I am in a quandary and about what else but Julia's treatment.
David is pushing for drug therapy -- to try and see what happens, to get a bigger and quicker result. I am wary of drugs, and would like to go the more natural way -- diet, supplements, and cleaning out her system. I can agree with Dr. Kenneth Bock (Healing the New Childhood Epidemics) and use medication as a part of a healing program, but . . . Everything about the treatment of autism is unclear. No one really knows anything, and although there are a lot of possibilities out there, nothing but the most conservative treatment is approved of, and I don't hear raves about that most conservative of treatments.
Julia has come a long way without pharmaceuticals, but it is slow progress with modalities that are supposed to help but not cure. Are we wasting her childhood with this slow progress? Will any drug make the process any quicker? Will it steady her mind? Will it give her a childhood and a chance to grow up? Do I have to just subject her to treatment modalities without any assurances at all?
Unfortunately, the research about our health plan and what is/will be covered indicates that using of pharmaceuticals would be considered pretty radical. I'm sure we can get them, but I am also sure the insurance code would be written as something other than autism, like ADHD or depression or aggression, because "there is no recommended medications for autism." Nothing as radical as diet and supplements are approved and thus, no help with these can be covered.
And then, I wonder, assuming that drugs are so effective, why didn't our primary care physician ask us about them? Why do we have to ask her? I mean, when I went for my physical and my blood pressure was higher than normal, she didn't just note it, she told me about life style changes, weight loss, and wrote me out a prescription. I did not have to ask if there were any treatments for high blood pressure. Why should Julia's autism be any different?
Last night, I was reading one of our teaching books about being afraid. At the end I asked Julia if there was anywhere that she felt safe and warm. And she said, "Yes, in my mommy's arms." I see signs every day that she is feeling safe with us, and I don't want to squander this feeling of safety that we have worked so hard for.
5 comments:
I have been following Julia for a long while and have never commented. I just want to tell you that I think you are doing a great job with her.
My 26 year old daughter is autistic. I would avoid the drugs if at all possible.
I suspect your doctor didn't suggest any drugs, because, well, they won't help. And what you are doing IS helping. A great deal.
We readers are just that: readers. But we've seen such amazing progress with Julia. Drugs won't do that, I don't think. I believe you ARE doing the right thing by using holistic ways. IMNSHO, the only way. :)
Does your dh have a drug in mind? or is he just "hoping" that something will push things along faster? I suspect that when he researches the options, he might continue the holistic path. Maybe. I'm afraid the side effects of these drugs will negate any minimal improvement. AND it could spiral other things out of control. You (and Julia) have worked so hard for that to happen.
Best,
Snick :)
What a beautiful thing Julia said. Just proves she has come a long way since September 2006. That credit goes to you and David. Great job Suzanne you will get through this one too. Love, Carol
I have been following your blog since your adoption trip, at first because we were thinking of adopting an older child (we ended up with an infant), and then because my younger sister (well, not SO young--she's 21 now) also has hard-to-pin-down special needs and my family has lived with many of the same questions that you do. My recollection is that my parents tried a couple of medications with her during her elementary years which they thought might have helped, but it was hard to tell. Then when she was 16 a specialist suggested trying a certain drug to help with her perseveration (inability to shift mental gears). THAT was extremely helpful, as the ability to let go of, for example, an impossible plan significantly decreased her frustration, which made her life a lot more pleasant; the decrease in frustration led to a decrease in her physical aggression, which was good for everybody. Every year or so she would take a "drug holiday" to see how she functioned without it, and after a series of decreases in the dose she has finally gone completely off it and doesn't need it anymore. We are all happy to see her drug-free, but it did make a difficult period in her life a little easier. I agree with you and other commenters that medication therapy is a daunting option because many medications don't help (or not enough to be worth keeping drugs in your child's system), it's not obvious which ones should be tried for a particular case, and most have side effects (my sister experienced weight gain and sometimes, when a dose was being changed, fatigue). On the other hand, a medication is not a life sentence. It probably would take a lot of trial and error (what else is new?), but if you tried one and it wasn't making enough difference to be worth continuing, it would be easy enough to take her off. On a different note, I love what Julia said about feeling safe! One thing I learned with Melodie (my sister) is that people never stop growing. Melodie will never reach certain thresholds that most people do, but on the other hand, she is not static. There is always some new accomplishment or growth, and it is always a joy to see.
Suzanne...You are doing an awesome job with Julia. It's so clear that you absolutely just love her to pieces!! You pour your heart and soul into everything you do for her....it shows!! You always do such special things with her and for her.
I think Julia is a beautiful child, both inside and out. What you are doing is working!!
Off the subject a bit...I remember you posting about a bok choy recipe that you make for Julia(if I remember correctly). Our little boy(6yrs, home just 9 months now) loves bok choy..well any Chinese cooking actually. Do you have a special way you prepare it? I saute it with green onion, sesame oil, soy sauce, garlic, and add firm tofu.
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