Today's Appointment

[jj]

Well, KK I'm glad you aren't quite as mad as you were at the appointment. You had me laughing with your "silver lining" story. ROTFL

I think this is good. You did get an answer today. He ruled out RAD so I'd cross that off the list. You are getting closer to finding answers. The brain is so very complicated. I'm happy he is wanting complete testing. I have a good feeling you will come out of this satisfied with a real DX (s).

Hang in there kiddo. Your getting close!

[lillian]

KK,

Asperger's is a very serious dx, and no doctor in his/her right mind would dx it after one visit. As Dimples pointed out, the dx can take a very long time, as doctors "wait and watch" the child's development, slowly ruling out this or that. I agree with the other posters, who said that the doctor's ruling out RAD and sending Sean for additional testing for Asperger's is a huge step, and a huge step in the right direction.

[katiekat]

Well tomorrow is finally Sean's neuropsych evaluation, it has been months since I scheduled it. I am hoping that this appointment will be productive. I again specifically asked if this was evaluating Sean or asking us questions and was told that the doctor would in fact be evaluating him and that it will take about 2 hours.
Once again I am hoping for some answers and for someone to send us in the right direction.

[jj]

I hope this appointment gets you closer to understanding Sean although 2 hours doesn't seem like enough time to make a clear cut DX so I hope you don't get your hopes to high one way or the other. Like Lillian said, it takes a lot of watching and evaluating.

But I hope you come out of this appointment feeling good.

[charliegirl]

I hope all goes well and the testing reflects him as he really is so you really can get something started to help him.

[katiekat]

OK. Well.I really don't know what to say about today's appt. I am feeling all kinds of things right now.
First off he said no way to the Aspergers. Not even close and he honestly did not know why this was ever even suggested to us. He said it is nothing in the autistic spectrum. He said it was nothing neurological and there is no reason to do the other testing or send Sean to the Lego Therapy group he runs b/c he does not have Aspergers and it will not benefit him. So that is good.
He was also very skeptical regarding all the other DXs. He thinks BP is a possibility but that Sean is too young to have this DX and that BP is over diagnosed in kids.
He thinks the best thing to do is to stop taking S to all these doctors and get him off the meds. I told him that stopping the meds was NOT going to happen. He said it could possibly be a personality disorder or it could just be "the way Sean is." His area of expertise is Autistic Spectrum Disorders so I agree with him if he says it not AS but as far as what else he said I don't know.
As for Sean I could not believe the things he was telling this guy. I am believing at this moment that the whole "depression" thing is not depression at all and just a child acting like a spoiled brat when he does not get his way. Manipulation at it's finest and always trying to make everyone feel bad for him. I felt like I had to defend this family over and over again as Sean made us all sound like abusive, neglectful, people who do nothing but be mean to him. He made so many completely ridiculous accusations about my husband, myself, his mother, Joe, and his little sister. He was saying things about how I always say no to him sleeping over his friends houses but allow Joe to do it. He doesn't have any friends and has NEVER been invited to sleep over anyone's house so I dont what he's talking about. Making statements about how he is always so tired b/c he cant get any sleep in this house-WHAT?! He is the one who is up at 5 am waking everyone else up. The stuff he was saying was just so twisted. The dr. actually told me that we need to get some structure into our household! I had let Sean say everything he wanted to and then had to clear up some things with this guy. I mean the way it probably sounded to the dr was that we lived this crazy lifestyle with no stability and all got our kicks picking on Sean. I explained to him about the accusations Sean had made in the past about not being fed etc.. and let him know that this is a big part of the problem. This "woe is me" attitude that everyone is always picking on him is not true. I was just blown away. Even when we were leaving Sean made a comment about being hungry and the dr. said maybe your mom will take you to get a special treat for lunch since you've been so good here, I said to Sean that I would take him to McDonalds and he says that he would rather I buy him a tin of Pokemon cards and I said no, I would buy him lunch and he says "see, she never buys me what I want" in this dejected voice. I don't know what's going on with this kid-I truly don't.
Well this is getting way too long and I am babbling but once again I don't know what else to do. It's good that we ruled something out but still no concrete answers. I need a drink.

[katiekat]

So I'm still not sure what to do. One of the things this dr. told me was that talk therapy is useless and a waste of time and money. He has been studying the social developent of boys for 23 years and says it has no proven positive effect on boys. While on the other hand I have been told by the therapist that it is necessary.
Also the comment I mentioned above I think that if we keep taking him to all these appts. he will think there is something wrong with him. I think there is something wrong as most 7 year old dont threaten suicide. The only thing Im sure of is we are not stopping the meds but other than that-who do you believe?

[charliegirl]

KK, I'm dumbfounded. You must be so disappointed and frustrated.

If Sean really was just neglected or a spoiled brat he would respond to the discipline and rewards you have tried in the past.

What a waste of time, money and effort on your part. Sean was sucking up his attention and like any kid, when he found a track that was getting it, he kept on it as long as he could think of something to add. If Sean is depressed, of course he is going to read everything in his life as negative and put the worst connotation on it. The man should have been experienced enough to figure that out.

All I can think of is to document everything. Everything you do, everything he does. Have solid written evidence to dispute anything Sean says or does.

Don't give up. That neuro is only human. He doesn't have all the answers.

[katiekat]

Yeah, I know but Im just not sure what path to take now. Is the therapy doing harm vs good? I don't see how it can hurt honestly. There are real problems and I don't see how it is negative to talk about them. His main point was that we are causing Sean to label himself in his own mind as "a kid with problems" but with all the stuff that has happened it is apparent he does have problems-are we supposed to go into denial and pretend like the things he does/says/feels are typical? I think that is the worst thing we could do.
Also he then said about the whole borderline personality thing and that scares me-wouldnt it be a good thing to have him in therapy if that is a possibility? ARGH. I am not an expert. I just have an opinion but I guess that is true of the experts also.
The more I write the more I am thinking that regardless of what he said I will continue with the therapist.
PS Does anyone else hate when doctors talk about your kid right in front of them like they arent even there? Drives me nuts...and I always mention it and they always say that they want him to remain there.

[charliegirl]

Check this out. With Sean so young its hard to tell but maybe the guy was on to something. Some of the symptoms are things you have mentioned concerning Sean. You could see if you see any of the others developing in him.

psychcentral.com/disorders/sx10.htm

Personally, I don't see how talk therapy can hurt him. A good therapist can help him learn to step back and analyze what is happening and hopefully learn to rely on logic more than emotions.

You're a good mom and he is lucky to have you. I know you will do whatever it takes to help him. Hang in there.