Guest guest Posted February 17, 2008 Report Share Posted February 17, 2008 Hi Judy, First, congrats and well deserved. You are definitely one of the sages in the trenches. Your posts have helped me a lot. Second, I relate to your frustration on the diagnosis continuum of these disorders. My head hurts from all the articles, books, online stuff I've read trying to find clues to help figure things out. I actually bought a $150 medical textbook last summer in desperation, that really made my head hurt (all the DSM categories, research, differing opinions worldwide. So, for now I've unofficially given up trying to figure it out and am focused on how to get through the day with this/these disorders. Can barely do that anyway, think the other was kind of a distraction from feeling my inability to cope... It seems the current approach, up here in Canada anyway, is to treat the symptoms and forget about trying to pin down the diagnosis. Makes some sense, except sometimes it's hard to pin anything down... Here is a link to an article on diagnosis of bipolar that was just in one of our local newspapers today. It speaks to the differing approached in US,Canada,England as well. Just the luck of the draw where you live and who your doctor is what criteria is used Here's the link, I found it a good article. Ann Duffy, one of the doctors mentioned in the article is a doctor we saw whodiagnosed emerging bipolar in our son. http://www.theglobeandmail.com/servlet/story/LAC.20080216.BIPOLAR16/Em ailTPStory/ Barb > > > > Hi Barb. My dd has both OCD and bipolar. Can I ask what you have > read in > > terms of cycling with them both? I have found that when we get > control of the > > bipolar cycling than the OCD becomes more active. It is hard for us > to control > > both at the same time, despite the 4 meds she currently takes. > Would you mind > > sharing what you have read on the subject. Thanks. Kim > > > > > > In a message dated 2/17/2008 4:15:07 P.M. Central Standard Time, > > barbnesrallah@ ... writes: > > > > I have read articles that show a relationship with biplolar and > ocd, > > with the possibility of the ocd taking on a particular type of > > cycling, and/or the ocd being better or worse during time of > > depression/mania. Are you familiar at all. Sometimes someone has > > access to more cutting edge doctors, so I always like to check. > > > > > > > > > > > > > > ************ **Ideas to please picky eaters. Watch video on AOL > Living. > > (http://living. aol.com/video/ how-to-please- your-picky- eater/rachel- > campos-duffy/ > > 2050827?NCID= aolcmp0030000000 2598) > > > > > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted February 18, 2008 Report Share Posted February 18, 2008 HI Barb, Thanks for your kind words! Your posts have given me encouragement also! I agree with you there! It definitely depends on the doctor! I go crazy with all this myself! I guess I just want a solid answer, so I can know what meds my kids should be taking. I have a " library " also.Do you find yourself reading the books over and over, and scanning the DSM's? Crazy way to live isn't it?!!!!!! I just cringe everytime I give my 6 yr old his anti-psychotics, when I don't know if he even really needs them. I have been told by my kids doctors to treat the symptoms and not worry about the diagnosis, but I'm having a hard time doing this! I wish I could !!!!!!!!!!!!!! the only thing helping me to cope is knowing there are people out there like you and the others here going through similar experiences. I don't think I would do as well, all alone!!!! Hugs Judy Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted February 18, 2008 Report Share Posted February 18, 2008 Hi Kim. I think this is the thing isn't it. When you get the result you need that is it, you know it's the right thing. With bipolar some absolutely need medication and it works. From what the article I read most recently says, where the bipolar diagnosis is less clear the meds are of less benefit. This has been our experience, and mine. The medication has in fact made things worse. So it makes me think there is perhaps another subset of illness that needs either a different kind of drug or to target a different part of the brain, or brain chemistry. So much they still don't know... Barb > > Hi Judy. Have you ever had that moment of clarity where you absolutely saw > the difference from the meds to at least know you were on the right track? My > dd had started a small dose of a med in Dec. About a week and a half later she > started cycling big time. I thought for sure it was from the med we had > introduced. Her pdoc was not convinced but had me take her off of it completely > to make sure. After a week she got even worse and the pdoc said we needed to > put her back on the med and increase the dose a lot. I was very worried > because I was not convinced that the med wasn't the problem. Her pdoc said if it > was the cause she was going to get a lot worse, but if she needed this med she > was going to get a lot better. Turned out she needed it. Her cycling stopped > and she was able to function again. Honestly, I was really surprised as I > really thought the med was the problem. Have you been able to experience a point > where you knew for sure the med was making the difference? It makes me feel > OK about giving her these terrible meds when I can really see the positive > impact. Good luck. Kim > > > In a message dated 2/18/2008 8:46:18 A.M. Central Standard Time, > jchabot@... writes: > > I just cringe everytime I give my 6 yr old his anti-psychotics, when I don't > know if he even really needs them. > I have been told by my kids doctors to treat the symptoms and not worry > about the diagnosis, but I'm having a hard time doing this! > I wish I could !!!!!!!!!!!!I > the only thing helping me to cope is knowing there are people out there like > you and the others here going through similar experiences. I don't think I > would do as well, all alone!!!! > Hugs > Judy > > > > > > **************Ideas to please picky eaters. Watch video on AOL Living. > (http://living.aol.com/video/how-to-please-your-picky-eater/rachel- campos-duffy/ > 2050827?NCID=aolcmp00300000002598) > > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted February 18, 2008 Report Share Posted February 18, 2008 Hi Kim. I think this is the thing isn't it. When you get the result you need that is it, you know it's the right thing. With bipolar some absolutely need medication and it works. From what the article I read most recently says, where the bipolar diagnosis is less clear the meds are of less benefit. This has been our experience, and mine. The medication has in fact made things worse. So it makes me think there is perhaps another subset of illness that needs either a different kind of drug or to target a different part of the brain, or brain chemistry. So much they still don't know... Barb > > Hi Judy. Have you ever had that moment of clarity where you absolutely saw > the difference from the meds to at least know you were on the right track? My > dd had started a small dose of a med in Dec. About a week and a half later she > started cycling big time. I thought for sure it was from the med we had > introduced. Her pdoc was not convinced but had me take her off of it completely > to make sure. After a week she got even worse and the pdoc said we needed to > put her back on the med and increase the dose a lot. I was very worried > because I was not convinced that the med wasn't the problem. Her pdoc said if it > was the cause she was going to get a lot worse, but if she needed this med she > was going to get a lot better. Turned out she needed it. Her cycling stopped > and she was able to function again. Honestly, I was really surprised as I > really thought the med was the problem. Have you been able to experience a point > where you knew for sure the med was making the difference? It makes me feel > OK about giving her these terrible meds when I can really see the positive > impact. Good luck. Kim > > > In a message dated 2/18/2008 8:46:18 A.M. Central Standard Time, > jchabot@... writes: > > I just cringe everytime I give my 6 yr old his anti-psychotics, when I don't > know if he even really needs them. > I have been told by my kids doctors to treat the symptoms and not worry > about the diagnosis, but I'm having a hard time doing this! > I wish I could !!!!!!!!!!!!I > the only thing helping me to cope is knowing there are people out there like > you and the others here going through similar experiences. I don't think I > would do as well, all alone!!!! > Hugs > Judy > > > > > > **************Ideas to please picky eaters. Watch video on AOL Living. > (http://living.aol.com/video/how-to-please-your-picky-eater/rachel- campos-duffy/ > 2050827?NCID=aolcmp00300000002598) > > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted February 18, 2008 Report Share Posted February 18, 2008 that he has never treated anyone with OCD that was clingy, demanded attention to the point that his mom had to cancel her own appointments, engagements. I guess with situations like this, it really can depend somewhat on age of child but also on how their OC affects them. And I always just throw in personality too. For instance, I was extremely shy as a young child, stayed with my arm around mom's leg, couldn't let her out of my sight except at home. But not even then probably if " other people " were around (non family members). I wouldn't go out to play in our own yard if there were other kids out there (older brother/sis' friends). I call it " shyness " but docs may now have called it " separation anxiety. " With OCD, there may be some fear/feeling that something will happen to you if out of child's sight or just a feeling that something *might* happen. (one example) My nonOCD twin popped up with what I called " separation anxiety " around 6th grade or so. Really if he had had other fears or something (compulsions...), I'd have wondered if he suddenly had OCD too. But his only fear/feeling was that I was going to leave/move without him and other sons. So he wanted to keep me in sight at all times, at home too. Drove me a bit crazy, became my shadow. I was lucky that he was old enough we could talk about it. I mean, he had gotten to 5th grade without this worry, why suddenly worry? And he said he knew it didn't make any sense (nothing I knew of had been said or happened), but it was like all his past " scares " had suddenly erupted into this fear. Like in elementary school, we took a trip to the beach. As we all walked the beach, he lagged behind and I turned around and didn't see him. SCARED ME! But then I saw him, he didn't see me, and what a scared child (I knew how he felt!). And then at some other elementary age, in a store, he got " lost " and so there was that incident. So it was like all this just, I felt, came up to this sudden fear (groundless) in 6th grade. I couldn't have got him to school if he hadn't had (twin) there too. For some reason, he felt I wouldn't leave if I was to " leave. " I can smile about it now, but I still recall being at 's therapy appt with psychologist and had to tell that I'd be in the therapist's office just for a few minutes, only one door and windows did NOT open. Well while in there, another therapist rang him and asked him did he know a little boy was outside his door crying. (remember at least 6th or 7th grade age!) He said yes. SIGH! I think I had the wrong kid in there. Anyway, over months we (he) finally got through this, slowly eased up with talk (and my sometimes comments, " you're driving me crazy! " - no alone time with that shadow) Sounds like OCD doesn't it, due to the irrational fear. But that was the only behavior he had. So I called it " separation anxiety. " So - no help in answering your question really, but know you are not alone in wondering! > Hi Barb and Kim, etc. I could not get the article from Canada or the > other link on bipolar and ocd. I am intersted in learning more about > this topic, given my son's genetic link to bi polar and the > therapist's recent comment that he has never treated anyone with Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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