Wednesday, January 24, 2007

What Is Psychiatry Doing To Children?

Let's look at three ways to deal with Attention Deficit Disorder (ADD).

First is Adderall.

"Side effects of Adderall may include: Depression, dry mouth, heart attack, high blood pressure, hives, impotence, overstimulation, rapid or pounding heartbeat, seizures, stomach and intestinal disturbances, stroke, sudden death, weight loss "

Do psychiatrists advise parents to take out more life insurance on their kids when they prescribe this?


Next is Concerta.

"Reported psychiatric side effects of Concerta include suicidal thoughts, aggression, psychotic behavior and hallucinations. Concerta's label already includes warnings about psychiatric side effects; the warnings may downplay the seriousness of the side effects."

Maybe I mixed this up with LSD. Is this really a good thing to give to a teenager? Are parents given a straight jacket for their kid in case these side effects materialize?

Option 3 Alpha Lipoic Acid

Clinical studies have shown few if any side effects among those who have been given Alpha Lipoic Acid supplements as directed. Higher doses can cause nausea and upset stomachs, and excessive doses can even lead to low blood sugar.

How many psychiatrists or other medical professionals prescribe ALA to solve ADD? It looks like some Pepto Bismol and a candy bar will take care of these annoying side effects.

With 3 weekends of being dosed with ALA, my 8 year old is rapidly snapping out of his ADD diagnosis. His doctor prescribed Concerta but I opted for doing without hallucinations and a possible suicide.

Why won't the Medical profession stop harming our children?!

124 comments:

Anonymous said...

"Why won't the Medical profession stop harming our children?!"

It's not just our kids, it's adults too. Over at my house we refer to them as the "front men" for the Pharma Cos.

Last year I heard a segment on NPR about U of P enacting a new policy re their docs. They're no longer allowed to receive "gifts" from Pharma Cos. Felt it was unethical. Didn't want to sway their research or medical treatments. They were sure it was a trend that would catch on at other institutions/hospitals. Anybody hear anything about this happening?? ....... Nope, me neither.

Anonymous said...

Because you haven't lodged a formal complaint against any of them. I suggest you do so and encourage others to do so as well - and mean it instead of just talking about it.

Ian

John Best said...

Ian, Look at what good it has done to complain to the CDC about thimerosal. It's like complaining to a cop about another cop. At least the doctors don't beat you though.

Anonymous said...

Great post John, though you only skimmed the surface. Risperdal is specifically approved to treat negative behaviors associated with autism.

"Most common Risperdal Side Effects:

Abdominal pain
Vomiting
Constipation
Diarrhea
Dry mouth
Sore throat
Abnormal walk
Agitation
Aggression
Anxiety
Chest pain
Coughing
Involuntary movements
Nasal inflammation
Decreased activity
Decreased sexual desires
Lack of coordination
Impotence
Dizziness
Dry skin
Difficulty urinating
Heavy menstruation
Tremor
Weight gain
Lethargic feelings
Join pain
Difficulty ejaculating
Tremor
Respiratory infection
Some Risperdal patients may want to consider alternate treatment methods due to the evidence of increased risk and lack of adequate safety studies. The use of Risperdal with pregnant women has not yet been determined safe. It has been reported that some mothers that used Risperdal while pregnant had babies with problematic births. One mother using Risperdal had a baby with serious brain problems and it is unknown if Risperdal may have contributed to the birth defect.

Risperdal studies on animals have indicated that undesirable effects could occur, though experts are still unsure of what effect Risperdal has with pregnant women. It has been shown that Risperdal can pass through the milk of nursing animals, and so women that are still breast-feeding should discuss alternate treatment methods to Risperdal to be safe.

There have only been studies showing the safety of Risperdal in adults, so children may risk very serious side effects. The use of antipsychotic medications for children has continued to be a controversial subject over the years and the growing trend of prescribing new and powerful drugs like Risperdal to children has especially high risk considering the risk that the risperdal side effects could last forever."

Now those idiot nuero-derelicts would happily allow their children to take these poisonous drugs with all these nasty side effects.Why, because they still believe -your doctor knows what's best. That doctor who injected poisons into your infants and then lied or denied the dangers? Yet, they scoff at parents like you and me who are trying to make our children healthy by removing metals and toxins, not putting more poisons in our kids via moood altering meds.

They are Pharma shills or they are completely and utterly stupid people, or maybe both.

Anonymous said...

44 million americas are on mood altering drugs. Staggering.

Here's a question for proponents of the Neuro-diverse school of thought:

Do we now have more people with mental problems (depression, suicidal thoughts, anxiety, phobias, OCD, pick your own here).

Or, is the medical establishment better at diagnosing these problems?

Have these people always been here, but due to the "stigma" we just didn't know how many people suffered with these problems?

Has something in the environment "triggered" more of these problems to occur in genetically vulnerable people?

OR

Now that pharma has created all these wonderful meds? Do we have doctors diagnosing these psychological problems at a greater frequency?

I know what I think, I can guess at what Nuero-diversers probably think.

Also, do you think we are experiencing a "restless leg syndrome" epidemic or is that too better diagnosis, less stigma association, and better awareness that a lot of people have jumpy legs???

John Best said...

Anon, I don't think the ND's will respond since I stopped allowing their anonymous comments. None of them are brave enough to comment with their names.
As far as anonymous comments go on this side, it's protection from having one's name smeared by the likes of Seidel and Leitch.

Anonymous said...

Anon, I don't think the ND's will respond since I stopped allowing their anonymous comments. None of them are brave enough to comment with their names.
As far as anonymous comments go on this side, it's protection from having one's name smeared by the likes of Seidel and Leitch
".

Good job John. I agree with this move. This is absolutely no different from what Leitch and Seidel do... They ban the people with sense and allow their "friends" to do whatever they wish. Your site simply allows people with a brain to comment where they may not otherwise be allowed (or fear of being harrassed by the insane ND's). I do think that if you get any humorous anonymous comments from the ND/NI's those might be fun to laugh at as well. Think about it.

Anonymous said...

Read this interesting commentary from Kev. He writes:

I think most people are agreed that autism is a ‘mix’ of genes and environment.

Then a man with some sense asks:

I think that statement is the first one you have written that I agree with.

