Tuesday, December 27, 2011

Happy Holidays Everyone


Yes, I know its a few days after Christmas, but it’s still the holiday season. The boys went to their father’s for Christmas this year and Kevin had a wonderful time. We picked them up yesterday and on the way home he told me about the movie they went to see on Christmas Eve. Ok, maybe it was part of the title, but for Kevin the most important part. Zoo! Then he started naming the animals that were in the movie. He had the biggest smile on his face the whole time. Right now he’s snuggled on the sofa with his new snuggly. I hope everyone has a Safe and Happy New Year.

Sunday, December 18, 2011

Gluten Free Apple Pie


It’s Sunday, my day to bake gluten free bread for Kevin. Yesterday I made a Gluten Free Apple Pie for Kevin’s brother. I know, of all people. He had asked me to make one for Thanksgiving, but with everything going on with Kevin it was really difficult to get to it. I made a promise to him that I would make it during the holidays and yesterday was a good day for baking. I used a pastry recipe from Living Without Magazine and it’s wonderfully flaky, but kind of plain tasting. It would be great for a quiche. I asked one of my sisters to send me her Gluten Free recipe for pie pastry. I had heard from her husband that it’s great. I can’t wait to try it out. In the mean time I have another pastry recipe to try which I might make for New Year’s Day.

I’m still a little frustrated with my last visit to Kevin’s Neurologist and can’t seem to get a few things out of my head. I got a look at her notes and was more than a little surprised at what she had written in a few places. It’s just a bit inaccurate for me to let it go and I keep rehashing it in my head. Often when I take the time to write it down it helps to let it go. Here it goes. She has written that Kevin was 1st put on Prozac for agitation back in ’99. I tried to tell her that wasn’t correct and that it was to see if it could help him with his language delay. She showed me where it was written for agitation and I couldn’t believe it. The more I think about it the more I realized it was her hand writing. Kevin did not have a problem up until he turned 12 years old. I even tried to tell her that the Prozac didn’t do anything for him at the time and she showed where he was on it for several years. I agreed with her and reminded her that the dosage never changed from day one and that was why I felt it was never working for him. You would think the dosage would change from the age of 3 ½ to the age of 9 years old. She even agreed with me at the time when I asked about taking him off of it that he didn’t need it and said it was fine to take him off the Prozac. This all came up, because I had said the reason he was on Prozac now was because it was needed to help the Geodon work back in 9th grade. Of course she said no it was to help with the agitation. Yes, I was getting agitated myself with her, but if I write this all down now maybe I can let it go in my head. The Geodon worked to a point, but it needed help. So, Kevin was put on both Prozac and Ativan at that time. The other thing was she seemed surprised to hear that Kevin is still on the Gluten Free diet. She thought he was off of it, because of one infraction over the summer. I looked at her like she’d lost her mind, because just last October she said to keep doing the diet and even suggested I do the Glycemic Index diet to help with Reactive Hypoglycemia. Oh, and by the way she claimed that she never thought he was Hypoglycemia, but that’s where I got the info from. I really hope and pray that Kevin’s new doctor will listen to me and not assume anything just because of her notes. By the way I pulled out the notes from Kevin’s 1st neurologist and found where she got the agitation from. The doctor warned us of possible side effects and that was one of them. She also remarked that Kevin seems to have a problem with the Risperdal in the fall every time. I said that’s because it would be his 2 year mark with the Risperdal. We had started him on it each time at the beginning of the school year. I think she thought I was crazy at this point. :) I feel a little better, but will be sure to have a heart to heart with the new doctor when I meet him. I’ve work out a time line for Kevin’s school years, so I can go back and refer to it if I should need it. When his doctor flashed these dates at me during our visit I couldn’t remember when any of it was. I’ve always based everything on what grade he was in at the time.

On a happier note Kevin has been joining in with singing Christmas carols in the car lately. Boy was a surprised to him hear him singing. It’s not very loud and like me he doesn’t know all the words, but he’s enjoying himself.

Thursday, December 15, 2011

Floating without a Doctor

We had our visit with Kevin’s Neurologist today and basically she said there isn’t anything more she can do for Kevin. The only reason she had him in today was because it was my seventh call to them about his medication. Unfortunately her hands are tied on what she can and cannot prescribe. I asked her to contact the new doctor that I’m trying to get Kevin in with, and by the way I’ve asked around about him. According to some he is wonderful and is open minded about other ways of helping these kids. That was so nice to hear. My only fear is how long it will be before Kevin can see him. His doctor today said to me “What will you going to do if they can’t get him in until June?” I looked at her and said I don’t know what will I do? So, I’m on my own until we can get Kevin a new neurologist. Not a good feeling.

Monday, December 12, 2011

Medication Issues Yet

Well, it’s back to the doctor this week. No matter what I do with his Risperdal it just doesn’t seem to be helping. I’m sure poor Kevin is a little tired of the ups and downs with his medication, too. I am trying to get him with a new neurologist, because it’s time to transition him out of Pediatrics doctors. I’m just hoping we can get this straightened out before Christmas. Wouldn’t that be a wonderful Christmas present? It’s sad, because his teacher and I were just saying today that we have seen glimpses of what he can do if his medication wasn't causing so much trouble for him.