[momof2]

my son's psychologist and neuropsychologist are now throwing around the diagnosis of Bipolar. he is 6-years-old. I am wondering what i should be doing from people with past experiences. They said he showed signs of ODD/NOS since he was 4, but with the cycles....and family history of bipolar, the next step is getting in with psychiatry and starting mood stabilizers.

any suggestions? thoughts? concerns? advise?

i need all the resources i can get my hands on. thanks in advance.

[bizi]

welcome momof2
There is a lot of information on the net about bipolarism in children.
Many of the meds are heavy duty and other options to stabilize the child might be hlepful.
Has a medical evaulation been done.
Many children suffer from food sensitivities and red dyes as well.
a good evaul from a child psych is really essencial.
There is a childrens forum at the top of this page if you have not noticed that yet.
I wish you and your family wellness thru all of this.
bizi

[momof2]

thanks for the reply.

we have been through family counselling with 2 different child psychologists in the past 2 years. they have been wonderful. he did make a rapid turn around around kindergarten. his teacher was great, and i believe with the tools we had been taught from the counseling wiht positive interventions, behavior charts, 123 magic...its was wonderful and we just thought he was cured. but then first grade rolled aroudn we started all over again with him. he has been suspended 3 times this year. he is very impulsive w/o any rhyme or reason. my sister about 10 years ago was diagnosed wtih bipolar, and i believe both my parents carry the disease as well. any maybe even myself after reading your most recent post about making phone calls being your biggest struggles, i cant hardly do anything w/o heart racing and sweating like a moran... i am that way too. bad. my mind is crazy on the inside. i have panic attacks, anxiety, depression, alcohol problem, take lexapro, which just makes me more sleepy...list goes on. thank god for having a stable husband for my children.

we have recentnly see a neuropsychologist who again agreed wtih biopolar, but we are waiting on his final report.

i have also as of jsut yesterday sent a certified letter to teh special ed department of our public school requesting they evaluate him for IDEA (individuals with disabilities act).

he goes for sensory intergration testing soon as well.

i do need to get his blood tested. i have been told that too many times. i am scared to death to put him on meds. somedays he is 100% fine. but most of the time he is a ticking time bomb.

i am scared what life holds for him and i will probably end up homeschooling him if i cant get the school to respond to him in a positive manor.

i have searched every website imaginable and do believe i am absorbed in information about the disease, mainly i just wanted ot hear from some actual REAL ppl who carry teh diagnosis and see if there is something else i am missing.

thanks so much again for your response.

[Mari]

Hi,

We used to have a poster who put her young son on Zyprexa for about 3 years. Now he is off it and doing mostly fine. She keeps his life as steady as possible for him.

--I suppose you have already gotten the book The Bipolar Child by Demitri F. Papolos, M.D. and Janice Papolos. Also -- http://www.bipolarchild.com/articles.html

--And you have googled bpkids for the Child and Adolescent Bipolar Foundation.


My bipolar manisfested itself when I was around 25 and I don't have kids. My family is crawling with alchoholics and people w/ other similiar stuff but no dx'd bipolar beyond me. So I have no direct experience with children with possible bp.

It does sound like your son is in good hands. You are keeping up with what is going on with him and sending him to professionals.

Some more thoughts --

-I would not try to deal with the school board myself. They will do whatever they can to not have to deal with your son's issues. Schools like conformitiy and don't want to have to deal with a special case -- especially if it will cost them a minute of extra time or other resources. Get an advocate or lawyer. Check "nami" for a possible advocate in your area.

-I wish I could recall the kinds of blood work that might be helpful.
Psychiatirists send adults for thyroid checks sometimes. Also other hormones. I don't know what they look for in children.

-Here's another site: http://www.bipolarodyssey.com/OHM.htm created by a father looking to help his son.

-Some people with bipolar benefit from treatments that also help people with epilepsy.

-I haven't seen a good study yet (doesn't mean that they don't exist) but I remember that there is some suggestion that low carb and low sugar diets can benefit people with bipolar.

-Can you get blood work to check his vitamin levels, esp. the vit Bs?

-Certainly have him checked for allergies. I benefited from allergy treatment recently.

Mari

[befuddled2]

Welcome.

befuddled2

[Nikko]

Welcome -

I am sure you will find a wealth of information here, everyone is very caring, understanding and have a lot of information to share.

Nikko

[jyearta]

I sorry if I'm bargining into a post/thread that I shouldn't be in.

I joined this forum last month, and I am still trying to learn how to do this.

I am 59 years old and female. I didn't have children, because of having epilepsy, Dr. then advised us not to.

I am taking dilantin and Klonopin and they do have my seizures under control for the most part.

I worked for years - took medic. and went on with life.

On fast forward 40 from when I was diagnosis, How I'm B-12 deficiency, and I think folic acid defic.

I was diagnosis with b-12 dificiency back in 2007 by neur. After taking tablets and getting shots, it took forever to get me where I can function.

NOW I'm dealing w/anger, hysterical,depression,irritable, paranoid, well I guess that all. This is distoring my marriage, friendships.

When this (what ever it is) comes over me, I go off on whoever.

Is feels like I can't stop myself.

My neur. is no good, have an appt. w/ new one next month.

My husband said he thinks I am Bipolar. I heard this word before, but I don't know anything about it.

I am asking for any advise. I have been searching the internet, calling Phar. and TRYING to ask my Dr.

Oh, Yes one more thing, My dr. have started giving me my B-12 shots every 4 days (in sm. amt.) I can not handle the full shot at one time.

[Brokenfriend]

Welcome to Neurotalk Momof2. Brokenfriend