In the case of your own experience with your daughter, what’s your best guess as to what the environment did to cause her autism? Or, heck, just give me a top 5 culprits. What do you think
?

To which Kev responds:

No idea. None at all.

This response from a man who had to rush his daughter via ambulance to the hospital after her DPT vaccination. I feel bad for Leitch. So sad to be in such denial.

Anonymous said...

John-

you said after "3 weekends" your son was doing great. Do you only dose him on the weekends? I am wondering because I am thinking about doing this with my "NT" son, who is a year older than my "autistic" child that we chelated last year. He is 8-and showing signs og ADD-not ADHD, but ADD. He is a awesome kid-never had an issues but I am seeing a wall start to go up in school. I see it because I am ADD as well. It is really fun in our house-and ADD mother with and autistic child and another posiible ADDer. All we do is laugh at the fact that we still are all alive.

Did you follow the same protocol that you do with Sam?

It was suggested a while back to me that we put our youngest son, who was diagnosed at the age of two as being autistic, on Ritalin.I just never even considered it. I am considering chelating him yet again, even though out DAN doctor says we don't need to. He lost almost ALL of his autistic qualities as a result of the chelation, and a few other things, but he is still spacey. I guess my question is, when do you know when to stop? When will you stop chelating Sam? At what point will he be "ok" to you? In your opinion, do you think that "there will be a few character flaws, but that is ok?"
Are you searching for perfection? I think that is where I am....wondering when you just let a kid be quirky, but functioning on his own and happy to be alive and doing well in school, with tons of friends and support.

Amy

Anonymous said...

I must admit I am a sucker for the ND brainless twits responses.

It's my daily dose of guaranteed comedy.

John, don't take that away from me.

Let the real glaringly stupid ones get through.

Please.

John Best said...

Anon, The "none at all" answer from Kev is typical of brain dead parents who let their children rot. I feel bad for his daughter.

Anonymous said...

"It's my daily dose of guaranteed comedy. John, don't take that away from me. Let the real glaringly stupid ones get through".

I like this new system alot better. Those other comments were just distracting. I like sharing ideas/experiences with like-minded people. Let the morons go elsewhere to harass someone else. You've got enough to deal with, why allow those idiots into your life (or Blog)?

John Best said...

Amy, Yes ALA every 3 hours during the day and every 4 hours at night, every other weekend. He's about 100 pounds and I give him 25mg per dose. Start Friday after school and keep going until Monday morning or late Sunday night. I give him Vitamin C with every dose, multi vitamins, zinc, magnesium, Vitamin E and Cod Liver Oil. That's Andy Cutler's protocol. It's important to give the doses at 3 or 4 in the morning. If I miss them, I stop the round.
I chelate myself too with no ill effects. Maybe it'll help me avoid Alzheimer's.

John Best said...

Anon, Don't worry, the good ones without four-letter anonymous insults will get through.

John Best said...

Anon, While it's true that most of the morons are uneducable and would never learn anything here, it's good to keep their interest just in case some of them can see the error of their ways. I agree though, most of their comments serve no useful purpose.

Anonymous said...

"I chelate myself too with no ill effects. Maybe it'll help me avoid Alzheimer's".

I mentioned the following before but it's well worth repeating. National Geographic ran an article a couple months ago (see link below) about our toxic bodies. A science writer agreed to have his body tested for toxins. The results? He had alittle of everything & they said most people do. An obvious question is - how does this affect us to have some of many, many toxins in us? Could this be a cause of all these weird diseases, including autism, parkinson, MS, cancer etc? Plus, this guy had off the chart "flame retardant". Everyone was scratching their heads about that one. Finally, figured it was from all the flying the guy does for his job. Planes are loaded with it. They said not to worry about it cause noone knows how dangerous flame retardant is (reassuring huh??).

Another interesting thing they did was they had the guy eat 2 fish meals & retested him. His mercury level went up alot!!!!!!

When we did our hair analysis we had off the chart mercury & aluminum plus some of everything else. The lab said our results were very serious & we should do something to remove these toxins. BUT they said not to feel too bad everybody's test results look like ours. Now that really sucks!

My point being I think John is wise to chelate himself. We're using 2 other methods to get this crap outta us.

Here's the link for the article http://www3.nationalgeographic.com/ngm/0610/feature4/index.html

John Best said...

Joe, I thought you knew that ALA chelates mercury. Since ADD is caused by mercury, ALA cures it, as I showed with my son.

David N. Andrews M. Ed., C. P. S. E. said...

I hate to be in this position.

I'm actually going to agree with you on something, John.

The issue of psychotropic medication for children is one hell of a vague area in psychiatry, because of the ethical issues involved in researching the safety and efficacy of such medications.

As to the ALA you mention... I'm not convinced (although I do note Joseph's comment on the diabetic neuropathy issue... fair enough, ALA has some things that it can be useful in; I doubt that autism and ADHD are amongst those matters). However, I do absolutely agree with your concerns on psychiatric medications being prescribed for children with little - if any - reference to safety.

That is definitely not a good direction for psychiatry to be going in. (I'm an educational psychologist: I don't prescribe, and - even if I had prescribing powers - I would not prescribe).

Anonymous said...

David,

Glad to hear your position on psycho-tropic meds for children. Sadly, that is the only line of defense medical doctors currently have to treat the symptoms of his autism.

So, if I take my kid to the doctor the only thing he can do and write me a prescription to drug my kid into submission.

So what's a parent to do?

Please don't tell me get a high priced ABA consultant and hire a team to run a 40 hour a week program. Did that with minimal results and huge debt to show for it.

Anonymous said...

It is interesting to see the ND's rail against the use of these 'drugs' on children. Happy to see it YET it is interesting that they don't have the same anger towards injecting MERCURY into people. Go figure.

Anonymous said...

read this

http://www.cbc.ca/national/news/normal/

"finding normal"

John Best said...

Jonsmum, I still can't identify all the triggers with Sam but the meltdowns are fewer now. Vitamin C has been the key for him, along with chelation.
He was on Seroquel for awhile but I wouldn't advise using that. He woke up every morning like he had a bad hangover.
I've also been using some stuff to deal with yeast lately called Acidophilus that seems to help. You could gain a much better understanding of yeast from others at Autism-Mercury.

