6 Yr Old HFA getting up in the middle of the night to sleep walk to potty, but forgot where it is

[Anonymous]

We just came back from the first vacation since our HFA diagnosis last year.

Our 6 yr old HFA boy is on Clonidine in the evening to help with impulse control and sleep (melatonin no longer was working).

A typical side effect of Clonidine is that it makes one thirsty. So he drinks quite a bit of water in the evening. We try to get him to fully void before falling asleep but we never know if he is . . .

So, sometimes he needs to go to the potty in the middle of the night but it has never been an issue because he would get out of bed, urinate, and go back to bed in a trance.

Since the return from vacation, though, he no longer knows where the bathroom is and urinates in the corner of the room. I can't figure it out because where he goes does not correlate with my sister in law's bathroom layout, and it is consistent each night where he goes.

WWYD other than restrict liquids? That unfortunately is not going to work. How will he ever regain I know this is probably a bizarre post

[Anonymous]

I'd talk to the doctor and get the medication adjusted.

[Anonymous]

Who prescribed this stupid thing?

What did you attempt before to try and manage sleep patterns and impulsivity?

ADHD affects attention regulation, sleep and impulse control. Has he had a neuropsychological or similar evaluation, centered on the possible co-morbidity of ADHD?

Or, could he have primarily ADHD, and slight HFA? This is what my son has. When he was little, I honestly thought he was autistic. Then we found out he had severe inattentive ADHD.

All these diagnoses overlap, OP.

If your child has ADHD, it's best to get him on an ADHD med. Those are very efficient and will not have those side effects.

[Anonymous]

OP here. I believe my post might be confusing. He has been on Clonidine for 3 months and while he would sometimes sleepwalk before, he always knew where the potty was (to urinate or defecate, whatever he might need to do).

Now suddenly, since the trip (4 nights) he does not.

We have had two very prominent child shrinks recommend the Clonidine for us.

Our shrink is on vacation (12/23-1/10!) and left no instructions!

[Anonymous]

You might consider an inflatable potty until he gets this sorted.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:
Who prescribed this stupid thing?

What did you attempt before to try and manage sleep patterns and impulsivity?

ADHD affects attention regulation, sleep and impulse control. Has he had a neuropsychological or similar evaluation, centered on the possible co-morbidity of ADHD?

Or, could he have primarily ADHD, and slight HFA? This is what my son has. When he was little, I honestly thought he was autistic. Then we found out he had severe inattentive ADHD.

All these diagnoses overlap, OP.

If your child has ADHD, it's best to get him on an ADHD med. Those are very efficient and will not have those side effects.

Clonidine is an ADHD medication.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:We just came back from the first vacation since our HFA diagnosis last year.

Our 6 yr old HFA boy is on Clonidine in the evening to help with impulse control and sleep (melatonin no longer was working).

A typical side effect of Clonidine is that it makes one thirsty. So he drinks quite a bit of water in the evening. We try to get him to fully void before falling asleep but we never know if he is . . .

So, sometimes he needs to go to the potty in the middle of the night but it has never been an issue because he would get out of bed, urinate, and go back to bed in a trance.

Since the return from vacation, though, he no longer knows where the bathroom is and urinates in the corner of the room. I can't figure it out because where he goes does not correlate with my sister in law's bathroom layout, and it is consistent each night where he goes.

WWYD other than restrict liquids? That unfortunately is not going to work. How will he ever regain I know this is probably a bizarre post

Try waking him up an hour or two after bed and taking him to the bathroom. Even if he doesn't urinate, it may retrain his brain to remember where to go.

[Anonymous]

Thanks everyone! PP, we did what you recommended last night and voila, it worked. Crossing my fingers . .

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:
Who prescribed this stupid thing?

What did you attempt before to try and manage sleep patterns and impulsivity?

ADHD affects attention regulation, sleep and impulse control. Has he had a neuropsychological or similar evaluation, centered on the possible co-morbidity of ADHD?

Or, could he have primarily ADHD, and slight HFA? This is what my son has. When he was little, I honestly thought he was autistic. Then we found out he had severe inattentive ADHD.

All these diagnoses overlap, OP.

If your child has ADHD, it's best to get him on an ADHD med. Those are very efficient and will not have those side effects.

Clonidine is an ADHD medication.

It's not what works best for ADHD - why did they recommend this one?

[Anonymous]

Clonidine is a non-stimulant that can help with impulsivity and mood regulation. It's a common drug to try if Tenex/Intuniv doesn't work.

OP, have you seen those motion-sensing LED toilet lights? https://www.amazon.com/IllumiBowl-Toilet-Night-Light-Shark/dp/B00S7PAFK0 I hate the thing but it has resulted in fewer "misses" by our 6yo going to the bathroom at night.

[Anonymous]

Clonidine is a non-stimulant that can help with impulsivity and mood regulation. It's a common drug to try if Tenex/Intuniv doesn't work.

OP, have you seen those motion-sensing LED toilet lights? https://www.amazon.com/IllumiBowl-Toilet-Night-Light-Shark/dp/B00S7PAFK0 I hate the thing but it has resulted in fewer "misses" by our 6yo going to the bathroom at night.