Go Get your prescription!
March 5th, 2008 by A/CDoes your Child do the following
Sad, irritable, Moody, have tantrums, screams, cries, hit, bite, fight, argue, fidget, have silly thoughts, think they invinsible, nervous, get extremely hungry, impulsive, take risks, get abit depressed?
In my experience, and it is lengthy, these appear to be symptoms of being a toddler, most mothers will tell you stories about their 3 year having a temper tantrum in the supermarket because she said no to a request for a lolly or toy, or be diffient. They can be moody and irritable creatures as their young brains a wiring themselves to the surroundings and as they learn everything from walking to social behaviours, it is how we react or fail to react that sets the wiring in place generally by the form of attention we give positive or negative.
Last night I watch a program on Childhood Bipolar and ADHD and was totally shocked. Doctors Prescribing adult medications for children (with no idea as to the effects or dosage) as young as 2 and 4, they have diagnosed with Bipolar disorder and these same doctors reluctance to find any other treatment such as behaviour modifying techniques.
I should be mentioned here… when my second son was about 3 months he had an allergic reaction to sunscreen, he scratched his face which caused puss filled sores within hours, the antibiotic given also caused a reaction and by the time he was 6 months old he was allergic to everything from, bottle sterilizer, rubber, soap powder, some fabrics, all dairy, food in general, vitamin suppliments, milk, formula, soap, disposible nappies, basically you name it he reacted badly to it. It took me 10 years to get him desensitised to everything apart from 2 soap powders, a few foods and I couldnt do anything about grasses and the air. A Doctor told me he was allergic to the 20th Century and If he was born a hundred years ago would be as healthy as a horse. Taking this on board I went back a hundred years ago through books as such and did things old school, old recipes basic foods, no chemicals, even made my own soap chemical free and it worked… His behaviour was another matter. When he was 4 weeks old, before all this started he had emergency surgery for two hernias, his brother was in one hospital after being hit by those cars, and he was in another and the use of the aneastitic is believed to be the trigger of all this, he suffered some mild brain damage, in the form of learning disabilites. When he was 7 he was diagnosed with ADHD and given Dexyphetomine, this made his behaviour worse and I stopped the medication.
A few years later and trying various methods of controlling his moods and pushing the doctors he was sent to a Ear Nose and Throat Specialist and it was found that his allergies were causing him to be deaf 80% of the time and he was lip reading. It took 12 years to finally get to the bottom, armed with this knowledge lead us to an understanding with the school and modifying behaviours so he actually knew what was going on which was the problem. You try dealing with a 15 year boy, with all the normal teenage hormones and the mentallity of a 8 year old well thats my boy, his mental age is finally catching up with his age and although maturity will take a bit longer he is able to read the newspaper, he is now 20 and is functioning at about a 16 year old level.
The thoughts of giving children pills to solve behaviour issues, although in some cases I do accept is the best option, leaves me with the feeling that too many parents are seeking a quick fix, or a cure in bottle for bad parenting techniques and simply dont have the time and the energy to give children who really need it. Some of the pills prescribed divalproex, valproate 750 mg/day to 2000 mg/day for seven weeks, (Tegretol) up to 300 mg/day, lithium.
I find it funny that these conditions tend not to exist in children, in eastern and middle eastern cultures and although there are some kids with real problems these conditions are becoming so much an excuse and over diagnosed, that those who need the help are unable to get….
What is this over medications of young brains leading us to in the next generation and what effect is it having on these brains….?
Wow, Aussie, how did you ever manage during those years? Must have been overwhelming. Looks like things worked out or got better anyway. However, you decide to look at it. How did you work to get your son ‘accustomed’ to some of his many allergens while he was growing up? Just exposing him a little at a time?