Anonymous said...

jonsmum,

I would suggest you research more of the bio-medical treatments. Join some of the yahoo groups and talk to other parents. Seek out people who's children have experienced similar issues as your son.

Meds should be an absolutely last resort or used under the notion they will be a "temporary" fix until other more natural options are explored/attempted.

This is a tough and controversial issue. Some parents firmly believe they are doing the best thing for their kid by placing them on meds. They get very offended if anyone questions that decision. It's a very personal decision. I have absolutely no faith in my regular pediatrician knowing how to best help my son and his problems associated with his autism.

I'll be honest, I am completely against meds of that nature because "drugs don't cure anything, they mask symptoms".

You might get lucky and your kid might respond and seem not to suffer any ill effects. Or your kid could go totally bonkers and his problems could be worse. And then you might get stuk on the psycho-meds merry-go-round which I heard can be very hard to get off.I've also read a lot of acciunts where things seem to go ok for a while and then all hell breaks loose.

I would probably try and hook in with a Dan! doc. Do you have those in England? They would be able to talk to you about a well rounded approach to addressing your son's anxiety issues. They do much more than just chelate every single kid.

Good luck jonsmum, I feel for you and your situation and hope things work out well for your boy.

Anonymous said...

Ian, Look at what good it has done to complain to the CDC about thimerosal. It's like complaining to a cop about another cop. At least the doctors don't beat you though.

That's no excuse. You keep it up. You record every single contact you make and if they ignore it or whatever you note it and you keep plugging away. Sooner or later they'll have to react - if anything to try and stop your pestering them. And even then you should keep going ad nauseam until you get the results you want.

So all of you - start now if you haven't already.

Ian

Anonymous said...

I've noticed you never seem to talk about Sam having fun or enjoying you. I mean, is he really as vegetable-ish as you make him sound or not?

Anonymous said...

vegetable-ish? what a horrible term.

John Best said...

Jonsmum, I put all of Sam's pills in ice cream. Put a thin layer on the spoon, drop the pill in and then cover it with more ice cream. I think he spit it out 3 or 4 times in 7 years. Can't you buy melatonin over the counter there?

John Best said...

Dookers, Sam is far from a vegetable now.

Anonymous said...

He never was a vegetable, Foresam.

Anonymous said...

So you don't allow anonymous comments any more huh coward?

You're dead.

John Best said...

I let a few comments go through from the cowards of neurodiversity for the hell of it. It's funny how they complain and threaten me like little boys hiding behind their mother's skirt.

John Best said...

Eddie, I hate to say it but my son was as good as brain dead for a long, long time. Now, he has rejoined the world as you people can if you try to help yourselves instead of crying about it.

Anonymous said...

you should, just for fun, let all of the posts come through one of these times so we can be really entertained. I mean,"concrete shoes"? what kind of mentality is that? seriously.....that is freaking hilarious. it's not even clever...it's sad.

Anonymous said...

Now, he has rejoined the world as you people can if you try to help yourselves instead of crying about it.

There are many worlds. Try to understand this. Just because your son was on a different world does not mean he was "as good as" brain dead. That's a cruel thing to say about your son.

Anonymous said...

It's funny how they complain and threaten me like little boys hiding behind their mother's skirt.

It was no threat. It was a guarentee.

John Best said...

Ed, It was an honest thing to say about the horror that happened to my baby. Our government thinks it's OK and that's the part that's cruel.

Anonymous said...

if his son was not funtioning and was self destructive and not making sense of the world he was in, how is that living? it is'nt. it IS like being brain dead-in other words his brain was not doing what it should be doing to exist the way humans were meant to exist.

And who is the asshole that has no life other than to make childish-stupid threats? Dude-get a clue. contribute something other than threats. or-are you brain dead too?

Anonymous said...

John if you feel that this comment is too long or off topic I will not be offended or call you names if “mod it out” :)

Jonsmum-

Your son sounds very similar to a student I had a few years back (also autistic) He seemed to be anxious all the time. He had an extreme need for routine and sameness. He also seemed to have his own set of “rules” for how things should be. His parents and I were not always able to determine all of his "triggers." I conducted an FBA but even this did not seem to provide enough insight. He once went through a phase where he would not eat at snack time (even though he loved the food choices he had.) We discovered it was because he had seen a picture symbol for “snack time” and the picture symbol had pictures of juice and crackers on it. He did not have similar “juice and crackers” in his lunch box so he would not/could not eat his snack. (He would eat everything later at lunchtime though.) He would also have frequent “meltdowns” and we were not always able to figure out why. He could talk a little but had a lot of articulation difficulties and was difficult understand even w/familiar adults. He also had hyperlexic tendencies. When I realized just how well he could read I began writing out a daily "schedule" for him. I also wrote him little notes through out the day when I observed him getting anxious or upset. Most of the time this strategy worked he would breathe a huge sigh of relief, wipe away his tears and even giggle a little. The notes would be as simple as: “_______we are going to have a fire drill. We will walk outside. We will not wear our coats. You can hold my hand. You will be OK.” I think that with this particular child he perceived our spoken language as a lot of “noise.” But when we wrote the same info down for him he was able to understand. By no means was this strategy a cure all for his anxiety and OCD tendencies but it really made a difference for him. He was age 3-5 years when I had him. Sadly his family moved out of state and did not stay in touch. I still worry about him. :(

Thinking about using a medication can be such a difficult and upsetting issue to confront. It is a huge decision for a parent to have to make. I think that your own instinct and your strong intuition when it comes to your son’s needs will be your best guide. If you feel as though medication may be able to help bring your son some measure of relief you should not feel guilty about choosing to use it. I wish you the best of luck!

Anonymous said...

Our government thinks it's OK and that's the part that's cruel.

Of course they think it's OK, because they respect other worlds. It would seem that you don't. Is it cruel to respect other world, or is it cruel to disrespect it?

Anonymous said...

“No you definitely can't get melatonin over the counter in the UK. You can't even get it prescribed by a regular Doctor."

Weird- what is the reasoning in that? Melatonin is essentially non-toxic. I had to look up the Vallergan Forte. I had never heard of it before but it sounds like taking Nyquil or Benadryl as a sleep-aid.

John how does the Vitamin C help Sam? I myself will take 1000mg of Vitamin C a day (at least when I remember!) but this is more preventative medicine (I use zinc too)as I work with young children. I have not taken either in a while (and no cold/flu yet)but I think I have just developed an immune system of steel from working with little kids for so many years!

