So I don’t even know where to begin today. I’ll start with the good. First of all, the diet we’ve been trying with Eldest Son is surprisingly successful so far. We’ve only tried a few things here and there, so it’s still something that could be left up to coincidence, but so far the days we’ve given him high protein, low breads and sugars have been good days. The days where he got his usual waffles or pancakes, bad, bad, bad.
Today, our old friend and hairstylist asked me what medications I have him on. She was shocked when I explained he’s not on meds, that I had just adjusted what he eats for breakfast. He’s never sat that still, a) in the waiting area and b) while getting a haircut before… and she’s known him his whole life! He sat quietly in the car; he got no complaints at daycare. He had a great day. Then I let him have a Tootsie pop, sat back, and watched. Sure enough, about a half an hour later, it started. Eventually it all escalated to the hyper, impulsive child with attitude issues. I find all this encouraging. I have a starting place for him.
Met his teacher, and she seems wonderful! I explained the only trouble I really had with the old teacher was lack of communication with the parents, and she seemed to understand completely. She’s got him already arranged front and center in the classroom, and is ready to experiment with what works for him to get him really learning in her class. I am stoked! I can’t wait to see how this plays out.
Okay, now for the bad. In this town, there is a huge lack of information on ADD/ADHD. There are no real resources for help. I had spoken with my doctor, and he referred me to his LPN. She claims to be the major resource here in town for help. So I gave her a shot. I realized I was in for trouble when she walked in the room. I recognized her immediately as the same gal who would see Eldest Son when his doc wouldn’t, and kept telling me he was just fine. For those who don’t know, the short story was, he was anything but just fine, and if my husband hadn’t gotten good and pushy and got us in with an alternate doctor who ultimately found a 4cm cyst on a 6cm kidney, Eldest Son would not be here with us today. But she insisted he was just fine.
So today she walks in and says, “So you’re here for help with ADD. Why?” And I explain. “Because I’ve been diagnosed at least three times in the past” and she cuts me off with a gazillion questions about the qualifications of those that diagnosed me and such. Okay… She asks what my symptoms are. “Of course, the classic hyperactivity, distractibility, impulsivity” and she cuts me off again. “What about irritability and sleep problems?” “Yes, I get irritable, especially around my period. And yes, I’ve always had sleep problems. I’ve been tested and diagnosed with restless leg syndrome. And I know insomnia is also common in ADD.” Cuts me off again. “Any history of Manic Depression or Bi-Polar in your family?” “No.” (The flags start raising.)
She steps out of the room for a few minutes and comes back with two pieces of paper and a pen. She instructs me to fill out these quizzes and she’ll be back shortly. One is clearly a questionnaire for ADD. I fill it out by instructions, and it shows the immense possibility of ADD. Go figure. The other one is labeled a screening tool for Mood Disorders. Okay… So I fill out her page. And yes, there are some yeses. Everything on there I answered yes to, however, is easily explained with ADD.
When she came back in the room, she didn’t even look at the ADD page, she only read over the page on Mood Disorders. Then she proudly informed me that I was manic depressive/ Bi-polar, and to not worry because she’s the area’s expert on this and she’s got just the medication for me. **Screeeeeech!!!!**
WHAT?!?!?!?!
That’s right, she’s insisting I’m bi-polar, and that Eldest Son probably is too, and that there is this great miracle drug that’s gonna make us all better.
Now, thankfully, I have been educating myself. I had actually wondered before if this was possible for me. Researching ADD brought me my answer. ADD does often show symptoms similar to Bi-Polarism, but there are very distinct. If I hadn’t found this just two days prior, I might have fallen for her BS. When comparing the pseudo bi-polar symptoms to true Manic Depression, I clearly fall under the pseudo side. Not even a doubt in my mind. I tried to explain to her what I had found out, and she was still only interested in giving me drugs.
NOW, she doesn’t know, or won’t admit it, but the medication she’s prescribed to me does get used to treat a form of ADD. I knew this when I saw her write the thing. So, I’m going to see what it does. But not because any other reason but so that I know for myself if this will work for me. I won’t medicate Eldest Son, he’s way too young and I just won’t risk my kid. But for myself, if it helps me figure out this mess so I can be more effective in helping him, so be it.
I also plan on putting together for her a big fat package of info on why her “diagnosis” skills do not in fact have something over at least three doctors, but that she still has much to learn. She even mentioned that I’d be surprised how many people come to her for help with ADD, and she “discovers” that they are “misdiagnosed” and actually Manic. I wonder how much this pharmaceutical company must be sliding her. Grrrrrrrrr….
On top of my frustration with ignorance, and of her treatment of me, I feel frustrated for the other parents and patients who must have crossed her path hoping for real help. She had nothing! Just another diagnosis that made no sense, and a prescription. How scary that she is considered the go to person in my town for such a difficult and impairing disorder. I do hope I get my med stuff together, I do think this town badly needs help for the ADD population. I seem to have maybe found my new passion.
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