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Once I knew what he was allegic too, I would introduce the offending item in a very small dose…. for milk I would give at first 5mls in a full bottle of warm water and Brown Sugar do this for 2-3 months then slowly increase the amount it took around 6 years before he could drink full cream milk, powdered was good, I tried soy no luck and goats no luck either… each bottle was boiled before he needed the steriliser would give him sores on his mouth, nappies would be washed 4 times, once in cleaning agent, twice in boiling water and then in cold the same with his clothes….. soap powder and soap perfumes etc where tough, but corn starch powder was a god send, Talc would cause friction type burning…. for the first 6 months he lived on watered down orange juice, warm water with brown sugar, milk arrowroot biscuits and weetbix (I dont know why he could handle them but he could)… I only reintroduced one new substance at a time, and as he became able to have that then I would bring in something new.. by the time he 3 or 4 he could eat most vegetables, steamed or raw, nothing processes or oiley or greasey, and organic chicken only… if it was battery (commercial type) he would be sick for days, including hospital… everything was done under the watch of my doctor and strict records kept….. all food had to be organic, no chemicals used at all… so my shopping was done at the farm stalls around where I was living on weekends… but even then I washed everything in boiled water… again just to sure…
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When I was a kid I had very bad hay fever (almost incapacitating) the hospital found out what I was allergic to (most pollens and dusts) they then made up a serum of them. My local doctor then proceeded to inject me with ever increasing doses. After about 10 doses I went into anaphlactic shock and was rushed to hospital where my life was saved !! Two weeks later we found out that this form of treatment was being banned. My hay fever was cured so the idea of small doses will work but dont give too much
I dont know why this is anonymous I am Bo Snr– Lib has been on my laptop
G’day Bo snr…
yeh it has to be very small almost minut in some instances… In the case of my boy there was nothing else except drip feeding or something I have no idea.. andthey didnt either… he gets the hayfever very bad and can be much as you described and asthma couldnt do anything about those but the food and chemicles worked well,….had to be under doctor supervision and guidence..
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Wow, couldn’t imagine having to deal with my own body reacting so badly to the surrounding environment. I just get regular old spring and fall allergies and that seems bad enough!
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Hahahaha! You can’t blame being allergic to pollen now when you have a sneezing fit after loads of beer!
Clanger Dad.
And you are allergic to wasp stings but you STILL don’t carry a phial, even though we keep telling you.
Undeniably a familiar story.
I mean — it’s almost spooky in similarities with my own life and children.
I have a five hundred page comment just for moms like us — so suffice it to say that I feel you, I understand you, and I applaud your obvious devotion and love.
Please accept my respect and honor for the hell you’ve been through.
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Seconded.
They say there is no other love like a mother’s love for her child.
Here’s for you Chook and Rufus (and Tay too. Hmmm, make that every mom at Flowers):
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j774h01b0v8&feature=related
(For everyone else: Yep, I dedicated that to Lib already yesterday. So? And okay yes, it’s a poignant song. So?!)
that is such a beautiful song and so sad but lovely all together… thank you chook That was wonderful ….
check it ladies…..
aussiecynic’s last blog post..Happy Days
I can’t listen to that all the way through Bridget! I’ll be an absolute mess!
Here’s one back at ya.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4xsA-7cL3yA
Sung by idiots but really reminds me of my mum when I moved away from home, grew up a bit and stopped being like a female Kevin with her.
Rufus thank you and much more to you….
I found that looking back you can see how hard and how much you did but at the time you just do and dont think about the hard you just do it…
the best reward is that they come through it healthy and happy…..
Although I do get phone call from time to time, can I eat this? or is the one that makes me itch…. can be funny when I tell him or his Grilfriend oh no not since you were 8 or that doesnt make you itch that makes a rash…. it is amusing sometimes othertimes I just get teary… at the question… it could have been so much worse….
aussiecynic’s last blog post..Happy Days
A/C - we are touched that you posted this and shared it at flowers.
What a thread, what a picture and what courage.
Thanks.
thanks everyone… I posted it more to show otherways for kids than pills, but also to show that I did have knowledge on the subject…
But your well wishes are greatfully accepted….
his health today is more reward than I could ask for…
aussiecynic’s last blog post..Happy Days
hi, very nice blog, I’ve voted for you on the blogger awards site.
keep it up! makes people happier.
hugs and visit our blogs as well if you like!
http://somethingtokeepinmind.blogspot.com
http://start-acting-now.blogspot.com
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Thanks J and welcome to the garden!
Oh my gosh - you really have lived through some stuff - and seem to have come out fighting all the way.
We should meet up sometime. We have a different story in many respects - but the medication one is similar.
Our eldest son Matthew
has epilepsy which revealed itself when he was 18 months old. He has been on 3 different drugs. The last one is the one we had the nightmare with. He turned into a zombie and had seizures that we’d not seen before and more often. It was only when we realised that the drug was probably contributing to his zombie like state and that the seizures he had were probably made worse by the drug that we got the support of the doctors to reduce his medication. They were going to try the ‘max dose of Lamictal’ and then add clobazam (same ‘family’ as Valium - benzodiazepene - ie it’s addictive and generally you have to keep upping the dose to maintain any effect it does have). So - fortunately we were listened to and we started reducing the drug. It took 9 months (have to go slow as can get nasty withdrawal effects).
I also noticed that he seemed to have more seizures when he had a cold, or when he was in some kind of sustained ‘pain’ - ie 2nd teeth coming through. After a bit of research I wondered if his immune response was linked up in some way. We decided to investigate helping build up his immunity so that his seizure threshold was increased.
