Untitled Hyena Thread

[dizzyami]

OMG - here is a checklist...can I say yes to all of the above: I guess I should have pushed sooner, but I have always tended to be anti-authority, and think I am smarter then authority figures...so I was taking it easy on this one...what a bad time to try to fit in

Insistence on sameness; resistance to change
Difficulty in expressing needs, using gestures or pointing instead of words
Repeating words or phrases in place of normal, responsive language
Laughing (and/or crying) for no apparent reason; showing distress for reasons not apparent to others
Preference to being alone; aloof manner
Tantrums
Difficulty in mixing with others
Not wanting to cuddle or be cuddled
Little or no eye contact
Unresponsive to normal teaching methods
Sustained odd play
Spinning objects
Obsessive attachment to objects
Apparent over-sensitivity or under-sensitivity to pain
No real fears of danger
Noticeable physical over-activity or extreme under-activity
Uneven gross/fine motor skills
Non-responsive to verbal cues; acts as if deaf, although hearing tests in normal range

 

[staley7580]

OMG - there is just so much information out there...but the more I look into it autism itself is so confusing (no wonder why no one will diagnose it). There is no medical test to perform, just observations of behavior . Now for the next question...I have always been very anti-drugging of children, but the Dr. recommended it and think it will help...I really don't know how I don't try it.

Tonight I will call my sister ands see what they did with my nephew.. I know he was on a ton of stuff, because they thought it was ADHD, and this was back in the day where they drugged the kids heavily... For everything. But I am pretty sure that once they figured out what it was, he wasnt on a bunch of stuff anymore, and NOW... He is a totally normal 16yo boy. I do know that my sister said the BIGGEST thing with him was schedule. Everything with him is schedules down to the minute. He STILL has to eat AT5pm. Never a second before, or a second after.

 

[staley7580]

OMG - here is a checklist...can I say yes to all of the above: I guess I should have pushed sooner, but I have always tended to be anti-authority, and think I am smarter then authority figures...so I was taking it easy on this one...what a bad time to try to fit in

Insistence on sameness; resistance to change
Difficulty in expressing needs, using gestures or pointing instead of words
Repeating words or phrases in place of normal, responsive language
Laughing (and/or crying) for no apparent reason; showing distress for reasons not apparent to others
Preference to being alone; aloof manner
Tantrums
Difficulty in mixing with others
Not wanting to cuddle or be cuddled
Little or no eye contact
Unresponsive to normal teaching methods
Sustained odd play
Spinning objects
Obsessive attachment to objects
Apparent over-sensitivity or under-sensitivity to pain
No real fears of danger
Noticeable physical over-activity or extreme under-activity
Uneven gross/fine motor skills
Non-responsive to verbal cues; acts as if deaf, although hearing tests in normal range

That was my nephew to a T.

 

[dizzyami]

Tonight I will call my sister ands see what they did with my nephew.. I know he was on a ton of stuff, because they thought it was ADHD, and this was back in the day where they drugged the kids heavily... For everything. But I am pretty sure that once they figured out what it was, he wasnt on a bunch of stuff anymore, and NOW... He is a totally normal 16yo boy. I do know that my sister said the BIGGEST thing with him was schedule. Everything with him is schedules down to the minute. He STILL has to eat AT5pm. Never a second before, or a second after.

That would be cool if you could talk to her. I know I always thought drugging kids was a bad answer, and that no behavior could warrant that. But the way DS constantly hurts DD (and whoever else), if it could help his behaviour impulses I honestly think I might change my mind. It breaks my heart to see DD constantly hurt by DS, but sadly there is not a dang thing I can do. He won't listen, he will not respond to any punishment, and he simply don't care...and the kid is only 4

 

[staley7580]

That would be cool if you could talk to her. I know I always thought drugging kids was a bad answer, and that no behavior could warrant that. But the way DS constantly hurts DD (and whoever else), if it could help his behaviour impulses I honestly think I might change my mind. It breaks my heart to see DD constantly hurt by DS, but sadly there is not a dang thing I can do. He won't listen, he will not respond to any punishment, and he simply don't care...and the kid is only 4

Absolutely! Are there any support groups in your area? Im sure probably not, since you are in such a small town. Ill get all the info out of her that I can, and send it all your way.