Anonymous said...

I actually like this format better too John, it's less likely to get WAY off track now.

David N. Andrews M. Ed., C. P. S. E. said...

"No you definately can't get melatonin over the counter in the UK.
You can't even get it prescribed by a regular Doctor. You have to get it prescribed by a hospital consultant, and even then it has to be imported from the USA.

When I became aware of Melatonin, I asked my son's Dr about it.
He said 'you can park that'."

For what it's worth...

When my now-ex and I had read a study by a Finnish team into the efficacy of melatonin, we thought it might be useful to try it (my daughter and I have been terrible sleepers).

So we asked the GP at the health centre. No chance. Eventually we got it.

But here, melatonin is available - in supermarkets, of all places: 'yölypsytyssä maidossa' - in milk drawn at night. Apparently, milk drawn at night is richer in melatonin than morning-drawn milk.

Anonymous said...

if his son was not funtioning and was self destructive and not making sense of the world he was in, how is that living?

I need an answer to this. How do you come to the conclusion that not functioning means self destructive?

Anonymous said...

Teacher,

What a nice positive post for jonsmum. We need more thoughtful professionals like you working with our children.

jonsmum,

I meant to tell you also not to feel guilty about using meds. I still think if you do, to think of them as a "temporary" solution. And as you pointed out, using them on a need be basis. For example, medicating your son if you want to get his teeth cleaned. We do that as well. My son went from having a really hard time at the dentist to getting better, than we moved went to a new dentist So things have been bad the last 3 visits. 2 of those visits we used no meds and he did not get a good cleaning because he was so upset, so the last time we used a med to calm him. I hate to do it, but sometimes it is unavoidable. He got a great cleaning and he really needed it.
Please keep us informed how your son is doing. And, good luck.

John Best said...

Teacher, Vitamin C stopped Sam from bashing his head through walls. I have no idea why it worked. I just followed Andy Cutler's advice.

John Best said...

Eddie, When other world's infringe on my child's right to health and pursuit of happiness, the proper response is to nuke 'em til they glow.
We're talking about a normal baby who was poisoned here. Unfortunately, our bribed politicians are protecting the criminals instead of hanging them.

Anonymous said...

Just wanted to say to Jonsmum. I feel bad because I had previously railed against giving children meds. You need to do what you need to do. It is unfortunate that our officials poisoned kids so badly with their toxic brews that we have to use other meds to help with that. I do not fault parents who feel they need to use certain meds... certainly they do so because of circumstances beyond their control... that being the poisoning of babies. I hope that you understand.

Anonymous said...

Anon-
I think John answered that question for you...he was bashing his head through the walls. He has also mentioned in earlier posts that he had a tendancy to do that. that is self destructive to me. What does it mean to you? That he was just unhappy with the shape of his head and wanted to make it different? People of normal brain capacity do not bash their heads through walls. When their brains are poisoned they do stuff like that, or slap themselves, or bite themselves, and if we do not step in they often times will just end up really injuring themselves or even killing themselves. Ever been inside of an institution? It scary beyond words....John is doing the right thing by chelating and not giving up on his kid. Not everyone on the spectrum is like that-but when you see it it is heartbreaking. Some of you people just do not get it.

Until someone somehwhere come up with a better answer, another proven cause of autism, you people that oppose chelation should ask yourselves why. Because there is no reason to NOT try it. It is not normal to have scizophrenia, bi-polar, depression, adhd and it is NOT normal to have autism. That is not how the brain is supposed to work. If it was, we would have "read" about it on some cave somewhere that tells us it was there from the beginning.
That actually would be cool.....those of you that say autism is not new and has always been around, find me an autistic caveman story. Then I will be sold and call John a liar.

Anonymous said...

My grandaughter who is now 11 had severe senory issues, and anxiety when she started school. Medications were out of the question. I finally had to remove her from the main stream setting. She has never returned. She had oT, and PT written into her IEP which helped. The biggest impact was the change in the classroom enviroment. A lot has changed since then. Her sensory issues are almost non exisitant now. Her behaviors have improved immensely. She is still very quirkly (Aspergers to a tee) Now I am fending off the psych DX they keep trying to slap on her. I have refused any testing by any psychologists. Her school counselor mentioned bi-polar to me. I said fine. If you can recommend a test that can show me what her serotonin levels are we will talk about it. Of course I know their is no such test. I was lucky that my granddaughter grew out of a lot of the SI issues. Some still remain. She will get herself to a quiet place when she feels over whelmed. It has not been an easy road. I can't tell you how many day cares she was tossed out of. They all say they take special needs kids, until the time comes when they have special needs. Then the excuse is Unsafe behavior. Since when did hidding under a table become a life threatening event. They are all so full of shit. I could go on and on.

Peggy

Anonymous said...

This comment is to a Mr.David N. Andrews MEd (Distinction). I just read your profile & am SHOCKED at your slur regarding John Best. Is that really necessary? So unprofessional. Here we have people struggling with a horrible disease & a professional puts something like that on their blog profile. What kind of a world am I living in???

Anonymous said...

Are you aware that most DAN doctors use a different dosing schedule that Andy's? What are your thoughts on this? I have been thinking, and reading up on all of Andy's info and now I am a little confused, and upset. our doctor did not have us do it during the night-in fact I remember him saying that there was no need. So now I am all confused. I want to do this again with my son, but am so worried that I will not do it properly.

Anonymous said...

This message to JB (if he reads here). Ignore the twits on Kev's site. Come here where sanity reigns. The twits love to act stupid over there. Kev Leitch's kid was severely damaged by her vaccinations and he refuses to see it. Denial is a powerful tool.

David N. Andrews M. Ed., C. P. S. E. said...

Anon: "This comment is to a Mr.David N. Andrews MEd (Distinction). I just read your profile & am SHOCKED at your slur regarding John Best. Is that really necessary? So unprofessional. Here we have people struggling with a horrible disease & a professional puts something like that on their blog profile. What kind of a world am I living in???"

Actually, given his change of behaviour towards me of late, I'm in the process of changing that (but he was not always as polite as he has been of late, hence the thing on my profile... and had you not been too lazy to read what has been said by him to me and about me, you'd see why it was there.. but then again, maybe you wouldn't be intelligent enough to have got it).

