Daniel has been on Risperdal and Zoloft since last July. We took him off of the ADHD medication after realizing that his symptoms looked more bipolar. Too often the characteristics of bipolar are mistaken for ADHD because they are so similar. This is what the psychiatrist felt after reading the notes from Daniel's hospital stay and his own evaluations.
During the last eight months, we have seen vast improvement in Daniel's behavior. With the use of cognitive behavioral therapy and medicine, we saw a totally different boy. His violence decreased dramatically. He was more in control of his emotions. His grades went from a B average to straight A's. He stopped having hallucinations, anxiety attacks and suicidal tendencies. It was incredible. Thankfully, Daniel did not have any of the negative side effects of using the medications. He is not zombie like, has not lost his appetite, etc...
He was doing so well, in fact, that we lowered the dosage of his Risperdal and decreased his therapist visits. He was obviously not ready for it. I've seen a lot of regression in him and it scares me. I'm seeing the old Daniel rear his head and it reminds me of how hellish life was for everyone before we got help for him. The whole mood of the house changes. Our days are filled with tantrums, outbursts, fighting, running away & threatening to kill. It isn't pretty, to say the least. The trickle effect seems to make the rest of the kids more angry and violent too.
We are scheduling the rEEG test this week. I cannot wait to see the results for Daniel. It will be so nice to finally have some answers. For now, we have put him back on the old dosage of his meds so that he does not regress any further. It tears me apart to see him struggle inside with self control and anger. Nobody deserves to be afflicted with these things.
There are angels among us.
We call them children.~
Kadi
Monday, March 23, 2009
Friday, March 20, 2009
Picking Up Where We Left Off
I've never been one to keep quiet about my life. I feel that knowledge and experience that goes unshared is a waste. We are where we are today because of people who were brave enough to speak up and speak out, regardless of how crazy their thoughts sounded or how radical their theories seemed.
I am recommitting myself to blogging our struggles, as a family, to help our oldest son find answers to what plagues him. We have been on a virtual roller coaster with him. We have tried everything from therapy to pills, to dietary changes and are still left without any exact answers. I'm praying that the new rEEG test will provide us with information that can allow our son to live a happy, normal life. He deserves a life that is free of mental torture and constant inner battles.
I have not blogged about this in a long time. Mostly because there are people in this world who prefer to maintain a closed mouth and believe that everyone else should too. Although I know and love some of these people, I have an obligation to share our battle with others, so that they do not feel so alone. If these people cannot understand that, I will love them anyway but refuse to be silent.
At this point, D is on two medications for what doctors believe is bipolar disorder. The first medication, Risperdal, is an anti psychotic. The second is Zoloft, an anti depressant. Did I ever dream that my nine year old son would have to take daily doses of such things? Never in my worst nightmares. Am I happy about it? No way. So why would I allow him to become dependent on drugs? Simply because I see a whole different child now. I see that he can better manage his anger, live normally and get straight A's in school. The medicine is helping his neurotransmitters to do their jobs.
We combine the medication with regular therapy and behavioral modification techniques at home. It isn't an easy task. Some days are better than others. We still would like to know exactly what goes on in his little brain and I truly believe that someday we will. So I keep chasing rainbows and praying that I'm doing the right thing. For now, I just count my blessings. My son is alive and is having an easier time coping with life. That is what keeps us going.
I am recommitting myself to blogging our struggles, as a family, to help our oldest son find answers to what plagues him. We have been on a virtual roller coaster with him. We have tried everything from therapy to pills, to dietary changes and are still left without any exact answers. I'm praying that the new rEEG test will provide us with information that can allow our son to live a happy, normal life. He deserves a life that is free of mental torture and constant inner battles.
I have not blogged about this in a long time. Mostly because there are people in this world who prefer to maintain a closed mouth and believe that everyone else should too. Although I know and love some of these people, I have an obligation to share our battle with others, so that they do not feel so alone. If these people cannot understand that, I will love them anyway but refuse to be silent.
At this point, D is on two medications for what doctors believe is bipolar disorder. The first medication, Risperdal, is an anti psychotic. The second is Zoloft, an anti depressant. Did I ever dream that my nine year old son would have to take daily doses of such things? Never in my worst nightmares. Am I happy about it? No way. So why would I allow him to become dependent on drugs? Simply because I see a whole different child now. I see that he can better manage his anger, live normally and get straight A's in school. The medicine is helping his neurotransmitters to do their jobs.