 

[staley7580]

Hey! Im sure you already saw this, but there is a DR. in Gilbert that specializes in Aspergers. I know you dont live there anymore, but it might be worth checking out!

http://www.aspergers.com/asplist.htm

 

[dizzyami]

Absolutely! Are there any support groups in your area? Im sure probably not, since you are in such a small town. Ill get all the info out of her that I can, and send it all your way.

Not really - just in Flagstaff or Phoenix...I am amazed at how frequently you hear about autism, but how little there really is that they do for it. I need to see how we are doing (the state of AZ) on that law...if I could get behavior and speech therapy for him that would be amazing!

I talked to DH...he is anti-drug like me, but at this point we think we just might try what the dr. recommends and see how he does (if we don't like the results we will yank him off of it immediately). I also sent an email to my mom...she is so evil towards him, I don't know if you remember the olive throwing incident from Christmas...and she blames us for not being good parents...I am so glad I love John's family

 

[staley7580]

Oh... and theres this! Im sure you have already seen all this.

http://apn.150m.com/default.html

 

[staley7580]

Not really - just in Flagstaff or Phoenix...I am amazed at how frequently you hear about autism, but how little there really is that they do for it. I need to see how we are doing (the state of AZ) on that law...if I could get behavior and speech therapy for him that would be amazing!

I talked to DH...he is anti-drug like me, but at this point we think we just might try what the dr. recommends and see how he does (if we don't like the results we will yank him off of it immediately). I also sent an email to my mom...she is so evil towards him, I don't know if you remember the olive throwing incident from Christmas...and she blames us for not being good parents...I am so glad I love John's family

I know that all that therapy really helped my sister. Plus good teachers, and the like.

I DO remember the olive incident. Hag. Hopefully NOW she will get it. Moms are crazy sometimes... My mom is convinced the fertility drugs will cause me to have a six legged baby.

 

[dizzyami]

Oh... and theres this! Im sure you have already seen all this.

http://apn.150m.com/default.html

No, but I keep following your links...I have 8 windows open right now

 

[staley7580]

No, but I keep following your links...I have 8 windows open right now

Okay!! Ill stop.

 

[Alex2kMommy]

Oye. my mom's surgery is in question now. She did her remicade treatment yesterday and they usually want at 2-3 weeks between that and surgery so they cant do it next week.

This is my moms fault as she forgot to tell them she had it scheduled. She could have cxld. I just called her today to tell her to stop taking her mobic and she told me there might be a problem. They are waiting for the DR to call back but I bet he says we need to postpone it.

So it can be rescheduled for AFTER the Ladies Only weekend, right???

 

[dizzyami]

Okay!! Ill stop.

Hey - I didn't say that!!!

 

[staley7580]

So it can be rescheduled for AFTER the Ladies Only weekend, right???

Hi Alex!

Hey - I didn't say that!!!

Okay... Ill keep going! Your brain must be to the point of exploding right about now! To much info...

 

[Alex2kMommy]

Not really - just in Flagstaff or Phoenix...I am amazed at how frequently you hear about autism, but how little there really is that they do for it. I need to see how we are doing (the state of AZ) on that law...if I could get behavior and speech therapy for him that would be amazing!

I talked to DH...he is anti-drug like me, but at this point we think we just might try what the dr. recommends and see how he does (if we don't like the results we will yank him off of it immediately). I also sent an email to my mom...she is so evil towards him, I don't know if you remember the olive throwing incident from Christmas...and she blames us for not being good parents...I am so glad I love John's family

Dizzy, I'm reading all of this with fascination. I do see a few things on the list that my nephew exhibited, but not all, and not to an extreme. He also was diagnosed at age 5 with ADHD, and then about age 12 they thought instead that it was Aspergers. But as Staley said, this was back in the day that Ritalin (and other drugs) were heavily dosed. Supposedly if a child were not ADHD the drug (a stimulant) wouldn't have worked, but it did, so I don't know.