You might like to keep your bigoted ideas to yourself, on the other hand.

Sorry John... looks like you have your own share of lunatics on that side of the fence too.

David N. Andrews M. Ed., C. P. S. E. said...

Actually, for the anonymous person who had a go at me, I was actually referring to John's contribution to autism science ... and he knows exactly what mind I'm in about that, and I know his mind about what I might say.

Wasn't actually about John himself...

Maybe you need to learn to read what's there and not what you wish was there.

John Best said...

Anon, That's one of Andy's gripes about DAN doc's. He feels it's best to stop the round if you miss a dose. He says the only thing that's essential to use is ALA. Some DAN doc's don't even know it is needed.

Anonymous said...

No-our DAN guy knew about using both ALA and the DMSA. I still have a bunch left over, that is why I was thinking "why not do it again-what could it hurt"...but apparantly it COULD hurt his progress if I do not do it properly. Still pouring over all of his posts to try to figure out how to go about this. But-we had a bunch of progress on his dosing schedule so what do you make of that?

Anonymous said...

Mr. Andrews, I am embarrassed for you. At a loss of words actually.

As to my intelligence...

I am a Psychotherapist with two Master's degrees & 4 advanced level Certifications at the University & State level. Most of my education was completed at one of the top Universities in the US. My work experience is extensive.

My husband is a Doctor. His education & experience far exceeds my own.

I am retired, probably old enough to be your grandmother. I add this last bit of information hoping this may be your excuse - immaturity.

When I have more time I plan to write some unsolicited advice to the good people who blog here re trained professionals such as yourself.

Have a nice day.

John Best said...

Anon, Sam's progress has been very slow but, progress nonetheless. I see it as his best chance to avoid being in an institution when I'm gone so I'll keep going.

Anonymous said...

I like you Grandmotherly psychotherapist- great response to Mr. Andrews.

Thank you for sharing your extensive educational background with us.

Can you tag your posts somehow so we might know when you have something to contribute to the blog?

David N. Andrews M. Ed., C. P. S. E. said...

Anon: "Mr. Andrews, I am embarrassed for you. At a loss of words actually."

Not very verbally intelligent then, are you?!

Anon: "As to my intelligence... I am a Psychotherapist with two Master's degrees & 4 advanced level Certifications at the University & State level."

And I'm supposed to care because.... ?

Anon: "Most of my education was completed at one of the top Universities in the US. My work experience is extensive."

And mine was completed in one of the most prestigious in the UK: Big deal. Your point is?

Or is it just a posturing exercise?

Which is what a degree in psychotherapy usually gets people into!

Anon: "My husband is a Doctor. His education & experience far exceeds my own."

So what?

You totally misconstrued what my profile said. It did not say anything about John Best Jr. And, as a mark of respect and acknowledgement to him regarding his change in behaviour towards me (in ceasing to use nasty epithets), I have accorded him the same respect (in that I do not use nasty epithets about him any more). Which bit of that did you, as a psychotherapist with a prestigious university education (and a medically trained husband whose education and experience far exceeds your own) not actually get?

Do you fail to listen to your clients in such a spectacular fashion as you have failed to read what was actually on my profile? If so, I feel sad for your clients.

I wouldn't push this, if I were you... it's not worth it to your professional reputation. As for my dealings with John... they were abyssmal up until he started to refer to me by name instead of by epithet. Since he accords me the respect of calling me by my name, I am referring to him by his name as opposed to by return of epithet. You want to see respect for John? That is my respect for him... the same one he accords me.

He has not yet complained to me about it, and I have not complained to him about it. It seems that there is at least a moratorium on name-calling, which I welcome and I am sure he welcomes too.

Your butting in seems to me to be a way of trying to stir up shit (hey, isn't that what psychotherapists do best?).

David N. Andrews M. Ed., C. P. S. E. said...

Anon the other... "I like you Grandmotherly psychotherapist- great response to Mr. Andrews."

LoL

You are so sad.

David N. Andrews M. Ed., C. P. S. E. said...

To the anonymous psychotherapist, who said...

"I am a Psychotherapist with two Master's degrees & 4 advanced level Certifications at the University & State level. Most of my education was completed at one of the top Universities in the US. My work experience is extensive."

I repeat....

"I was actually referring to John's contribution to autism science ... and he knows exactly what mind I'm in about that, and I know his mind about what I might say.

Wasn't actually about John himself...

Maybe you need to learn to read what's there and not what you wish was there."

Now... is it true that psychotherapists tend to read what they wish was there into what is actually there?!

Most of the research suggests that the answer to that question is "yes"!

John and I found our own way to a moratorium on insults. We do not need you to try to make things bad again. And if that is all you can find to do, Mrs Psychotherapist, then I suggest that you cease and desist profesional practice, on account of the damage you will undoubtedly do to your clients by your intense desire to stir up shit between any two people you can think of.

Actually, I know a number of people who are psychotherapists. They would never engage in the activity you just engaged in. They'd see this moratorium on insults between John and myself as a good thing.

What's your problem?!

David N. Andrews M. Ed., C. P. S. E. said...

"Can you tag your posts somehow so we might know when you have something to contribute to the blog?"

Shitting Norah!

Okay.

John Best Jr is man enough (as I have found out over the past year or more) to fight his own battles and to engage in his own moratoria.

I, for my part, am man enough to - when John refers to me by name - honour him with the same respect. He and I will probably always be at odds on out theoretical understandings of autism and what it is, etc; but, whilst ever he accords me the respect of calling me by name.... I shall show him the same respect.

In short, he does not need anonymous pillocks coming in and telling me that I'm an total twat for thinking that his contribution to autism science is bullshit.

He knows that is my view!

Do you think he actually gives a shit that I think that?

Because I have such a secure strength of ego to know that he doesn't, and that it is of no consequence to me!

Psychotherapists... who'd fucking need one?!

Anonymous said...

Hmmmm .... touched a nerve Mr. Andrews???

Your anger actually exceeds John's.

One problem - John has something to be angry about. Really angry.

You're are so pathetic it is sad.

David N. Andrews M. Ed., C. P. S. E. said...

"Hmmmm .... touched a nerve Mr. Andrews???