We combine the medication with regular therapy and behavioral modification techniques at home. It isn't an easy task. Some days are better than others. We still would like to know exactly what goes on in his little brain and I truly believe that someday we will. So I keep chasing rainbows and praying that I'm doing the right thing. For now, I just count my blessings. My son is alive and is having an easier time coping with life. That is what keeps us going.
Labels:
behavior,
Bipolar,
medication,
therapy
Thursday, March 19, 2009
The Holy Grail of Psychiatry
What you are about to read will change your life, or the life of somebody you know. I don’t mean to sound like one of those televised sales pests, but I’m very serious. My visit to the psychiatrist, yesterday, was the most exciting one I’ve ever had. Before I tell you why, let me back up a bit…
Most of you know that my oldest son is medicated for bi-polar disorder. We have been on a long road with him, in hopes of finding answers. I used to blog about our struggles with him in a separate blog, just because it is such a major part of our lives. He was diagnosed with ADHD a few years ago, but it became quite obvious that he has more than just hyperactivity issues. After a serious plummet in his mental health, we had him assessed at Loma Linda Behavioral Center. It was the turning point we needed, but also a nightmare to live through. That was last July. Since then, we have been to many therapy appointments and gone through several different medications, just trying to find something that works for him. Watching your child go through mental torture is heart wrenching, to say the least. The process has escalated my own anxiety disorder, because I could not handle the stress of not being able to take his anguish away. Unless you have gone through this with your own kids, you have absolutely no idea how very hellish it is.
Yesterday, Dr. Multani (our psychiatrist,) gave me some news that I never expected to get. He and a few of his colleagues have discovered a test called rEEG (referenced EEG.) The test is like an EKG for the brain. What it does, to put it very simplistically, is tells the doctors exactly what medication/vitamins/ minerals each patient needs to treat their disorder. This covers a wide array of conditions: Depression, anxiety, Bipolar, ADD, Bulimia, OCD, Addiction, Anger and many more. In some cases, the test findings were so shocking, that Dr. Multani was very nervous to tell the patient the news. How could it be that a girl who suffers from Anorexia, could need a medication called Ritalin? Ritalin is a stimulant and quite often, squashes the appetite. Never the less, it is what the test results pointed to. One month later, the girl returned after taking Ritalin, having gained five pounds and happy to report no more food issues.
In most medical studies, the success rate is under 90%. The success rate in this study was predicted to be between 70 and 80 percent. After the case studies were completed….they found a 100% success rate. In plain English….IT WORKS ON EVERYONE. I was in awe as I sat and listened to Dr. Multani tell me about the test. Can you imagine the money and time (not to mention stress) that this is going to save millions of people? MILLIONS of people, BILLIONS of dollars. This test trumps every other brain scan used to find answers to mood disorders. In three years or so, it will be covered by insurance. I’m not even waiting. I want to know for sure what my son has and how to treat it. We are scheduling his appointment ASAP.
If you battle any of these aforementioned conditions or know somebody who does, please feel free to call Dr. Multani and speak with him about this test directly. You really have nothing to lose, but your whole life to gain. I have been given permission to give you Dr. Multani’s number, if you have questions or are ready to take control of your condition. I am rejoicing in the knowledge that my son will have the answers and ability to be on the right medicine or vitamins and move on with his life. I want all of you who love somebody who suffers, to have that same feeling of relief and joy.
Gurmeet Multani, M.D. 909)800-9389
CNS Response: www.cnsresponse.com
Most of you know that my oldest son is medicated for bi-polar disorder. We have been on a long road with him, in hopes of finding answers. I used to blog about our struggles with him in a separate blog, just because it is such a major part of our lives. He was diagnosed with ADHD a few years ago, but it became quite obvious that he has more than just hyperactivity issues. After a serious plummet in his mental health, we had him assessed at Loma Linda Behavioral Center. It was the turning point we needed, but also a nightmare to live through. That was last July. Since then, we have been to many therapy appointments and gone through several different medications, just trying to find something that works for him. Watching your child go through mental torture is heart wrenching, to say the least. The process has escalated my own anxiety disorder, because I could not handle the stress of not being able to take his anguish away. Unless you have gone through this with your own kids, you have absolutely no idea how very hellish it is.