So - now he isn’t on any drugs, and he takes BioKult (probiotic), Echinacea drops, and Hemp oil. He still has seizures - but has dropped from about 4 a week to less than 1 a week since starting the probiotics. If he has more it is normally explained by a cold or something.
Please note - I’m not saying drugs don’t work for children with epilepsy - they can work. However, when they don’t work there are options. One other option is the ketogenic diet - and I know of parents who have seen success with it. We would have tried to go this route with Matthew if things hadn’t improved (if we could have had the funding - but that is anothyer matter!)
So - With you completely Aussie!
I do hope Mathew is coping with his Seizures…. I have heard of the use of probiotics in the treatment of epilepse and other illnesses, it is amazing how changing the treatment and thinking outside the square can make a hell of difference to the outcome…
Hemp oil is an interesting one, it is incredibly useful this stuff (the plant) apart from the smoking part but even that has been found to help patience with cronic pain and sever illness…..
Much like you the funding was not there for us either…. dont now much about the Ketogenic diet have heard of it though…. it is amazing how many things can be eased or stopped totally by a change in diet either more or less…. I am so pleased you guys had such commitment to your son that you were able to find the triggers …… WELL DONE and thanks heaps…
aussiecynic’s last blog post..Happy Days
As a sufferer of multiple schlerostis (MS) I have been told that canabis can help alleviate the symptoms. But in the UK this is classed the same as crack
Maybe morally but it’s not in the same class Dad. Cannabis is Class C and crack is Class A
Down here they have for personal use, and i think they have the for medicinal but must have letter from a registered doctor… down here just up the raod and all over the state they grow opium… very pretty when its in flower… but not behond 20 metre fences just your standard cow stopper.. you can reach over and touch.. but get big trouble if you do…. tourist stop and take photos, no cameras… very funny coming from Sydney sized city to see it….
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I used to be sick when I drank certain drinks, for some reason it just made me puke. I did something similar to the method Aussie outlines above.
I started off on wine gums, then I moved onto Panda shandy. At the age of 5 they allowed me a small glass of beer, increasing in size up to the age of 10. From age 10 onwards it was 330ml cans working up to big cans of special brew by the time I was 13.
At the same time I was encouraged to randomly shout things, starting with small phrases working up to ‘come on you bastards’ by the time I was 12. By the age of 15 I could stand up and spout shite about any subject right up to my present level of expertise of proclaiming myself the messiah on any and all subjects, when drunk, and randomly chewing the ear off any poor unsuspecting sod that happens to be in the same bar.
Right now I can handle 65% Bai Jou, 70% Absynth and copious amounts of beer all at once whilst simultaneously proposing solutions to the Arab Israeli conflict, why kids are so misbehaved and what should be done to the Premier league in order to help the England side stop choking at all major tournaments since 1966.
Aussie’s method works, trust me.
Gareth I wish my mother had tried that with me…. then I would like Scotch, and bourbon…. When I party I start off with Vodka Lime and lemonade, single nip… progress through the the evening to doubles and then finish the night off with a beer or lolly water, Rasberry Sub or similar….
I tell you though your practise has trained you well now you dont need to be drunk …. :lol:
Oh btw I loved that spam link you left me… havent finished reading it all yet.. but so far a real crack up
aussiecynic’s last blog post..Happy Days
GIC you’re in fine form today I see (don’t worry I’m not going to post any links!!)
Well done ladies! Your children will thank you when they’re older.
I’ve never suffered myself - always liked to think I was a boy of the country - outdoor life, eat anything, stomach of an ox etc, but recently even I’ve had a touch of hayfever!! Not as invincible as i thought.
I always turn for the honey - colds, flu, hay fever like symptoms ( I can’t bring myself to admit I do suffer hayfever) there’s a jar of local honey on my desk and plenty of spoons - 1 or 2 teaspoons an hour when its really bad.
It works, is natural and it tastes good too. The boy done good after all.
Jonathan
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I’ve never really had any allergies, except penicilin (quite common I think) and sometimes hard work.
There is an email knocking round at the moment AC, congratulating children born in the 60’s. 70’s and 80’s. I’ll try and find it tomorrow but it basically says that children born in those years are far harder than children born later, for various reasons.
I’m not too sure about children in the middle east/ more eastern countries being less susceptible, perhaps it’s because we just don’t hear about them as much?
Anyway, you must feel immensely proud as a parent (quite rightly) to have taken the time and the patience to get to the route of your sons condition. Never accepting the first answer and challenging those with knowledge is an exceptionally diificult and brave thing to do.
I think one of the problems with ADHD (and Aspergers/Autism) is a lack of understanding, what with them being a relatively new conditions (well, diagnosed anyway) and this is coupled with the fact that doctors are targeted to diagnose and treat. Drugs are the easy way of doing this.