Your anger actually exceeds John's.

One problem - John has something to be angry about. Really angry.

You're are so pathetic it is sad."

Ah... you are so wrong.

You see John complaining?

No?

He's okay with people disagreeing.

You, on the other hand, aren't.

Piss-poor ego-integrity, to be sure.

Poor you...

LoL

I'm going to bed... it's nearly midnight!

Anonymous said...

Is hell freezing over or something? David sticking up for Best?

Anonymous said...

How come neither one of you two intelects bothered to get a degree in common sense? You guys are so childish and annoying.

Anonymous said...

Wanna take bets he's so pissed off he can't sleep??

Anonymous said...

Eddie, When other world's infringe on my child's right to health and pursuit of happiness, the proper response is to nuke 'em til they glow.

But you don't know for sure that it was. You guessed. You had to because your son wasn't able to tell you himself as he could not speak. Guessing is fraught with danger. From what I have read in this blog the only thing that needed to be done was resolve his number two's problem and you did.

Now is your son still in that other world? I would suggest he is, so your "progress" is less than you think it is from what I am reading. I would recommend trying to understand that world instead of trying to destroy it. Two worlds can co-exist you know.

John Best said...

Eddie, This boy isn't just "different". He still can't talk or read or write at 10 years old. The spaced out look in his eyes is still there sometimes but you can see the alertness more and more. That life is shining through his eyes as the chelating continues. He's feeling better and he's acting better.
Remember, I had a normal baby for about 10 months so I remember the normal look in the eyes. That scary, spaced out look was not always a part of him until the mercury stymied his brain.

David N. Andrews M. Ed., C. P. S. E. said...

Some anonymous folk: "

Is hell freezing over or something? David sticking up for Best?

26 January, 2007
Anonymous said...

How come neither one of you two intelects bothered to get a degree in common sense? You guys are so childish and annoying.

26 January, 2007
Anonymous said...

Wanna take bets he's so pissed off he can't sleep?? "

Who's sticking up for John? I'm not. He doesn't need me to stick up for him.

Degrees in common sense? Who needs that?! Except maybe someone who can't be arsed to read what's there instead of what they wish was there.

And last night, I slept like a log. Which was nice.

Anonymous said...

This boy isn't just "different". He still can't talk or read or write at 10 years old.

That's not just different? Is it imperative that he do all those things? What about the mutes of this world? What about those who can not read or write for life? They have to live in a different world because they are different. You are talking as though being unable to do these things is a crime against humanity. It isn't. As you have stated, your son still has that spaced out look. And that will continue because the other world that you are so keen to destroy can not be. As much as that look may scare you, you will have to get used to it.

John Best said...

Eddie, Do you think Helen Keller was grateful that her teacher did not give up on her?
No decent parent gives up on their kid. Some day you'll learn that you are all different because you were poisoned. I hope you learn that soon.

Anonymous said...

Teacher, you asked John how Vit C helps his son.

I can tell you that Vit C in high doses works as an anti inflammatory, Its also an anti Histasmine. If Sams problm was due to some kind of inflammation maybe from an allergin it probably reduces it. Is it possible Sam would bang his head against the wall because he had a severe headach and could not tell John. I have asthma. If I have an attack I take 4 grams (thats 4000mg) and it stops the attack within about twenty minutes. It will also clear sinus congestion if taken in high enough doses. I take a powdered form. It fizz's when you put it in water (like an alka seltzer) This stuff is absorbed in the small intestines really fast so you don't pee it out. It will also stop a cold in its tracks it taken at the first signs. I remember one year we all came down wiht the flu. Me and my granddaughter went to bed, took no aspirin for the fever. We were taking about 4grams of VitC every four hours. About 12 grams a day. We were on our feet in thre days. My boyfriend who ran to the drugstore an bought the nitequill, and all that shit went down, and ended up with walking pneumonia. he was sick for a month. Our problem is the pharmaceuticals control all the research, they will not spend money on natural alternatives because they can't patent it and make millions. Also they can't mke peole sick from natural cures so they can sell more drugs and make more money.

Peggy

Anonymous said...

Eddie, You said to John
As much as that look may scare you, you will have to get used to it.

None of us should accept a generation of poisoned children. What is it that the Neurodiversity groups is fighting so hard for? Acceptance. Why is that. Because you know that we live in a world that is intolerant of anyone, or anything that is different. High funtioning autistics have the luxury of being accepted because they can function in this Society. How do you see the future for the severely autistic children. Living their last days in institutions, being drugged, murdered, and guinea pigs for the pharmaceuticals that poisoned them to begin with. Or who nows, given what happened to Teri Schiavo (euthanized) You see I do understand your argument because I raise an aspergers granddaughter. Most of my advocacy is fighting the school systems to accept her, and to allow her to function in her own capacity, wihtout being labeled with a mental illness bcause she see's things differently. Why should it be that way. Because putting aside all the bullshit talk about tolerance and acceptance our society is anyhting but. Is this not the same of the parents of severely autistic kids. They know what is in store for their children. The neurodiversity camp wants acceptance, the parents who believe their kids were damaged from mercury do not want to accept what happened to their children that were born normal and regressed into a world of living hell. Parents like John are hampering your fight for acceptance. The funny thing about all of this is that both sides are really right, and neither side is willing to accept the other. This just proves my point. We live in a society that is intolerant of differences, or waht toi perceives as weakness. I just happen to believe that this epidemic is iatrogenic. So Eddie, I champion your cause, but you also need to have some understanding and compassion for the children, and someday adults that are not as fortunate as you!

Peggy

Anonymous said...

Eddie,

The alien spaceship is here to take you back to your other "world".

Na-nu-na-nu (Mork)

Anonymous said...

jonsmum,

My kids have gotten those "bloody freckles" on their faces after tremendous fits, so I understand.

Haircuts and teeth cleanings have always been trying for my son, so I do sympathize.

I do believe that if you do them on a regular basis your son will learn that this is part of life and he will eventually be able to tolerate these situations without medication.

So, all the stress and struggles will pay off.

Lots of parents stop taking their kids for dental cleanings or haircuts because it's too upsetting/tramatic.

Poor kids end up having more dental problems due to lack of proper preventative care.

So, stick with it and I bet your boy will handle it better as time goes by.

Anonymous said...