Yesterday, Dr. Multani (our psychiatrist,) gave me some news that I never expected to get. He and a few of his colleagues have discovered a test called rEEG (referenced EEG.) The test is like an EKG for the brain. What it does, to put it very simplistically, is tells the doctors exactly what medication/vitamins/ minerals each patient needs to treat their disorder. This covers a wide array of conditions: Depression, anxiety, Bipolar, ADD, Bulimia, OCD, Addiction, Anger and many more. In some cases, the test findings were so shocking, that Dr. Multani was very nervous to tell the patient the news. How could it be that a girl who suffers from Anorexia, could need a medication called Ritalin? Ritalin is a stimulant and quite often, squashes the appetite. Never the less, it is what the test results pointed to. One month later, the girl returned after taking Ritalin, having gained five pounds and happy to report no more food issues.
In most medical studies, the success rate is under 90%. The success rate in this study was predicted to be between 70 and 80 percent. After the case studies were completed….they found a 100% success rate. In plain English….IT WORKS ON EVERYONE. I was in awe as I sat and listened to Dr. Multani tell me about the test. Can you imagine the money and time (not to mention stress) that this is going to save millions of people? MILLIONS of people, BILLIONS of dollars. This test trumps every other brain scan used to find answers to mood disorders. In three years or so, it will be covered by insurance. I’m not even waiting. I want to know for sure what my son has and how to treat it. We are scheduling his appointment ASAP.
If you battle any of these aforementioned conditions or know somebody who does, please feel free to call Dr. Multani and speak with him about this test directly. You really have nothing to lose, but your whole life to gain. I have been given permission to give you Dr. Multani’s number, if you have questions or are ready to take control of your condition. I am rejoicing in the knowledge that my son will have the answers and ability to be on the right medicine or vitamins and move on with his life. I want all of you who love somebody who suffers, to have that same feeling of relief and joy.
Gurmeet Multani, M.D. 909)800-9389
CNS Response: www.cnsresponse.com
Labels:
ADD,
ADHD,
answers,
Bipolar,
medication,
mental illness,
mood disorders,
OCD,
psychiatry
Friday, June 27, 2008
Focus On Positivity
My newest endeavor has been to find a pediatrician who works on a holistic level. Thanks to iluveeyore, a very helpful reader, I found one who practices at Loma Linda Hosptial. That is only an hour away from where we are. I'm not sure if our insurance would cover an office visit, but I will gladly pay the regular fee for a visit, just to have the chance to get the opinion of a different kind of doctor. I will be calling them today.
Daniel has not had any other withdrawal signs. He has stopped getting dizzy and seems to be a lot more at ease, knowing that what he was experiencing was a normal reaction to the adjustment of the lack of medication. Being on our new diet has helped us focus on making good choices. We talk more often about how the choices we make, effect so many things that we do not realize. We talk about behavior and how controlling our anger can make the outcome of a situation more pleasant and not end in a punishment. We talk about the choice to put only good food into our bodies and how it effects how well our bodies work. I tell them about my grandpa. He was a diabetic for almost sixty years. He never lost a limb and lived to the ripe old age of 80, because he ate well, took vitamins and exercised regularly. He was a shining example of making healthy choices for a long life.
I am reading a book called "The Gift Of ADHD Activity Book," (Lara Honos-Webb, PH.D.) It gives over 100 different activities to do with an ADHD child and reasons why it helps them on a behavioral level. Daniel enjoys doing these activities and the best part is, they can be done with all of the kids. They are designed to help with increased concentration, relaxation, imagery, self control and frontal lobe activity. Today, we are going to do an activity called "Joy, joy and more joy." It teaches the child to create a sense of greater joy by focusing on the things that he/she loves. We are going to do activities that Daniel loves, read about his favorite things and let him pick out what we make for dinner (he loves to cook!) We are going to focus on the positive aspects of ADHD and use them to build more self esteem in Daniel.