More understanding and research is needed with ADHD and I think this is slowly happening in the wake of the bad press Ritalin has received.
More parents like you are needed AC. Simple as that really.
I tend to agree with the email in part… our generation was just before all the PC and anto bacterial everything… Alot of the allergy hassles I think is due to lack of exposure as children, eating dirt playnig with worms etc,,, these things allow our immune system to get tthe mix right take that away and the immune turns on itelf in lot of ways … with my lad it was the chemicals in the aneastetic that triggered his system to overload and turn on itself we were lucky I think in alot of ways.. his system was young enough to be reprogrammed, my doctor was open minded and loads of research….
Agree with ADHD it needs to be investigated further and find the root of it…..
Thanks heaps Lib
aussiecynic’s last blog post..Happy Days
I am allergic pencilian
aussiecynic’s last blog post..Happy Days
Coming late as usual, but I couldn’t leave your post without a comment. First of all, I have to say that I admire you, many parents, maybe myself included, would have looked for an easy fix, but mainly because today’s lifestyle doesn’t naturally leave space for much else - if you go with the flow. I grew up with an autistic brother, before the drug solution culture came in, and though it was not an easy process for anyone, time and patience paid off and he is really doing well now. Today, I have a friend whose son is also autistic, but she is advised to give a daily cocktail of drugs and truly believes that this is the only way to ensure that his ‘condition’ is managed. this is not her fault, because there are no other viewpoints around and she still has to manage a full-time job just to survive. You have set a great example that, without preaching, you could try to advise people to follow.
authism is a scary illness and so very different which each person… it was one of things tested on my lad when he was about 5 and ruled out….
It would be good if your friend could find some alternate advice…. the time spent now really pays off in the long run I think…. in todays busy world with jobs and family and bills and just trying to eat it can be so very hard to find the time or the energy… it is sad to think how this will effect our kids and theirs…
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I guess this is one of the side effects of mass production of everything. There are chemicals used in almost everything to make them grow faster & bigger. Even the medicines are not without their side effects. Thats why I rely on herbal medicine as much as I can as far as common cold & flu are concerned.
God help the future generations !
Dubai Guy’s last blog post..A Strange Love Story
G’Day Dubai Guy havent seen for a bit
SOme of these kids had ticks and twitches that reminded me of parkinson…(grandma has it)…. I dont buy anything meat which has been feed meat..ei feeding cow to cows and chicken to chickens just isnt right… the growth hormones they put in the meat also is evident look at how tall alot of western kids are today…. I found out that a chicken from a commercial grower marketed as a size 21 (=2.1 kilos) is actually about 6-8 weeks old…
it does make some including me feel as if we are just part of some experiement by the phamecutical campanies and now they have targetted our kids… It also makes me think if all the chemicals in our food and our air arnt the cause of alot of the problems… which means when you get sick you need to take more drugs or so they tell us… but that is a conspiracy theory isnt it… hmmm
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Bigger, stronger - Viagra? Hope I don’t go into Spam!
Hi Fab
Awhile ago they were viagra to our Politicians, but they had to stop
IT MADE THEM TALLER :lol:
aussiecynic’s last blog post..Hide and seek!
LOL
Jim & Em, what you guys think of Dubai’s growth? Did someone say viagra here?
Dubai Guy’s last blog post..A Strange Love Story
lol
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Good day to you too. Well my friend, I am not a very active blogger, maybe I am too lazy
A six to eight week old chicken weighing 2.1 kg, now isn’t that a miracle?
I feel the whole world has become a testing field, we the common people are being used as lab mice, whether it is food, medicine or even weapons, for which currently Iraq & Afghanistan are the main testing grounds.
Dubai Guy’s last blog post..A Strange Love Story
I have heard thats many civilians in those areas are getting sick because of the low grade Uranium used in the Bunker busters and the Armour Peircing bullets and such…..
I watch a documentary recently that showed which one used uranium…. not a nice thing even worse thatn normal weapons…. that might be the next post… hmmm
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Could be an interesting one AC!
I’ll let you know if i find the doco…. is very interesting….. I think people would be shocked…..
So we will see….
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Depleted Uranium is used to pierce armour and thick walled bunkers. Governments deny it has an effect but its hardly like extensive controlled experimental trials have been carried out.
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I have some interesting information on the effects and the hows and why’s… just trying to confirm the details and find a copy on line of the Doco I watched very interesting and creditably program…. so no tabloid nonsence… as soon as I have found it I shall post it.. any hassles with censorship if I do Jem??????
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Dubai Guy,
I only use homeopathic medicine and it works for me. Can’t remember the last time I took any man made medicines…
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