Dysregulation disorderFollow

Yes, and beef, pork and turkey
anything white, i.e. rice, flour, potatoes (also means no vodka), sugar eggs
anything good i.e. peanuts, wheat, yeah gluten allergy sucks too
anything yummy, i.e. chocolate, fruit, corn (yeah no whiskey either)
yeah barley, yeast, brewer's yeart, malt and hops, go figure.
honestly can't have any alcohol without taking steps to calm the reaction
Other: latex, codeine, penicillin, sulfa drugs, hydrocodone,

too many others to list, my life sucks, thanks!

Hi, YOU ARE A HYPOCHONDRIAC. You are part of the problem.

Anyway, this does nothing to address over-diagnosis. In point of fact, the further classifications are granulated, the easier it becomes to over diagnose on the less severe end. Obviously the benefit is that xyz SSRI that fails clinical trials on Bi-Polar subjects might work on DD subjects. We're not quite at the point where we take the drug and, if it does *anything* invent a disorder that's "cured" by it, but we're awfully close.

If you suffer from hypotrichosis, or "too few eyelashes..."

Not that I'm taking sides, but I'm guessing your allergist is making an extremely good living from treating all the allergies with which she's diagnosed you.

So I'm going to put myself out there in response to those who say that parents are lazy when it comes to medicating their children or that a caring family does more than medicine could.

On one aspect I totally agree that there are parents out there who try to get their kids diagnosed and medicated because they can not handle what a child really *is*. How many kids diagnosed with ADHD really don't have it but have lazy parents? I have no idea. But it's true that they are out there. And I bristle anytime I hear a mom make offhand jokes that their kids might have ADHD because her kid cant hear her calling him at the playground that very moment while she drinks her latte and chats on the phone. Those people, and those who have never had to deal with clinical ADHD have no fucking clue what it really entails. Because even though I agree that there are kids over diagnosed, I also know that ADHD is not a parental dysfunction or lack of being able to teach their child manners. It's real and it sucks for both the child who has to deal with it, and the entire family. And sometimes, medication is the only hope to help balance out a child in order for them to be able to do what normal kids can do on their own. It allows them to focus just enough to be able to learn their school work, or any task. It allows them to keep up with their own thoughts, allowing them to keep a conversation going. It helps them in so many ways, when sometimes, even a strong caring family, a lot of changes in structure, and environmental stuff, can not always do on their own. Combined together, however, and they can make a huge impact on a persons life.

Xavier was diagnosed with severe ADHD and ODD years ago. We're talking almost off the charts. He went through extensive assessments before we got the official diagnosis, goes for 6 month check ups to ensure he is doing well and to keep finding ways to help him. We do (and did prior to diagnosis) a lot of behavior modification techniques. We watched his diet. We did everything we could for him in getting him out of the house and into sports: swimming, gymnastics, soccer, and he was outside playing nonstop until the sun went down. And it did nothing to curb his hyperactivity, nor his irrational aggression. After going through all of our options and trying all avenues we had to try medication, if only so that he was able to curb his hyperactivity, impulses, and aggression during school so that he could actually have a chance to learn. I was anti meds for a long time, but when you get to a point that you have exhausted everything else and you watch your child suffering because of something he can not control.... you do what you think is best for your child.

With a severely structured home environment, a lot of behavior modification, a lot of love and care, and support from his family, and with medication, Xavier is a completely different, happy child, who can do well in school, focus on his homework (with a mom hovering nearby to see that he stays on task). He has made and can maintain friendships, something he could not do before. But taken off his meds (or when they wear off) he is nothing but a Dr. Jekyll/Mr. Hyde: even now, after years of a lot of work from the MR and I to create a home environment that is safe, structured, and where he knows he is loved to pieces, the moment medication is not in his system he becomes argumentative over (literally) everything and anything, impulsive to the point he has done dangerous things he never would have done while on medication, and run/jumps/screeches/mumbles/skips nonstop. Watching him in the mornings and nights when he is "normal" and not on meds, and seeing him when he is on his medication... there is no way he would have had a decent chance without them in this type of world. He would have failed school in a heartbeat, his impulses unchecked would have gotten him into trouble, he would not be able to hold down a job. With medication he has a chance.

80% of people diagnosed with ADHD have it in the family. I have mild ADD, unmedicated, but I drink a crap ton of coffee. Stimulants, like caffeine, don't make me hyper. They make me focus better. There is a reason I'm the Caffeine Queen. I would not be able to do much without my coffee in the sense of it being what helps me focus. My brother has moderate ADHD, my father mild ADHD. Some people, even diagnosed with ADD or ADHD can get away without medication as long as they work hard to keep as organized as possible. Even with that I struggle doing more than 2 things at once. I cant focus. But I can get by. But there are definite instances where medication is necessary in order to maintain what a lot of people take for granted: a normal life.

