[blparent] An update

[Bridgit Pollpeter]

Nikki,

First, Nikki, please calm down a bit because I'm sure many of these
posts have been upsetting and bothersome. Before any of us go off
starting a listserve war, lets be calm and rational about this.

Second, I do agree that to make claims such as meds contain crack or pot
seem a bit extreme, and though I admit I'm not fully resistant to
conspiracy theories, I generally try to back statements like this up
with some supporting evidence like websites or articles.

For any parent, it's good to be informed, but we need to consider all
sides to an argument. Doctors tend to care about people, and even those
who don't always have the greatest bed-side manner, are still doctors
because they want to help people and discover the best possible
treatments for patients.

I do agree that it seems a bit rash to feel so paranoid and cancel a
doctors appointment. As a parent, you have the right to deny drugs
suggested for your child, but it doesn't hurt to see the doctor and hear
what they have to say, asking your own questions as well. A combative,
paranoid attitude will not help the situation at all.

Many disorders such as hyper-activity and Autism are on an incline in
children. Doctors and researchers admit they still have no firm clue as
to what the cause is, though they have been able to rule some things
out. Generally, many agree that healthy diets starting as young as
possible can help children avoid these diagnoses, and though
controversial still, many seem to have found success in avoiding or even
changing some of these disorders in their children by detoxifying their
life as much as possible, keeping their children off of drugs, or at
least off of some drugs.

I believe we live in a society that is over-medicating. We have drugs
for everything under the sun, but no one truly seems to be healthier or
living with better quality of life. I agree that children are placed on
drugs very quickly, but I also know some kids who have greatly benefited
from the meds they take.

And food allergies are very, very common and can affect the behavior of
children and adults. In high school, I babysat for a young boy who had
been diagnosed with severe ADD and anger issues. The parents chose to
follow a strict diet instead of placing him on drugs. It was a very
limited diet that did not allow for sugar of any kind, wheat, peanuts
and caffeine. I'm sure there were other things they avoided, but let me
tell you, after having been on the diet for a short time, the boy was
like a new kid.

My best friend has a son with multiple diagnoses including ADD and
bi-polarism . He's been on various drug treatments since he was a
toddler. There have been some rough times, and it took a while to
regulate his meds especially once he hit puberty, but he's now 15 and
doing very well. He even has been able to attend high school for a
couple of classes during the school week; he's usually at a special
school for children with cognitive and psychological problems.

This is not behavioral, but I was diagnosed with type 1 diabetes at age
four. My parents had to learn a whole new life-style along with testing
glucose levels and giving insulin. Without these drugs, I would have
died long ago. Fortunately treatments in diabetes have changed quite a
bit in the last 30 years, so while still a not great diagnosis, in some
ways, the treatments are better nowadays.

Not all drugs are bad, and many kids do benefit from these drugs. I'm
pretty into this topic, and while I've heard some far-out things, I've
never heard that crack or weed have been mixed into drugs giving to
children for certain issues.

Conditions stemming from neurological imbalances are typically not
something that can be rectified without medication of some sort, though
it does depend on the type and severity of a condition. Most drugs
treating these conditions are intended to bring a balance back to the
chemical imbalance. There is a lot of science backing this up. Food
allergies often can be treated by simply no longer consuming the food
one is allergic too, but conditions like Autism and hyper-active
disorders are more extreme and stem from an imbalance in the brain.
While weed has become a viable treatment for certain types of pain,
based on the science for many child-hood conditions, it doesn't make
sense they would use weed or cocaine to treat chemical imbalances since
drugs cause chemical imbalances.

It's scary as a parent to consider all the potential things your child
could have happen. It's in our best interest to think with a clear head
and question the various information out there. Be well-informed, and
find information with credible sources. If you go into this with your
current attitude, it might suggest that you do not have the best handle
of the situation. You are the parent so be responsible and calm. Listen
to your doctor and be honest; let them know what your concerns are and
ask for alternative treatments if you are not sure of the meds
recommended.

Sincerely,
Bridgit Kuenning-Pollpeter
Read my blog at:
http://blogs.livewellnebraska.com/author/bpollpeter/
 
"History is not what happened; history is what was written down."
The Expected One- Kathleen McGowan

Message: 6
Date: Fri, 30 Mar 2012 00:41:42 -0500
From: "Nikki" <daizies304 at gmail.com>
To: <blparent at nfbnet.org>
Subject: [blparent] an update
Message-ID: <759DA7C2B22E4B598E3973CB8074B200 at NicolePC>
Content-Type: text/plain;	charset="utf-8"

Hi all. Yes, I have returned, but this time, like a ghost. 

I will say this once. I understand everyone has opinions and are
entitled to them. I?m not here to start an argument with you fine ladies
and gentlemen. 

I?m dreading an appointment for my son, with the Behavioral Health
specialist just so they can tell me my kid has ADD or ADHD. I?ve already
told them and I?m making this clear to you, that I will not give my kid
medicine because of an imbalance in the brain. In case you didn?t know,
the medicines the doctors put your kids on for ADD and ADHD, have
marijuanaand cocaine in them. So it keeps your kid doped up and just
keeps them sick. So, I don?t know why my dad wants this appointment. He
knows how I feel about avoiding any kind of medicine. 
There is a ray of hope here, the doctor that suggested the Behavioral
Health testing, said that after the testing they?ll see about getting
him tested for food allergies. 

Part of that tells me they?re trying to control what I do with my son
because when we went to the doctor, my dad started talking about his
behavior in school. All because the doctor asked. When I was just going
to get the food allergy testing first. I have a strong belief that the
behavior has to do with a food allergy we don?t know about and they want
us to wait! I have one week to decide if I should cancel the appointment
my dad and the doctor made.