Bi-Polar? Can you help me?
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| Mon, 01-29-2007 - 11:48pm |
Okay today I go to the NP, I tell him about Chris's Angry episodes recently (actually since he was 3) but I worry since he's 10, I won't be able to hold him down when he freaks out anymore. He also has now started doing this outside of the house, where usually it only happens in the house. That worry's me.
Doctor is still testing for AS. 3 more tests to do. He says it may be time to put him on a med for Bi-Polar. ????? Help, I tried to find a board but couldn't find one. I know I have read hear where other parents have ASD spectrum kids who either also have BP or a sibling with BP.
I read all about BP, but I don't see Chris as having the other extreme with happyness and sadness. Only anger, and only sometimes. And as far as I know he doesn't hallucinate.
He also said Chris has a Thought Disorder. I googled Thought disorder and all that comes up is Schizophrenia. Now I'm really freaked out over hear. I said couldn't these angry episodes be AS? He said well no.
Lainie

He is an IDIOT! Yes kids with AS CAN have angry outbursts. Yes it is fairly common to have a comorbid mood disorder with AS and in a case with severe meltdowns it definitely needs to be ruled out, it doesn't mean that a kid with AS can't have behavior issues without having BP or a thought disorder. I had one psychiatrist who tried that as well (kids with AS don't have behavioral problems) and all the other professionals I have sought that she was completely off base.
As you know, Mike has had behavior incidents like this and more and he DOES NOT have a mood disorder. It has been questioned a million times but we have finally had it definitively ruled out.
You need to read "Asperger Syndrome and Difficult Moments". It specifically speaks to the rage cycle kids with AS tend to go through. It is not that uncommon.
As far as mood disorder, it would be prudent to try mood stabilizing meds for him and see if they work. That was part of ruling out mood disorder for Mike. We tried 3-4 meds for BP adn none of them worked. I can tell you about all the reasons they ruled it out for mike if you like. I know I posted it here somewhere.
As for thought disorder, I would SOOOO TOTALLY Get a second oppinion on that one. That is a serious thing to stick on a kid without being absolutely positive and ruling every else out first. That is like when one lame school psych tried to stick a conduct disorder label on Cait. Positively ridiculous. There is a mom who comes around every so often. I think one of her kids where considered for a thought disorder dx and he is extremely severe (as in residential) and her docs wouldn't even go there until they ruled out all else first. She sometimes goes to the child mental health boards. Actually I think after all of it he was finally diagnosed autistic. There was a time when these kinds of diagnosis were mentioned for Mike and she gave me alot of insight.
I feel really bad right now that you have put this much money and effort into this evaluation. Is there any way your insurance will pay for any testing or evals? If not perhaps actually the school one will be better. Sometimes you can get a really excellent evaluator from teh school district if you request. Perhaps if you mention all the things this neuro brings up and that your are questioning all of them they will send you to a good one. Often districts have one psych who can do some neuro-psych type testing.
Renee
{{{Renee}}} I almost called you today when I got home because I am more confused than ever. Am I not explaining things right to him? I have spent so much money, and I am a little bit freaked out. He wants to suggest him to take Abilify for the temper/violent temper outbursts....
I'm so confused. All I wanted was for him to say he has AS because I saw AS in everyones description of their kids. He fits everything.
He said above the Dysgraphia, the AS, he also puts the thought disorder on the table to add to all of this. BUT I DON'T SEE HALLUCINATIONS. Just a temper going out of control. And its not all the time, just occasionally, or when he's stressed, which I think he is right now with school. Last year when he had a great teacher who worked with him, he had hardly no problems with his temper, at least as far as getting violent. He would still do his eye thing, and he would bump me, but I could step in and do something about that to cut it off. I could always distract him away from the subject before he got so far.
I think its time I talk to my sister who is a pys professor in an ivy league college. The thing is, we don't get along. I haven't talked to her in years in fact. Its a long story... My mother has been giving her updates about the situation as she asks tho, so maybe I can pass on this info without even having to talk to her.....
