Additional Diagnosis

[Guest guest]

Hello everyone. I don't post very often and I tend to mostly be a lurker in this group. Our son recently turned thirteen. He was diagnosed with Asperger's when he was ten. He had prior diagnosis of ADHD, Emotionally disabled, developmentally delayed, etc.. He has been in the school system since he was about three or four starting with speech therapy and pre school.

His troubles began to escalate during his fourth and fifth grade years at the public elementary school and at home. He continued to worsen in middle school until he was place in the most restricted environment possible. After many IEP's, functional behavioral assessments, a committee meeting, and a FAPT meeting he is now placed in a private day school and doing much better academically. He has above average IQ but it we do not have an accurate number on him due to his behaviors.

We recently had him reevaluted by the psychologists who tested him over a period of four different appointments and she has given him the additional diagnosis of Bipolar Disorder.

If that wasn;t enough already; we have a genetic kidney disease that runs in the family, which I have inherited. He stands a 50% chance of also having the disease. The psychologist is looking into possible medications before she referers us to a psychiatrist with her reccomendations. Hopefully, medications that will not cause harm to the kidneys.

We also have a ten year old daughter who is neurotypical; I believe that is the right term for "normal". This is a lot for us to comprehend and deal with. My kidney function is currently around 20% and I am on the transplant list awaiting a new kidney. I am not currently on dialysis. I have a friend who is willing to donate one of her kidneys (she is a match) if and when it becomes necessary. We are under a great deal of stress and other than immediate family we tend to keep to ourselves for the most part.

Jeanette