Photobucket src="http://i238.photobucket.com/albums/ff270/kadiprescott/thfleur-1.jpg" border=0>
Daniel has not had any other withdrawal signs. He has stopped getting dizzy and seems to be a lot more at ease, knowing that what he was experiencing was a normal reaction to the adjustment of the lack of medication. Being on our new diet has helped us focus on making good choices. We talk more often about how the choices we make, effect so many things that we do not realize. We talk about behavior and how controlling our anger can make the outcome of a situation more pleasant and not end in a punishment. We talk about the choice to put only good food into our bodies and how it effects how well our bodies work. I tell them about my grandpa. He was a diabetic for almost sixty years. He never lost a limb and lived to the ripe old age of 80, because he ate well, took vitamins and exercised regularly. He was a shining example of making healthy choices for a long life.
I am reading a book called "The Gift Of ADHD Activity Book," (Lara Honos-Webb, PH.D.) It gives over 100 different activities to do with an ADHD child and reasons why it helps them on a behavioral level. Daniel enjoys doing these activities and the best part is, they can be done with all of the kids. They are designed to help with increased concentration, relaxation, imagery, self control and frontal lobe activity. Today, we are going to do an activity called "Joy, joy and more joy." It teaches the child to create a sense of greater joy by focusing on the things that he/she loves. We are going to do activities that Daniel loves, read about his favorite things and let him pick out what we make for dinner (he loves to cook!) We are going to focus on the positive aspects of ADHD and use them to build more self esteem in Daniel.
Photobucket src="http://i238.photobucket.com/albums/ff270/kadiprescott/thfleur-1.jpg" border=0>
Labels:
activities,
behavior,
books,
doctors,
positivity,
side effects
Wednesday, June 25, 2008
Road Blocks
Our real blessings often appear to us in the shape of pains, losses and disappointments; but let us have patience and we soon shall see them in their proper figures. ~Joseph Addison
I am feeling slightly disappointed today...okay, a lot disappinted. Dr. Phan is no longer in practice at the same location and his co-workers are not divulging his whereabouts. I know it sounds odd. I find that strange, but what am I to do?
Well, I'm not giving up. I know that he bought the special glasses from some company. Hopefully, through the help of the internet, I can locate the origin of such glasses. I'll do a little research and see what I come up with.
The dietary changes are going well. I made cookies last night and allowed the kids to add some chocolate chips. They actually considered the cookies a treat, which is not something I've witnessed in a long time. They got so used to having sugar based products, that it was commonplace and expected. They got to the point of complaining about the kind of candy I would buy for them. Yes, it was a real eye opener for me. When treats are no longer appreciated, you know it is time to cut them out for awhile.
Daniel will be going in for his allergy test, next week. In the meantime, I'm searching for a new pediatrician, much to the disagreement of my husband. He thinks that the solution to our lack of trust in our doctor should be to address it with him, instead of replacing him. After all, he does know our family and has treated them since birth. I don't know if a discussion will help. He does what he is trained to do, write prescriptions. I'd rather seek out a doctor of alternative medicine and homeopathic remedies. Or at least one who is willing to say, "I don't know the answer to that."
I am feeling slightly disappointed today...okay, a lot disappinted. Dr. Phan is no longer in practice at the same location and his co-workers are not divulging his whereabouts. I know it sounds odd. I find that strange, but what am I to do?
Well, I'm not giving up. I know that he bought the special glasses from some company. Hopefully, through the help of the internet, I can locate the origin of such glasses. I'll do a little research and see what I come up with.
The dietary changes are going well. I made cookies last night and allowed the kids to add some chocolate chips. They actually considered the cookies a treat, which is not something I've witnessed in a long time. They got so used to having sugar based products, that it was commonplace and expected. They got to the point of complaining about the kind of candy I would buy for them. Yes, it was a real eye opener for me. When treats are no longer appreciated, you know it is time to cut them out for awhile.
Daniel will be going in for his allergy test, next week. In the meantime, I'm searching for a new pediatrician, much to the disagreement of my husband. He thinks that the solution to our lack of trust in our doctor should be to address it with him, instead of replacing him. After all, he does know our family and has treated them since birth. I don't know if a discussion will help. He does what he is trained to do, write prescriptions. I'd rather seek out a doctor of alternative medicine and homeopathic remedies. Or at least one who is willing to say, "I don't know the answer to that."
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