It seems strange that so many kids are being diagnosed with it these days, and yet if it isn't the family pediatrician doing the diagnostic, who do you need to speak with??? I would also have assumed to start there, and get referred to a specialist.

I've read a few recent articles about Jenny McCarthy, whose son Evan was diagnosed with autism. She has a new book out (forgot the name, sorry!) where she talks about all the early years trying to figure out what was wrong, working with doctors to try to get a diagnosis, and then finally getting a diagnosis but being told there wasn't much they could do about it. Today she says he's nearly "recovered" from his autism. She doesn't say cured, but recovered" because he is pretty normal behaviorally today but who knows what he might have been like had he never experienced all this.

I do know she believes vaccines are at least in part to blame for the near epidemic of autism in the US. She did a lot of research and modified his diet and gave vitamin supplements. I think she also hired some sort of "occupational therapist" to work with him as well. I think he's only like 5 or 6yo now, so that's a dramatic recovery in just a few short years.

Anyway, I thought you might be interested in the book. Oh, I love Amazon!

Louder than Words: A Mother's Journey in Healing Autism

http://www.amazon.com/Louder-Than-W...bs_sr_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1207256507&sr=1-1


"One morning, Jenny McCarthy was having a cup of coffee when she sensed something was wrong. She ran into her two-year-old son Evan’s room and found him seizing. In that moment, Jenny went from being the mother of an average toddler to being in the midst of a medical odyssey. Doctor after doctor misdiagnosed Evan until—after many harrowing, life-threatening episodes later—one amazing doctor discovered that Evan is autistic.

Though Evan finally had a diagnosis, Jenny didn’t know what to do next and she soon found herself alone without any resources except for her determination to help her son. Jenny eventually realized that she’d have to become a detective. She spoke with many doctors, parents, governmental agencies, private foundations, and essentially earned a Phd in “Google Research.” At last, she discovered an intense combination of behavioral therapy, diet, and supplements that became the key to saving Evan from autism. And, now in this book, she creates a roadmap for parents who are concerned about their own child.

Jenny does more than just reveal the winning formula that worked for Evan. Her story shares the frustrations and joys of raising an autistic child and shows how with love and determination a parent can shape their child’s life and happiness. "

 

[staley7580]

Oh yeah!! Wasnt she just on the Larry King show discussing this? I know she is HUGE into Autism Awareness.

 

[dizzyami]

Interesting, just got off the phone with DES...I am going to make him an appointment and they might provide him with therapy services ...didn't know that was out there, but it is one more thing to try

 

[Alex2kMommy]

Does

Does he need an official diagnosis before getting assistance? that's usually the way it works. But who gives the diagnosis???

I think you're on a roll now.

 

[staley7580]

Interesting, just got off the phone with DES...I am going to make him an appointment and they might provide him with therapy services ...didn't know that was out there, but it is one more thing to try

Most excellent!

 

[Alex2kMommy]

Hey! Im sure you already saw this, but there is a DR. in Gilbert that specializes in Aspergers. I know you dont live there anymore, but it might be worth checking out!

http://www.aspergers.com/asplist.htm

Dizzy, I was looking at this list and noticed the differing qualifications of these Aspergers experts. In case you didn't already know:

An MD or psychiatrist is a medical doctor, and able to prescribe drugs. Their approach may or may not involve medication, but certainly it would be more likely than someone who does not prescribe drugs.

A psychologist or LCSW/MSW (social worker) is not a medical doctor and cannot prescribe drugs; their approach may be more in line with what you're hoping for if you are adamantly anti-drug.