See how tolerant and compassionate our society is. This is very simiar to what Robert Whitiker's "book Mad In America" describes as the treatment of the mentally ill. Guess we have not come so far since the 1700's. This article is enough to make you vomit.

http://www.autismtoday.com/articles/Shock%20therapy%20for%20kids%20to%

If anyone did this to my child I'd be in jail.


Peggy

Anonymous said...

What is Kevin Champagne's blog site?

Anonymous said...

Josmum,

After reading the article that I posted the link for, can you imagine how excruciating this would be for a child like yours who is so sensory sensitized by just normal touch. This is clearly barbaric, and torture. And the neurodiversity camp calls chelating abuse.

Peggy

John Best said...

http://autismandreality.blogspot.com/
It looks like Kevin's site is down at the moment.

John Best said...

Peggy,
These institutions are even dumber than the neurodiverse. All they do is provide custodial care.
I've read the stories of some parents who had kids at JRC. It's a last resort but it's helping the kids. Without the shocks, these kids would just be drugged into oblivion.
It's criminal that they won't try chelation instead of the shocks. Not that I agree with the shocks but I think it's better than doing nothing and just leaving the kids to rot.

John Best said...

Anon, Before they take Eddie, check with the aliens and see if they have Autism Diva's brain.

Anonymous said...

Eddie, Do you think Helen Keller was grateful that her teacher did not give up on her?

Of course she was grateful. And the reason why she didn't give up was because she understood what sort of world Helen was forced to live in. Do you?

No decent parent gives up on their kid. Some day you'll learn that you are all different because you were poisoned. I hope you learn that soon.

You have given up. Any parents who goes to drugs - no matter what the reason - has given up. My nephew is Autistic. He doesn't speak, read or write - and by the way his parents never vaccinated him because they don't believe in it at all. So how was he poisoned?

But my sister and her husband took the time to understand Autism. And despite not being able to speak they are still able to communicate. I think that's terrific. That is what I am talking about with two worlds co-existing.

To the anonymous poster - have you heard of "Oops Wrong Planet" Syndrome? Maybe you should show some respect for the "alien spaceship" instead of treating it as a joke.

Anonymous said...

you do not have to be vaccinated to have mercury in your system. It is in the fish we eat, and for a time was in fillings in teeth. These days, the fillings that contain mercury are being removed, carefully, and then flushed away into our water systems. Only about 15% of dentists practice safe removal of these fillings. Don't kids yourself-it is everywhere. Did his parents not eat fish? Did they drink only spring fed water?
Did they have him tested at least to rule it out? or did they just accept it and not even try to SEE if they could help him. The autistic brain is NOT normal. Accepting it is NOT normal unless it is a last resort. Therefore-your nephew does not have normal or sane parents. shame on them.

Anonymous said...

I see you do not have the courage to provide a name when abusing my family, anon.

Anonymous said...

No parent is normal or sane. Everyone on the Internet is an attention seeking whore with no real life to speak of! So - ergo - every parent here is insane.

Anonymous said...

You are a disgrace to the human race, blog owner. Embrace Autism.

John Best said...

Dan, Why don't you embrace someone with leprosy?

Anonymous said...

John and Peggy

Thank you for your responses regarding vitamin C.

It is amazing how something as simple and safe as vitamin C can help with so many things!

Anonymous said...

Amy

the name is Amy.
Amy
Amy
Amy

Does that make you feel better? It make AMY feel better-because AMY still thinks you are an idiot and that your "family" is sad for not doing more to figure out how to help your nephew. Just an other example of dealing with symptoms and not the underlying cause.

signed,
AMY

Anonymous said...

Dan, Why don't you embrace someone with leprosy?

I do. And every other disease and disorder in human history. I'm not afraid. Why are you?

John Best said...

Dan, Why are you afraid of curing mercury poisoning?

Anonymous said...

I'm not. You're afraid of Autism. Embrace it like a true human being would. Do not be afraid.

John Best said...

Dan, I suppose you'd embrace myopia by walking into walls instead of buying a pair of glasses.

Anonymous said...

If you can't afford the glasses why not? It happens. What about the blind? Are they afraid? Maybe but they overcome it by embracing their disability. Why don't you?

John Best said...

Because it's curable.

Anonymous said...

Blindness curable? You are mad. Driven mad by fear. Embrace Autism. You can not cure it, you can only make it bearable with what amounts to sugar pills in the guise of chelating. The damage has been done.

Stop being afraid - and embrace Autism.

Anonymous said...

It is in the fish we eat

My family does not eat fish.

Did they drink only spring fed water?

Yes.

The autistic brain is NOT normal.

There is no single definition of normal. To do so devalues humanity.

My nephew never came into contact with enough mercury to damage the brain. We take things as they come. We don't subscribe to panic merchants. My nephew is happy judging by the communications we are able to make. He is a godsend to our family and we have no reason to change this.

To call this insane is a slap in the face from a scared little woman, Amy. I don't need your scaremongering attitude thank you, and neither does my sister or my nephew. Take a long walk on a short pier.

Anonymous said...

Dear Eddies Says

How exactly am I scared? That is hilarious. I am certainly not scared of autism. I helped my son by chelating him early on. Now he is thriving and enjoying life in the first grade with all of his friends, and is able to communicate like any other normal child. His diagnosis was taken away. Now, if I was able to help him, by looking below the surface to see exactly WHY he was like he was, I am just assuming that most sane parents would do the same. I could have done what your lovely family did, and just accept him being a mute and in his own world. But-I chose to do everything in my power to try to help him first. Your nephew is probably miserable locked inside of his own disfuntioning brain. Unless he wrote you a letter or actually said "hey people! I LOVE being like this-please don't ever try to make me better!!" then you have no idea if the kid is happy or not. You just want to believe he is.
He has autism. Not down syndrome or CP or other disorder that people have NEVER been cured of. People have been cured of autism-thousands of people. But those people had parents that did not give up and accept that there was nothing they could do. Your nephew was unlucky in that way whether you like hearing it or now. They may be saints for dealing with him and accepting him and loving him, but they also failed him at the same time. If there is a chance, no matter how small it is, normal people look to that option first before they start accepting.

Oh and I LOVED the witty comment about the pier. Do you think your nephew would get that one? Because my son would! He would laugh his ass off just like I did.