Sigh, I wish this would all end you know?
hello
there is an ivillage board "child bipolar-mood disorder". i visit that board but must tell you that i get much info and support from this board about bp. we tried prozac and saw an immediate difference in son but he became manic(high). risperdol put too much weoght too fast. depokate was tried but no much effect. seroquel seems to be working for now.the symptoms of adhd seem to be quiet with seroquel.
i must tell you that the bp diagnosis hit me VERY hard. the dr had mentioned it a few months before when we were trying different meds but i could not grasp that dx. so he mentioned it again and pointed out the mood swings, cycling, anger toward me and other women,the explosions followed by a polite request for a snack, etc.
perhaps you should get a 2nd opinion. maybe try the mood stabilizer. peronally i beg you to take care of yourself-sleep, eat right,take time for yourself, find a therapist if you can. you need to be there for your child so take care of you.
Lainie,
I'm the cl at the bp board.
I don't know enough about bp to say, but I can tell you that my kids definitely have HUGE emotional outbursts, many times with quick recoveries, and our docs don't think there's anything wrong with them besides the AS, and they say that intense emotions are typical with this diagnosis. We have a family history of schizophrenia (which some docs believe is related to bp), and the first psychologist initially told us -- after just a couple of brief meetings with dd -- that she thought dd had schizotypia. I was a little surprised to hear that because I didn't think her moods qualified. I'm a bit hyper vigilant about looking for signs of it since dd is so much like her grandma who had schiz, but I honestly couldn't see anything that made me think that dx was correct. More recently neuropsych and psychiatrist both tell me that dd behavior is typical for AS and that they see no evidence of schizophrenia, bp, or any other mood disorder. Check out the bp sources the pp mentioned, and then go with your gut instinct.
If you think it is not BP, then don't go for that diagnosis. Sravan's school kept saying he is ADHD and other things. But the condition must be exibited at home and school. Since he had this only at home, then I think he feels safe at home. At school he seems to be controlling so well that he is out of energy at home. I don't believe AS kids do not show rage or tantrum. Sravan has expressed all his tantrum only at school. The phychiatrist explained that things are not so organised/predictable at school and since AS kids cannot communicate or understand the day today conversation well, this is his way of showing it. So don't assume that he is upset by that very activity. It could have stemmed from activities way before that. Now he is on overload and finally he is bursting out. This was the main reason for getting tested for AS. Get the diagnosis via medical proffessional. In my opinion, even the best district tries to stay away from this diagnosis.
Yes, this year he has a very good teacher and we trying out various things to help him make good choices rather than tilting the entire desk or throwing pencil accross the room.
take care,
Anandhi
Thank you so much decson. I was searching for Bi-Polar and nothing came up. I will search again with your title this time.
This is hard, but I am just not convinced about the BP dx and I will push it with the doc instead of just accepting it. The Thought disorder too.
Now that I think about it, he did say he had much more to do with the testing first to give an acual dx, so maybe that is what he meant with the thought disorder. I read up on the Schz thing and I honestly cannot place Chris anywhere near it. He just doesn't show the signs. But another friend I talked to last night said that there were links she found on google that said it could be attached to Aspergers and not just Schz dx(I don't wanna spell that word out lol). Truefully tho, I do think there is a thought disorder, because many times I need him to explain something, and either he won't talk, writes things down on paper, or I can't really understand what he's trying to say. I just don't think its a Schz thing you know?
So I will wait and see, but plan to be very pushy with the info I have gathered so far.
Thanks again :)
Lainie
Thank you Dee! I will hop over there and take a look today. I don't want to rush to meds, but on the other hand I don't want him to hurt himself or anyone else either. I might try the Abilify, but after this is all over and maybe get a second opinion.
I can get him eval thro our insuance a second time if need be (at least I think I can). Our insurance changed this year, the np now doesn't take that insurance and It was imperitave that he started testing now, at least for the Dysgraphia because of the huge pressure the school was giving. ANd at least I am VERY happy that has been dx, so no matter what he will get help with that.