Archive for October, 2010
Oct
Our Experience:
Lamictal is a medication that is supposed to bring bipolar kids out of depressive states without throwing them into manic states. Because of this ability to stabilize moods so well, it is often used in the treatment of bipolar disorder in children as well as bipolar disorder in adults. I know that the last time we used it for our daughter Abbi, she was doing VERY well. Lamictal is the first drug since lithium to be approved by the FDA as a mood stabilizer.
Then trouble struck. Lamictal does not have a ton of side effects but there is one major one. It is coined as the Lamictal rash but also known as Stevens-Johnsons Syndrome (SJS). The last time we tried Lamictal, Abbi developed this nasty Lamictal rash and it was STRESSFUL. The first thing to note is that the rash is very itchy. She itched so much that her skin was raw. It is also hot to the touch. The rash only develops in 5%-10% of users, one of which we were one. We had to stop taking the medication right away and switch to something else. The Lamictal rash can be a serious thing. It is so important that when your child is adjusting to this medication you stay in contact with your child’s psychiatrist. Rashes are more prevalent in bipolar kids than bipolar adults.
So a month ago the doctor asked us how we felt about putting Abbi back on the medication that had cause discomfort and stress. After doing a lot of research we discovered that if you increase very slowly the chances of developing the rash decrease. After discussing it with Abbi and each other, we decided to give it a try. The good news is that there is no rash yet. We have increased at half the rate we did last time. So far it is working and to top it off she is feeling “better” emotionally. I would highly recommend trying this medication if it is recommended for your bipolar kids, but be sure to use some caution.
As a follow up to this post we did eventually choose to put Abigail back on Lamictal. We increased the dosage slower this time in order to help assure that she would not get the rash. I am happy to report that she has been back on Lamictal for 6 months with no rash. As a parent it is my advice to slowly introduce Lamictal. Of course your child’s psychiatrist will know what is best!
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Oct
Recent studies have shown that bipolar kids often have learning disabilities in addition to suffering from bipolar disorder. If you bipolar kid has been referred to the committee on special education in your school district it will be important that you know all there is to know about the IEP (Individualized Education Plan) process. Below is a list that will briefly describe the process to you. It is important that through this process you remain educated as to the next step. You are the best advocate your child will ever have!
- Referral: In this first step in the process. The referral can come from someone within the district or from a parent or guardian. If you as the parent this referral will have to be given to the school in writing. The school then has 10 days in which to respond to the referral for evaluation. At this point the school will ask for signed permission from the parent or guardian so that they may move forward with the evaluation process.
- Evaluation: By this point there is already one hurdle jumped and it is on to the next step. It is important that the person referring the child assures that the school will be testing the child in the areas of concern. While bipolar kids can show attention concerns it is also important to know that many times bipolar kids have other learning disabilities. Identify where you feel that your child’s evaluations should focus and communicate those concerns in writing. According to federal law IDEA 2004 the school has 60 days to complete this process. Some states may have laws requiring it be completed sooner. Idea 2004 also requires that children also be evaluated in all areas of concern. It is often recommended that a child with bipolar disorder be tested in all 8 areas. Recent studies have shown that many bipolar children also have sensory integration deficits. The 8 areas in which a bipolar kid should be tested includes: health/medical; vision; social and emotional status; hearing; academic performance; general intelligence; communicative status; and motor abilities. These 8 areas are often referred to as domains.
- Determining Eligibility: After laying out an evaluation plan the school professionals will conduct the steps of the plan. This will require many individuals within the school to work together. Your child will be pulled out of class in order to be properly tested and evaluated for an IEP. These tests need to be completed within 60 days although it differs state to state. IDEA 2004, the federal regulation, requires 60 days. If your state requires a different time period in which testing should be completed it has to be below the 60 day federal IDEA 2004 requirement.
- Meeting: Once testing has been completed you will be asked to attend a meeting. In this meeting you will hear the test results from each person who evaluated your bipolar kid. In this meeting they will communicate if your child was eligible for an IEP under any of the 13 classifications. If your child is not found to be eligible it may be recommended that your child’s needs be covered under a 504 plan. Section 504 is a section of the Americans with Disabilities Act. Before your meeting it is a good idea to learn more about a student 5 04 and what accommodations may be fitting for your kid with bipolar disorder. If your child is found not to be eligible for an IEP you have the right to request an Independent Educational Evaluation (IEE). If your child is found eligible for an Individualized Education Plan (IEP) your child will be provided special education services. Some schools combine eligibility meetings with the IEP writing into one meeting.
- Writing the IEP: It is important to understand that according to IDEA 2004 parents must be informed of this meeting in writing. In this written communication the school must provide information on meeting time and location, the purpose of the meeting, and who will be attending the meeting. There will also be notification that the parent may be accompanied by any individual that may be able to assist the parent in the development of the IEP. This meeting will determine services that are to be provided. In some cases this may mean a change in class settings for your bipolar kid. You have the right to see this new class first. If at any point in this meeting you are feeling uncomfortable you have the right to table your meeting. A parent also does not have to sign the IEP. You are provided 10 days by IDEA 2004 in which to work out any disagreements or move for state mediation. After that 10 days the school is under no obligation to provide the accommodations listed in the IEP.
It is important to remember that the IEP process is protected and ruled by laws. The more familiar you are with these laws the better you will be able to advocate for your bipolar kids. It is also important to remember that there will be progress reports, re-evaluations and bumps along the road. It is important to enter each meeting with your emotions in check. Yelling will not be a benefit to your or your child.
For more extensive information as to your rights and each step click here.
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Oct
Image via Wikipedia
Meditation is the ability to let go of the thoughts and stresses of everyday life and live in the now. Children with bipolar disorder and other mental illness can greatly benefit from meditation. While meditation can be difficult at first for a child with bipolar disorder, with practice they can master meditation. All it takes is some practice and persistence.
Tips for meditation in children with bipolar disorder: These tips are for bipolar kids and teens:
- The child with bipolar disorder will need to find a quiet place. This location should be somewhere that the child will not be disrupted. This means that they should remove themselves from areas where there are other people, TV and other background noises. It is often helpful if you discuss with your bipolar child where the perfect spot would be.
- Sit in a comfortable seat. This could include a chair, a cushion on the floor, the grass or even the floor. Be sure that the child’s back is aligned and that they maintain proper posture.
- The child should then rest their hands on their lap or their hips. The important thing is to be as comfortable as possible. If they are uncomfortable there is no way that they will stay and gain the benefits of meditation.
- Remain still. This will be hard for any child, let alone a child with a mental illness such as bipolar disorder. Have your bipolar child close their eyes or lower their gaze to their nose until it goes out of focus. If they struggle just remind them to try again. Do not allow your child to become frustrated. Encourage them to try again and again. Meditation is something that takes practice for adults and children as well.
- The child should focus on their surroundings and breathing. Tell them to feel the air on their face while deep breathing. Have them listen to their breathe as it goes in and out. Encourage your bipolar kid to notice how they feel.
- Clear your mind of all thoughts. This will be difficult but improves with practice. Have your child put their thoughts in their place and let them go. Some psychologists suggest giving your child a visual to go with this. Tell them to place all of their thoughts into a suitcase or box. This will take your bipolar kid a while to master. Many adults have trouble with this step. This is why it is safe to assume that your child will also have a difficult time with it.
It is important that you understand that there are many different ways to meditate. The Mayo Clinic offers various tips on how to meditate. The National Institute of Mental Health states that meditation can help quell anxiety. There may also be meditation classes in your area offered for children with bipolar disorder. No matter where your child is meditating it is an important skill for anyone with bipolar disorder to learn. It affords them the ability to self calm when necessary.
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