klmno
Active Member
Most have probably forgotten our issues, but I wanted to update and say thanks anyway. I had tried before but computer went out right after I'd typed everything. UGHHH!
Bro. didn't show up for custody hearing- of course this was after he'd spent a couple of evenings on the phone with difficult child yelling that he'd just been trying to "save difficult child from foster care" (which never was in consideration by anyone) and that "too bad difficult child's Mom (being me) didn't love him enough to do anything." (This didn't sit well with difficult child.) And, it cost me $3500 in attny's fees.
:grrr:
Next issue: We had neuro testing done- came back all normal. And, had a team from a Mood Disorders clinic at teaching hospital do an evaluation/assessment. We are waiting on formal report with IEP recommendations. But, orally, the psychiatrist on the team said #1) this all started with incidents that understandably were difficult for difficult child to adjust to and triggered a depression, so let's get therapy for that first, #2) difficult child definitely is cycling now and needs to be on mood stabilizer, possibly with an anti-depressant (??), #3) once #1 has been dealt with, cycling might go away and difficult child MIGHT be able to try coming off medications (I'm thinking we're talking in a couple of years from now), because he would no longer meet full criteria for bipolar, however, he would always need to "watch" for signs/triggers as an adult that would mean he should seek out help. psychiatrist compared this to his asthmatic wheezing as a very young child, which he "outgrew", so he is no longer classified as having asthma, but we still watch for "triggers", as it could return later in life. I think of this more as managing the tendency or prediposition. Still, it gave me more hope than anything else has. #4) Sd and others should be dealing with difficult child's underlying issues instead of just resulting behavior and specifically said "treating depression and bipolar like it's conduct disorder will never solve the problem; I don't know why people don't learn that".
:bravo:
Last issue: when in court to get difficult child out of juvy this summer, I appeared with letter from the regular psychiatrist saying we could use some in-home help and difficult child doesn't need Residential Treatment Center (RTC) yet. The GAL took that to mean MST so MST was listed and PO ordered it, even though she had authority to change it when I showed her evidence that MST is behavior intervention for CO and anti-social personality, and difficult child is diagnosis'd with depression, adjustment disorder, and possible BiPolar (BP). Now, MST guy started saying we had to give up difficult child's therapist and PO literally said I shouldn't have wasted my time with private team evaluation-
:scared: :rofl:
After I told her, MST guy, and GAL, that I would take them to the Supreme Court to defend my right to seek medical treatment for my child, they backed off on requiring dismissal of other docs, but threatened to turn me in for non-compliance of orders if I didn't sign full release forms. I still haven't done that, as I see no legal requirement for it. As it turns out, MST guy can't tell me what info he needs from other docs or why. He just says he needs to accompany us to appts. with therapist and psychiatrist and be involved with IEP meetings. Really, why, I asked. He gives no answer other than "well, I can't really explain". Ok, here's what I think- psychiatrist wrote a letter last week saying specificaly what difficult child is diagnosis'd with and that he is not primarily CD or anti-social. psychiatrist said significant regression could occur if therapist and other treatment recommendations are disrupted. MST guy is still actually trying to get psychiatrist and therapist on his board of "all we need is a behavior plan" and actually listed that this would include monitoring and reporting each mood and behavior change so he could relay that to PO and GAL and judge. Now, here we are still trying to get medications right, trying to figure out how much difficult child is cycling, adjusting ourselves, etc. and this guy wants to take over the recommended treatment plan to do this?
:smile:
I forwarded psychiatrist's letter to GAL and filed a motion with the judge to reconsider MST requirement. The MST guy got mad that I wouldn't let him come to next appointment with psychiatrist- which lasts 15 mins., is paid for by my insurance, and we need to discuss recent medication changes. Anyhow, I told MST guy I still wanted to schedule and meet for required appts. with him so I wouldn't be non-compliant until judge has opportunity to review things. MST guy says "NO" he will not make further appts. So, I guess I'm non-compliant, but like I told all of them- there are a lot of worse things I could be in juvy court for if my difficult child doesn't get the treatment plan that is recommended for him.
:sword: :warrior:
If anyone has had the patience to read all this- does anyone have any suggestions?
Thanks for all previous help- I don't see any way I could have gotten through this summer with any strength to help difficult child and somewhat understand his needs if it hadn't been for the people in this forum!!
