I tell ya', the hits just keep on coming. These past 2 weeks have left me with my brains dribbling out my ears - I missed the *obvious* answer to this one, presented to me by TLP staff today:
"Do we agree with these diagnoses?"
Good old Starbie does nonsensical responses typed out far better than me, over in the PE forum, but I do seem to recall the sound of my jaw hitting the floor sometime after I began babbling with a stutter.
I can't even begin to discuss 2 of the diagnoses - ancient history, I personally don't think they're applicable, accurate, or relevent, but they've been on Axis I since Residential Treatment Center (RTC) #3, I think more because of thank you's perseveration at that point about the incident and the fact that some therapists latch onto it like a dog with a bone. Whatever.
But... at this late date we're questioning BiPolar (BP) with- psychotic features? Holy cow. Their position is they unquestionably see the depression but they don't see the mania. Here's where brain leakage comes in - d'ya think that might *possibly* be related to the fact that he's been on 2 helpful medications for 10+ years??? I missed that completely - duh.
What I did manage to say is that I don't really care what they call it. The Depakote and Risperdal have had an absolute positive effect. They can call it Tyleritis for all I care, just don't mess with what little *is* working right now.
They don't want to send thank you off into the adult world with incorrect diagnoses. Ok. They feel BiPolar (BP) has been far over diagnosed because kids with behavior problems simply do not fit into DSM so some professionals push and pull and twist DSM to fit our kids. Ok, I can buy that too. I've felt for a long time that BiPolar (BP) isn't a perfect fit for thank you but I'm not sure there is a perfect fit, but again, when the medications have a positive effect, can we not mess with it?? I didn't ask where they were heading with this. I really just don't want to know right now. Pretty sure it's not a good place.
Other highlights of the past 2 weeks: He's far too high-functioning to be placed in Residential Treatment Center (RTC) again. More supervised TLP program is not on approved list for grant. As of right now, graduation (aka loss of funding) is scheduled for 6/2009 (as in *next* year), although he is flunking rather spectacularly so his muleness may buy us another year. He is not a candidate for the adult side of current TLP program because over there, they actually demand compliance with rules (why there and not in teen program is a good question, one I'm too brain dead/scared to ask). He admires his friend V who was in Residential Treatment Center (RTC) #2 with him, was in this TLP until he aged out, and now lives on the street - but V sticks to his principles and that's "awesome". I told thank you I thought principles have probably brought little warmth to V's life this very cold and snowy winter. Throw in an overabundance of exposure to thank you's circular thinking and.... I'm looking for ear plugs (noise reduction or brain retention, take your pick).
thank you will be coming home every weekend now. This will insure that he:
- Wears socks and clean underwear at least 2.5 days a week.
- Will be monitored by someone with a clue for signs of cutting and level of depression 2.5 days a week.
- Will be away from "peers" for 2.5 days a week.
- Will be exposed to something approximating "normal" life 2.5 days a week.
- Will take a bath 3 days a week.
- Will take clean clothes and hygiene products back to TLP weekly, though there's no guarantee they'll be used (husband bought a slew of travel toothpaste, shampoo, soap, deodorant, etc., and a new one of each will return with thank you every Sunday). I'm buying cases of socks on Saturday and he'll get 7 pairs to take with him every Sunday (stock in Hanes should be going up, LOL).
It's a poor solution in the long run but I don't know what else to do with a kid who refuses to engage in his own life, and I'm not finding anyone else who has any ideas. I'm also not taking bets on how long it will be before he refuses home visits - he was already getting a little squirrely this morning after only 1.5 days here.
And the beat goes on.
"Do we agree with these diagnoses?"
Good old Starbie does nonsensical responses typed out far better than me, over in the PE forum, but I do seem to recall the sound of my jaw hitting the floor sometime after I began babbling with a stutter.
I can't even begin to discuss 2 of the diagnoses - ancient history, I personally don't think they're applicable, accurate, or relevent, but they've been on Axis I since Residential Treatment Center (RTC) #3, I think more because of thank you's perseveration at that point about the incident and the fact that some therapists latch onto it like a dog with a bone. Whatever.
But... at this late date we're questioning BiPolar (BP) with- psychotic features? Holy cow. Their position is they unquestionably see the depression but they don't see the mania. Here's where brain leakage comes in - d'ya think that might *possibly* be related to the fact that he's been on 2 helpful medications for 10+ years??? I missed that completely - duh.
What I did manage to say is that I don't really care what they call it. The Depakote and Risperdal have had an absolute positive effect. They can call it Tyleritis for all I care, just don't mess with what little *is* working right now.
They don't want to send thank you off into the adult world with incorrect diagnoses. Ok. They feel BiPolar (BP) has been far over diagnosed because kids with behavior problems simply do not fit into DSM so some professionals push and pull and twist DSM to fit our kids. Ok, I can buy that too. I've felt for a long time that BiPolar (BP) isn't a perfect fit for thank you but I'm not sure there is a perfect fit, but again, when the medications have a positive effect, can we not mess with it?? I didn't ask where they were heading with this. I really just don't want to know right now. Pretty sure it's not a good place.
Other highlights of the past 2 weeks: He's far too high-functioning to be placed in Residential Treatment Center (RTC) again. More supervised TLP program is not on approved list for grant. As of right now, graduation (aka loss of funding) is scheduled for 6/2009 (as in *next* year), although he is flunking rather spectacularly so his muleness may buy us another year. He is not a candidate for the adult side of current TLP program because over there, they actually demand compliance with rules (why there and not in teen program is a good question, one I'm too brain dead/scared to ask). He admires his friend V who was in Residential Treatment Center (RTC) #2 with him, was in this TLP until he aged out, and now lives on the street - but V sticks to his principles and that's "awesome". I told thank you I thought principles have probably brought little warmth to V's life this very cold and snowy winter. Throw in an overabundance of exposure to thank you's circular thinking and.... I'm looking for ear plugs (noise reduction or brain retention, take your pick).
thank you will be coming home every weekend now. This will insure that he:
- Wears socks and clean underwear at least 2.5 days a week.
- Will be monitored by someone with a clue for signs of cutting and level of depression 2.5 days a week.
- Will be away from "peers" for 2.5 days a week.
- Will be exposed to something approximating "normal" life 2.5 days a week.
- Will take a bath 3 days a week.
- Will take clean clothes and hygiene products back to TLP weekly, though there's no guarantee they'll be used (husband bought a slew of travel toothpaste, shampoo, soap, deodorant, etc., and a new one of each will return with thank you every Sunday). I'm buying cases of socks on Saturday and he'll get 7 pairs to take with him every Sunday (stock in Hanes should be going up, LOL).
It's a poor solution in the long run but I don't know what else to do with a kid who refuses to engage in his own life, and I'm not finding anyone else who has any ideas. I'm also not taking bets on how long it will be before he refuses home visits - he was already getting a little squirrely this morning after only 1.5 days here.
And the beat goes on.
