Question re: Bipolar Children
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| Wed, 04-13-2005 - 4:46pm |
I know some of you have children that have been dx'd as BP (and other MIs). I am wondering what some of the signs/symptoms were as I have heard bp in kids can be significantly different then in adults.
I am asking because my sister's middle child (10 yr old girl) has ALWAYS had a lot of issues with irrational rage and occasional violence. In the past few months (6-8) she has gotten a LOT worse. They had to take her the ER last fall because she was standing in front of an open window screaming at the top of her lungs and threatening to kill herself. She HAS started seeing a pdoc (last fall after the ER visit) but my sister's perception is that he does not think she is bp because she doesn't answer "right" for that.
This past weekend, her siblings actually needed to lock themselves in their rooms to stay safe from her and she had woke my sister and her dh up at 5 am by throwing anything she could get her hands on at them. Needless to say, when they called the pdoc and he heard hear screaming at my sister to "hang up and stop talking to that MF'er" among other things he ordered her to the hospital. They ALMOST admitted her - and advised my sister that if things don't improve soon they won't give her the option of putting her in-patient.
Since Sat, they have started her on a low dose of abilify which seems to be helping SO far, but she is still acting out in a lot of ways. I personally have thought she might be BP for a while now, but wanted input from people who have been there.
Thanks! (wow, this got long!)
Tracey :)

I'm no expert, my oldest is ADD & BP. You look at the website : http://www.bipolarchild.com/ and get the Book too, very insightful...It helped me figure stuff out.
Hugs,
Rowan
Thanks for the info Rowan - I have forwarded the info to my sister. Hopefully SOMETHING good happens soon!! I am fairly convinced my niece is BP and that her pdoc is trying to dx her according to adult symptoms.
Thanks
Tracey
Thanks Tracey for asking the question and Rowan for the web site. I, too, have wondered about the possibility of my dd possibly being bp. She started counseling a few months ago for depression but she will have these random bursts of very hyper activity and speech patterns. Like when there is absolutely no conversation happening, she'll come out with something so random it's scary. tdoc referred her to my pdoc and he put her on a low dose of zoloft, gabitril, and now has added geodon. but today she was totally off the wall, but now has seemed to settle back down to what would be construed as "normal" for a 15 year old, if there is such a thing. lol.
But, I just wanted to thank you both. Have a great day. Tracey, I hope everything works out ok with your niece.
hugs and love,
traci