Amy
Amy
Amy
Amy

Anonymous said...

I could have done what your lovely family did, and just accept him being a mute and in his own world.

That is what any person who accepts the rough with the smooth in human life would do. You do not, which means you are afraid of the rough.

Your nephew is probably miserable locked inside of his own disfuntioning brain.

No he is not. As I said, my sister has found a way to communicate with him. He appreciates very much the fact that he is being understood as far as possible. He has accepted that he is different because his parents and his extended family still treat him as one of the family. We don't panic and try to change him. We change ourselves. We adapt to the new challenge. You will not for reasons of your own. That makes you a scared little woman as I said before.

And the pier joke is a standard in our household, and it brings a smile to my nephew's face whenever he hears it.

Anonymous said...

hey john thought you might like the no mercury one
www.cafepress.com/autismrising

David N. Andrews M. Ed., C. P. S. E. said...

Glaxo-Smith-Kline in the shit... Seroxat issues!

Oh boy...

John Best said...

Eddie,
If you were golfing, you would try to keep your ball out of the rough. If you continually hit your ball there, you would always be a lousy golfer.
You could learn how to hit the ball straight or accept being lousy. Instead of accepting a lousy life for your nephew, you could try to straighten it out. If anyone really liked being autistic, they wouldn't all be blogging about respect and services. They'd be enjoying their lives. Wake up!!!

Anonymous said...

Eddie-

I still do not get why you think I am scared. I am just guessing that you WANT to think I am scared. There is nothing for me to be scared of-my son is fine now. As I just sent him off to catch the bus for school, I know that he will enjoy his day like any other 7 year old boy. And I know he would not be there if I had sat on my ass and just excepted his fate when he was diagnosed at age 2. He may still be well loved, but he would not be on his own and communicating like a typical child if I had turned my nose up at something like chelation early on. Instead-I knew I owed him to at least TRY to get him to have as normal of a life if at all possible. Love only gets you so far. How horrible to look at your child and say "I love you no matter what-but I am not going to try to help you".
Yeah-that makes sense. Maybe your FAMILY are the ones who are scared. They did not think they could change anything so they never even tried. Failure would have been hard to accept.

So no scared little woman here. Just one that feels sorry for your nephew because I wonder if he could have been helped just a little. And out of repect for your family-great for them to be so loving. The world needs more love.
Amy

Anonymous said...

Foresam, life is not "lousy". Life is different, and it is not perfect. Even Tiger Woods will hit the ball into the rough occasionally. Do you hear him complaining? No. And yet you seem to be whining like a toddler about it. Are you afraid of anything imperfect like Amy is? Maybe you are the one who needs to wake up.

John Best said...

Eddie,
Tiger Woods knows how to get out of the rough. You don't. You're the only one here whining, idiotically claiming that autism can't be cured.
I allow your comments because they demonstrate how incredibly stupid anyone is who is not trying to rid their relatives of this horrible condition. Only an utter moron would accept autism without trying every possible option to cure it.

Anonymous said...

And you wouldn't publish my last comment. 0 out of 10 for accountability.

Anonymous said...

johnsmum,
most people on cafe press do it to help their own finances. You only make about $2 on an item unless you raise the price. Most non-profits get their own shirts made b/c it cost them $3.00 per shirt and they can make a $20.00 profit.

Cafe press is more geared toward individuals who do not have access to print hundreds of shirts on their own so Cafe Press sets a shirt price at $20 or more and the person opening up a "store" puts a $2 (or more if they want) upcharge on them.

There are hundreds of parents on Cafe Press who have their own stores.

Anonymous said...

www.cafepress.com search autism you'll get nearly a thousand results. Most of these are parents. "Most" non-profits would rather not make $2-$3 a shirt when they could do it on their own and make $20 a shirt. No different then selling you own stuff on ebay.

Anonymous said...

This father has his own website with autism products as well. www.buttonsandmore.com He is not a non profit but has a lot of great stuff and helps him with his childs therapies.

Anonymous said...

Only an utter moron would accept autism without trying every possible option to cure it.

There are no options. It can't be cured. Your son doesn't have Autism and never did. He had something else which chelation does have an effect on.

Anonymous said...

Anon-
what are you saying? John's son does not have Autism? what could it be??? OH I KNOW!!!!

Mercury poisoning.
Autism=mercury poisoning
Mercury Poisoning=Autism

Anonymous said...

Mercury poisoning causes brain damage and death in extreme cases. Autism is not brain damage therefore it is not mercury poisoning.

John Best said...

Anon, If autism was not brain damage, we wouldn't have a name for it. That name was coined because the people it was applied to had brains that didn't work right, brain damage.

Anonymous said...

Yes we would and we do. Because Autism is not brain damage. The name was coined for different people, not brain damaged people.

John Best said...

Anon, You are wrong. I had two sons with brain damage from mercury. One is now fine. The damage has been reversed. The other is significantly improved but his brain still does not work right. Evidently, ypour brain still does not work right.
You are not simply different. Your brain has been fucked up by mercury. Of course, until you repair it, your brain will remain fucked up.

Anonymous said...

You're wrong. Autism is not mercury poisoning. Your sons were poisoned. They never had Autism.

You know nothing about Autism.

Anonymous said...

Who's brain is fucked up? Yours!!

John Best said...

If your brain worked right, you'd see that autism and mercury poisoning are the same thing. Until you accept that, you will be beyond all help. You might as institutionalize yourself.

Anonymous said...

If your brain worked right, you'd see that autism and mercury poisoning are the same thing. Until you accept that, you will be beyond all help. You might as institutionalize yourself.

But your brain doesn't work right so you wouldn't know! Take your own advice!!

John Best said...

Reality check, What is your diagnosis? I rest my case.

Anonymous said...

Human! What's yours? Deity? Go check yourself into the looney bin!

And keep modding me out. I'll keep putting this up until you stop being like Kevin Leitch!

Anonymous said...

This article was in the Boston Globe today.

"The medical examiner's office determined the girl died from "intoxication due to the combined effects" of the drugs clonidine, valproic acid (Depakote), dextromethorphan, and chlorpheniramine, the district attorney's office said in a statement"

She was 4-years-old. Her parents were charged with intentionally killing her by overdose.

I have heard of kids being on these meds before but one at a time not all together!