Gibson who has a first available June 13th via video. It looks like she provides consults and can also prescribe meds as needed. I can 't speak for this provider but I have a friend who used Dr. Kanal at that practice for a neuropsych and she had a very good experience.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:For the future: Just a recommendation for a pediatrician - My child was having some rages that seemed out of character. I was concerned that my child had PANS/PANDAS or some kind of neurological issue, so I found a pediatrician who was supportive and open - Dr. Gail Warner at Growth and Wellness was recommended and I like her and their office. It didn't get to that point and things have improved with my child but I do see kids with a variety of needs in the waiting room so it tells me that they would probably be good at managing care.
Another recommendation would be Potomac Pediatrics. While I personally didn't love their office (and they have an annual fee), they are super organized and have many wrap around services and also take things like what you are talking about seriously.

We used to go to Potomac Pediatrics. Tye psychiatrist is only good for filling scripts. The doctors are hit or miss. It's a great place to go if there is never anything wrong with your child and you just need well visits and camp forms signed. But they missed enormous red flags with my child's health and shooed me out the door when I asked for more information. I would absolutely never bring my child there again

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:It’s odd to me that all these professionals declined to take the action you want. Maybe the situation isn’t what you think it is?

If it’s that bad, pull out your phone and video his “rages.” Then show providers and let them decide. Or set up a ring camera to be always on.

Gaslighter.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Have you tried getting in to a developmental ped? Hopkins, Children’s, DanShapir o?

The developmental pediatrician was the fastest option for us while we waited for a neuropsych appointment. Get out on the waitlist and cancellation lists for all of the practices within reasonable driving distance for you. If your current practice has a developmental pediatrician, see if they can refer you and get an appointment as you would have priority.

Call every day you can to check your status. Be nice to the scheduling nurse, explain what is going on. That was my daily commuting activity.

We got in for a same day cancellation within 2 weeks at a practice associated with Children’s National.

We ended up doing ABA without insurance coverage for 3 months and it was a huge help just for the parent training on how to handle situations.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Have you tried getting in to a developmental ped? Hopkins, Children’s, DanShapir o?

The developmental pediatrician was the fastest option for us while we waited for a neuropsych appointment. Get out on the waitlist and cancellation lists for all of the practices within reasonable driving distance for you. If your current practice has a developmental pediatrician, see if they can refer you and get an appointment as you would have priority.

Call every day you can to check your status. Be nice to the scheduling nurse, explain what is going on. That was my daily commuting activity.

We got in for a same day cancellation within 2 weeks at a practice associated with Children’s National.

We ended up doing ABA without insurance coverage for 3 months and it was a huge help just for the parent training on how to handle situations.

I want to 2nd the suggestion to explain the situation to the scheduler, asking if it's ok to call about cancelations everyday and being nice to them.. it worked for me, too.

Sorry you're going through this. I know it’s so very hard.

[Anonymous]

My kids go to Metropolitan Pediatrics- Drs Kulp, Sgigna, and several others. We’ve always been able to get a same day sick appointment, and they are willing to manage DD’s ADHD medication. They did an initial diagnosis (it did require a questionnaire from a teacher, so not like it was done in one appointment), but they didn’t require a neuropsych although we did end up getting one later anyway.

[Anonymous]

I'm the first poster about Potomac Pediatrics. I have the same feelings you do about the practice. Mixed experience with their doctors and office (which is why we left). They were good in the newborn stage. And they reacted well to our crises situation and I appreciate I was able to get in quick with their psych because of their affiliation. But outside of that, I have been happier elsewhere.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:For the future: Just a recommendation for a pediatrician - My child was having some rages that seemed out of character. I was concerned that my child had PANS/PANDAS or some kind of neurological issue, so I found a pediatrician who was supportive and open - Dr. Gail Warner at Growth and Wellness was recommended and I like her and their office. It didn't get to that point and things have improved with my child but I do see kids with a variety of needs in the waiting room so it tells me that they would probably be good at managing care.
Another recommendation would be Potomac Pediatrics. While I personally didn't love their office (and they have an annual fee), they are super organized and have many wrap around services and also take things like what you are talking about seriously.

We used to go to Potomac Pediatrics. Tye psychiatrist is only good for filling scripts. The doctors are hit or miss. It's a great place to go if there is never anything wrong with your child and you just need well visits and camp forms signed. But they missed enormous red flags with my child's health and shooed me out the door when I asked for more information. I would absolutely never bring my child there again

[Anonymous]

We got into the Ross Center for a psychiatrist evaluation quickly when all other places had long wait lists. It was expensive and they didn’t take insurance though.