We don't know what is wrong with my daughter???

Question

My daughter was six months old when they found excess water in her brain and still the same at 1 year. She developed slow but no one could find a cause. In kindergarten after fighting family, school and doctors, we were referred to a neurologist and he diagnosed epilepsy. Absent seizures up to 50 a day. He said it did not cause her developmental delay, speech problems, or learning disabilities. She is now 8 years old and over the last couple of years things have gotten worse. She has become very violent and has begun to hurt herself and others. I fear the safety of my other three children. She has been treated for bipolar disorder for the last year with Abilify and her dose increased from 5mg to 20 mg in two months with no noticable improvement. She is now on another mood stabilizer and no improvement if not worse. Yesterday she threw in choking herself. The problem is no one believes me not the school or the doctors. My family have became supportive over the past year.

Answer 1

When a woman is PMS she carries extra water in her body. That means on the brain too. That is one of the main reasons for mood swings - pressure on the brain from extra water. So, if there is any chance that your daughter still has even a little water on the brain it could make a huge impact. If she is violent and destructive you need to take immediate control of the situation. The diagnosis for Bipolar can be so many other things as well, like, early childhood brain injury etc.Where do you live? I know of 2 clinics One is in Idaho, Seattle, San Fransisco the other is in the Bay area as well and they do SPECT scan imaging to find out EXACTLY what is going on in a persons brain based on colors in the scan. The name of the clinics are: Brain Matters and Amen Clinic. Good luck to you. I have a little cousin that sounds just like your daughter, he lives in Norway and they don't know what to do. The only thing would be for them to find a similar scanning clinic. I have seen his behavior and it is scary so I understand what you are going through. I have attached links below.

Answer 2

Can you get hold of a video camera and tape her in action, as proof? Have you tried the vitamin B & C, Folic acid, & fish oil supplements? See http://www.ezy-build.net.nz/~shaneris on page 2. Also see http://www.theneurologychannel.com (.com/seizures/) Has she been tried on Lithium Carbonate for the mood stabilisation? The only other things I can think of are to change her medication (they take time to work) and diet, preferably to something simple and basic: rice, beans, vegetables and fruit for 3 weeks, to see if she improves, then reintroduce other food groups slowly, starting with dairy, then bread& pasta, then fish, meat & eggs, then nuts, then other things, a fortnight at a time. The EFT method (free) from www.mercola.com is worth trying, too. You may have to consider institutionalisation, to protect the other children, if no solution can be found. Try http://www.psychforums.com/ and see if anyone else has had similar problems.

Answer 3

Bipolar kids often act out beyond what many believe is possible given their age. I seriously suggest that you videotape an episode or two (or audiotape if no videocam) and take it with you to the docs when you go next time. This has even been recommended by the Papolos & Papolos team who are leading authorities on Bipolar kids. Try their book, The Bipolar Child and visit the website-you can sign up for free newsletters and other sources of support and advice. I'm not an expert with childhood psychiatric illnesses but hydrocephalus is not a known cause of Bipolar in children. Use of stimulant meds, like those commonly prescribed to treat ADHD, which is often misdiagnosed before Bipolar Disorder is recognized, can spark rapid cycling and virulent Bipolar in kids. I wouldn't assume that your docs don't believe you, but they need to be careful in evaluating the effects of one medication at a time-if they throw a bunch of meds at her and even get a good result, they won't know what to attribute the success to, but I sympathise with the urgency you feel. Bipolar in kids can be very difficult and extremely frustrating to treat. Try The Bipolar Child-it is chock full of great info for professionals and parents.

Answer 4

It doesn't sound like she has bipolar disorder, and maybe the meds are making her sick...and because there is no improvement, I would search elsewhere...Contact a university, that is doing research perhaps...someone who would take your girl in and really help her. She may have to be permantently hospitalized, to protect her brothers and sisters,...and if she was capable of making that choice, I am sure she wouldn't want to hurt them, or you...Pray for her, day in and day out, as I am going to do..you do have a cross to bear...and find out if her problems are a result of the IMUNIZATIONS that children are being forced to take now,..you may have a law suit and might win the money you need for her care...God Bless through Jesus.

Answer 5

How can people not believe you? I can't fathom that no one is taking you seriously....
You have to find another doctor, bring him/her previous prescriptions and diagnosis given, get a report from your daughters teachers (surely it's been noted at school), if necessary videotape any incidences. Please! Don't delay and get help from another GP (across town if necessary) or through social services.

Answer 6

i think you need to find diffarnt docs and you need to take your child to be prayed for because God is truly the only one that can help your child so plz find Jesus for your child and i well pray for your child