Our Bipolar Kids ~ Finding The Light At The End Of The Tunnel - Bipolar Disorder Message Board

goody2shuz · 12-21-2006, 01:00 PM

Hi All

Thought I would open up another thread for the parents to come and offer support for one another. Of course any advice from experience from those who are Bipolar and were diagnosed in their teens would be quite welcome since it would be nice to see what is in store for our kids futures and what might be helpful in helping them find what we are all looking for....S T A B I L I T Y

Oh how we need to know that there is some hope and that this diagnosis is not the worst thing and that the future for our kids will be okay. IN any case it is wonderful to be amongst others who are going through the same thing, some a little bit ahead on this journey and others a little behind....either way it is a Godsend, at least for me, to know that I am not alone in all of this and coming here has been what has kept me going from day to day.....what a wonderful place to be.

Anyway...I know that there were some problems with the other thread and there is a way to read the new posts by doing a quick reply and then hitting advanced search and then scrolling down but I thought it might just be easier to just open up an whole new thread.

Hope ~ The things you are experiencing with the school is typical...don't take it personally there is always something or somebody else to blame so that they can rationalize not spending the extra money but you and Zac are entitled to whatever services are available by law and that is why you should get the classification and have him evaluated to determine his needs and the school will have to meet those needs and if not provide another way to and pay for it. Don't give up.....they are hoping that you will crawl away with your tail between your legs but we won't let you. Research and find a parent advocate from your local Mental Health or Child Help services to help assist you. Remember, it's the squeaky wheel that get's oiled!!!

Pippin ~ Thanks for stopping by and giving us an update. Here is what I wrote to you in the other thread....

Pippin ~ When it comes to hugs there are plenty to go around here!!! So pretend that we are all here gathered around you and take it all in big GROUP ((((((HUGS)))))))) are here for the taking, Pippin!!!

I am so sorry to hear about the lack of support you are getting from your family....I know it is difficult to see the ones that you would think should be supportive being such ignoramouses!! Shame on them!!! They will come around, Pippin. I remember when Erin was so chronically sick with esophageal reflux disease as an infant and I told my MIL that we couldn't come visit her because it would mean Erin losing all the weight that I worked so hard to get on her she thought I was just making excuses. Well it turned out that we had a family christening to go to and my MIL was with us and Erin would not sleep or eat she was miserable unless at home. My MIL volunteered to take her home and when I got home she apologized telling me that all this time she thought I was making excuses but saw firsthand how badl Erin did outside her own home. So you just try not to worry too much about your family's lack of empathy at this time.....you just focus on Erika and your marriage and your own health. We are your family that will carry you through so just take the support that is there for you and hopefully in time your family will come around.

So relieved to hear from you....I was really worried about you....don't do that again...okay??? You don't have to come here to support us.....we are here to help you through so please don't stay away....we need you and we are all in this together. PLEASE remember that.

Now for another one of those group ((((((HUGS)))))).....we all seem to be here tonight and there are an endless supply of hugs available here.

((((HUGS)))) to help carry your through ~ Goody

Hope everyone is doing okay with their Christmas plans and that we all remember that there IS a light at the end of the tunnel for our kids and together we will find it!!

Love and plenty of (((HUGS))) ~ Goody

langlee · 12-21-2006, 01:05 PM

Thanks, Goody. I think the school was surprised with how much I knew and I did not let them off the hook! Time to be aggressive!

Here's what I wrote on the other thread (hopefully Tsohl can find this!!):

Hi All,

Yesterday was a really frustrating day. We spoke with the tdoc, who Zac loves and who has alot of experience with bipolar because of his son, but we couldn't help but feel that his bad experience has colored his thinking. Without meaning to, he painted a very dismal picture and we left confused and unhappy.

We then went to the school to discuss classification and they were very resistant (not surprisingly since classification represents a financial investment from them). The whole conversation was upsetting because I hate that feeling they exude which is that somehow Zac's challenges are in part because of our inferior parenting. They don't come out and say it, but it feels like there is an underlying current. Perhaps you haven't set enough boundaries, they ask? Perhaps you have allowed him to manipulate you? I feel like screaming! Zac started having emotional issues in the Middle School and there was not a single resource offered from the school. (and we are supposedly one of the best school systems in the state) I hate that feeling that our child has fallen out of their range of concern because they have to focus on the kids who are "doing what they are supposed to be doing". It's maddening!

I have felt so totally alone in this process (other than all of you), researching, trying to find the right pdocs and tdocs, investigating what's available, trying to figure out what's next, and never losing sight of Zac, the human being. And I feel like they sit in judgement of him and of us. UGH!

In any event, I'm venting again, but everytime we take a step forward, it feels like we take two steps backward and I am disgusted and appalled that the school is so difficult.

We are taking Zac to the primary care doctor to decide if he needs an EKG. His pulse was at 138 for about 6 hours the night he was having the problem and his chest stll aches a little. We thought about taking him to the ER, but my friend, the nurse, assured us he didn't need to go unless it jumped to 150 and our experiences at the ER have been less than satisfying. We don't want to be negligient, either, though.

2007 has to be better than this year. I'm thinking of all of you as the holiday draws closer and hope that you can all find peace and contentment.

Love,

Hope

tsohl · 12-21-2006, 01:23 PM

Hi,
I've found you. Are we abandoning the other thread? ~ Tsohl

goody2shuz · 12-21-2006, 01:51 PM

Hey guys....the other one was getting a little bit long so it may be a good idea to come here....Pippin should be able to find us or as the originator of her thread post on there if she doesn't find us here. I vote we stay here....we need a new road to tread on anyway since the New Year is almost upon us.

Besides...as far as I am concerned nobody ever is left abandoned on this wonderful board!!

Hope ~ You should push forward with that IEP so that things will be layed in place shortly after the New Year begins. There are wonderful resources available to guide you and wonderful people out there to help advocate for you if you should need them. Don't let this get you down....you will find the right education for Zac....how does he feel about returning to school??? I know that all of us have re-prioritized things since our kids have been diagnosed....right now I think we all would agree that our kids mental and emotional well being is at the top of the list and then we take it from there. Even if Zac receives education at home or an alternative program it will be much better than putting him in an environment that will only cause him mental and emotional stress. You will know when he is ready to go back to school and what provisions should be made for him. And you should expect nothing less.

(((HUGS))) ~ Goody

jules3 · 12-21-2006, 02:05 PM

Hope,

i dont really feel like i should give advice, because we are battleling with this every day in our house too..The racing pulse and and chest aches can be anxiety..Believe me, my son has abused benzos like klonopins and xanaxs in the past so, im not big on them..but, they do help sometimes..to calm things down. If prescribed by his doc of course ,occasionally..i m pretty sure i read that you had an issue with zac and drugs..but think about asking his pdoc if its a good idea for you to have them in the house for emergencys like that..believe im not a fan of hospital emergency rooms either...and try my hardest not to take him there...3 days ago,he told me his chest was hurting and he felt his heart beating so fast..i did give him a xanax and he calmed down...just my thoughts!!