Dang it, O.K. try this link! http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kay_Redfield_Jamison

Once again you amaze me RTP....your strength and absolute resolution to continue to fight for your daughter to get the best treatment is beautiful! She's very fortunate to have you as a Mom!

I wish I knew more about this, I don't have much to add...from a knowledge point of view!

I lived many years with a brother that most likely has an undiagnosed chemical imbalance....it's frustrating to watch...and my Mother has beat herself up about the choices she made trying to do her best to raise him....but those were different times....mental health was a very taboo topic! And Lipstick....my brother too self medicates with cocaine......~sigh~

    WWIT, I'm so glad to hear that things have changed so  much for the better and I pray that this is the end of those frustrating times for your DD and your entire family!  You have certainly been a good, patient, persistent and loving Mom, now all of that persistence has paid off. 

I am thrilled to hear that you and your daughter are having so much success! And that you daughter is happier.....that just must bring you close to tears...or actual tears....I almost cried reading your happy post!

 

It did!  When I realized finally that things had really changed and it wasn't just a fluke, or temporary, ya I was bawling.  There was a show on PBS called "The Medicated Child" and it showed a Dr. at Stanford who's identified with brain scans the physical differences in a bipolar person's brain vs. non-bipolar.  Bipolar carries very distinct neurophysical characteristics that they are finding with the help of MRI and other technology.  There is a small section in the very center of the brain, sort of down low (I wish I could remember the name of it), but it's smaller and recieves much less blood flow in a bipolar person.  Dr.'s have been able to monitor this over time in bipolar children and have found that these characteristics aren't so bad when they're young, but by the time they hit 12 the changes in the brain have gotten much worse, and then by age 25 it's about as bad as it's going to get.  They've also found that beginning medication and controlling the bipolarism at a younger age actually prevents and in some cases halts the furthering of the neurophysical disorder.  The scans and that sort of technology being used for this is not mainstream and is not offered for bipolar disorder.  This was a study they were running.  There was another Dr. in Connecticut that was doing the same thing and found the same results.  Hopefully it will become more mainstream and prevent misdiagnoses too. 

I am all for using as little (or better, none) synthetic medications as possible, and would love it if this could truly be controlled with some tweek in her diet or accupuncture or massage, etc.  I am very into doing things as naturally and organically as possible.  I wonder what naturally-occuring substance the pharmaceutical co.'s derive Triliptal and Seroquel from?  We were told that she needed to go to an out of state (b/c there wasn't one here that could address her needs) treatment facility and I held out for 9 months trying to give outpatient therapy more of a chance.  What made me change my mind was when I could no longer go to sleep in my own home w/ my DD here for fear of people's safety.  DH and I had to sleep in shifts to make sure she hadn't hurt herself or anyone else.  No kidding.  Now that we've found something that enables her to live life happily and be part of the family, I'm not inclined to trade that in for natural or organic feel-better things.  If ever there is anything out there that really is an organic or more natural substitute for what we're doing, and it actually works, I'll welcome it with open arms.  But I've got a DD w/ a new lease on life who needs to repair relationships w/ family and form new ways of thinking/living, and I can't mess around and waste time experimenting on her.  I've got 2 other younger children who were very badly hurt by her during those hard years, so I don't want to take chances.  Maybe if things continue to get even better (knock on wood), I will implement some of those kinds of things and see if reducing her med levels a bit would be OK.  She already does some yoga and is pretty active, and has hobbies and interests she's passionate about.  But, I don't think at this point they have an organic sub. for those particular meds.

The idea that if she'd been diagnosed and started meds by age 6 or 7, that it could've kept it from getting worse blows my mind.  I did try taking her for help when she was younger, a few times, and none of those people helped in the least.  In fact, one of them didn't believe the things I'd describe and I realized I was going to have to set up a video camera in our home to get her to listen.  Blows my mind that it could've been stopped or lessened back then, that the progression could have been stopped anyhow.  I hope so much that they implement the new findings ASAP for other young people and their families suffering with this.  Anyhow, I've kind of skimmed over what we went through for all those years, but let me tell you, it was B.A.D.  So yes, I cried a river of relief and joy when I realized things really were better!   

RTP, I am thrilled for you! (tears welling up, through a big smile)! Such a wonderful feeling of hope to know that you are actually now making a difference for your daughter without feeling helpless!