Annnd off my soapbox to get some more coffee. Fresh pot just brewed!

I did. It's true. Not merely based on my own experience, but on the catalogues of case studies, epidemiological statistics and the output of a legion of self-help groups.


When did I say it doesn't work, idiot? Self-harm works, but it has some awkward implications.



I'll type slowly for you.

Most (and I'm basing this on empirical, peer-reviewed evidence) sufferers of bipolar disorder (or whatever label we choose) have a range of options. Each has its own merits and downsides.

You, on the other hand, are just annoying and pointless. You may be an intellectual giants (my radar says not) or an imbecile (you can type so I'll be generous) but your whining, victim-mode drivel hints to me that you've bought the pharmacists' Golden Wonka Bar and should munch away to your ickle heart's delight.

Meanwhile, millions of people like me develop techniques to know when the lows are on their way and take evasive action, and take preventive measures against the rashness of the highs.

On the plus side, there's a high suicide rate amongst our number (especially among the medicated; take it as read that this could be because they're medicated due to severity), so maybe you'll have opened a vein by the time I've hit "Post Message"

Hugs

Nexa

Not at all Nobby. Maybe you missed the first half of my post. Maybe you were too distracted by something shiny? Suffice to say I definitely agree with you that in many cases the Drs etc are ones who will do anything for an extra buck. My point still stands that while that may be the case for some, it doesnt mean that it's the case in all. Sometimes medication is valid and needed to live a normal life

Why no she's not, I take no shots or drops and haven't seen her in over 2 years. I live on a rotation/deletion diet. I carry benadryl for hives and an epi-pen for emergencies. See, you aren't as smart as you thought you were.

Don't assume you know me... K? You are also the same person who told me I didn't need my blood pressure medicine and that my DR over prescribed. I take 3 pills a day, all blood pressure related. I use ibuprofen for migraines when I get one, I see NO doctor making any $ off me. Remember, I don't have insurance, diagnose me all you want, I ain't payin' ya!

How deliciously naive m'dear.

Her income derives from the companies who rely on you buying pills.

Just sayin'

ETA. I didn't say you didn't need blood pressure pills. They're essential for people who have high blood pressure. I said you should do something about the cause of your high blood pressure.

Know what I'm sayin'?

Edited, Feb 10th 2010 7:39pm by Nobby

I hear you and agree that this tends to be the case with a lot of people in the general population. And to be honest, I wish I was able to say Oh FFS if only I had done this differently... maybe if I change my ways he would be normal!!!..... Alas for us, that's not going to happen. And sad DSD is sad, because if I could do anything to actually have Xavier not have to go down this road in his life, I would do it in a heartbeat, no questions asked.

I hate doctors and you for that matter.

Yeah, I'm sure we make you sick. Of course...what doesn't?

try the veal!


You clearly have no clue what you're talking about. When you find a non-medication related "fix" for bipolar disorder please come back. If you can't handle the idea that mediciation actually works, stay in your 1960's playpen

To be fair; what with him working for the NHS in the UK, it's extremely unlikely that he lacks understanding here. It's completely possible, on the other hand, that he's just fucking with you. The proper response is "You're clearly taking the ****". With those semantics out of the way, let me say that in my consulting capacity for a multi-billion dollar health care corp over the last year, I'm at this point extremely familiar with the gap between actual studies of pharmacological efficacy and studies designed for submission to the FDA for approval. There are many, many, many, drugs on the market, PARTICULARLY those intended to treat "mental illness" that show no evidence of outperforming placebo. None. They win approval by drug companies running ten double blind studies, then submitting the two where the outcome is best for them to the FDA. Statistical deviation offers this opportunity to essentially any substance given enough studies.

We can have a distinct argument about if it matters if the results come from placebo effect or brain chemistry so long as they benefit someone, but the reality is that many, many, many, many drugs designed around treating brain chemistry have virtually no benefit in isolation.

because unfortunately, at least in my experiences Moe, a lot of the population hear that some are not valid and do jump to the conclusion that because some things are overdiagnosed, then it's probable there is no such thing in the first place and it's all make believe. I cant believe how many times I've heard ignorant people spout off about how awful any parent is who medicates their child for a "made up" disorder. I put my personal experiences out there in order to help teach anyone who may be stupid enough to actually have that line of thinking think outside their stupid little box. I dont believe that most of you are that stupid, but that doesnt mean all aren't

From my experience, while doctors take a disproportionate amount of the blame, usually it is the schools who are pushing for medication, necessarily or not, b/c they don't have the resources to manage these kids. Doctors can't bill for anything other than perfunctory visits

They're not "evil" here, most of the time. Just lazy. It takes a lot more effort to say "no" to WebMD "educated" patients convinced something will fix their kid.