:flower: :treadmill:
Bro. didn't show up for custody hearing- of course this was after he'd spent a couple of evenings on the phone with difficult child yelling that he'd just been trying to "save difficult child from foster care" (which never was in consideration by anyone) and that "too bad difficult child's Mom (being me) didn't love him enough to do anything." (This didn't sit well with difficult child.) And, it cost me $3500 in attny's fees.
:grrr:
Next issue: We had neuro testing done- came back all normal. And, had a team from a Mood Disorders clinic at teaching hospital do an evaluation/assessment. We are waiting on formal report with IEP recommendations. But, orally, the psychiatrist on the team said #1) this all started with incidents that understandably were difficult for difficult child to adjust to and triggered a depression, so let's get therapy for that first, #2) difficult child definitely is cycling now and needs to be on mood stabilizer, possibly with an anti-depressant (??), #3) once #1 has been dealt with, cycling might go away and difficult child MIGHT be able to try coming off medications (I'm thinking we're talking in a couple of years from now), because he would no longer meet full criteria for bipolar, however, he would always need to "watch" for signs/triggers as an adult that would mean he should seek out help. psychiatrist compared this to his asthmatic wheezing as a very young child, which he "outgrew", so he is no longer classified as having asthma, but we still watch for "triggers", as it could return later in life. I think of this more as managing the tendency or prediposition. Still, it gave me more hope than anything else has. #4) Sd and others should be dealing with difficult child's underlying issues instead of just resulting behavior and specifically said "treating depression and bipolar like it's conduct disorder will never solve the problem; I don't know why people don't learn that".
:bravo:
Last issue: when in court to get difficult child out of juvy this summer, I appeared with letter from the regular psychiatrist saying we could use some in-home help and difficult child doesn't need Residential Treatment Center (RTC) yet. The GAL took that to mean MST so MST was listed and PO ordered it, even though she had authority to change it when I showed her evidence that MST is behavior intervention for CO and anti-social personality, and difficult child is diagnosis'd with depression, adjustment disorder, and possible BiPolar (BP). Now, MST guy started saying we had to give up difficult child's therapist and PO literally said I shouldn't have wasted my time with private team evaluation-
:scared: :rofl:
After I told her, MST guy, and GAL, that I would take them to the Supreme Court to defend my right to seek medical treatment for my child, they backed off on requiring dismissal of other docs, but threatened to turn me in for non-compliance of orders if I didn't sign full release forms. I still haven't done that, as I see no legal requirement for it. As it turns out, MST guy can't tell me what info he needs from other docs or why. He just says he needs to accompany us to appts. with therapist and psychiatrist and be involved with IEP meetings. Really, why, I asked. He gives no answer other than "well, I can't really explain". Ok, here's what I think- psychiatrist wrote a letter last week saying specificaly what difficult child is diagnosis'd with and that he is not primarily CD or anti-social. psychiatrist said significant regression could occur if therapist and other treatment recommendations are disrupted. MST guy is still actually trying to get psychiatrist and therapist on his board of "all we need is a behavior plan" and actually listed that this would include monitoring and reporting each mood and behavior change so he could relay that to PO and GAL and judge. Now, here we are still trying to get medications right, trying to figure out how much difficult child is cycling, adjusting ourselves, etc. and this guy wants to take over the recommended treatment plan to do this?
:smile:
I forwarded psychiatrist's letter to GAL and filed a motion with the judge to reconsider MST requirement. The MST guy got mad that I wouldn't let him come to next appointment with psychiatrist- which lasts 15 mins., is paid for by my insurance, and we need to discuss recent medication changes. Anyhow, I told MST guy I still wanted to schedule and meet for required appts. with him so I wouldn't be non-compliant until judge has opportunity to review things. MST guy says "NO" he will not make further appts. So, I guess I'm non-compliant, but like I told all of them- there are a lot of worse things I could be in juvy court for if my difficult child doesn't get the treatment plan that is recommended for him.
:sword: :warrior:
If anyone has had the patience to read all this- does anyone have any suggestions?
Thanks for all previous help- I don't see any way I could have gotten through this summer with any strength to help difficult child and somewhat understand his needs if it hadn't been for the people in this forum!!
:flower: :treadmill: