Hi Dayna, I have a daughter that is now 10 and has been diagnosed since 5. She was acting different since birth though and I knew something was wrong by age 2. She's been to neurologist, psychiatrist since 3, but meds since just before kindergarten started. I knew she was not going to make it unless something helped her. She would start crying and wouldn't stop for hours. Any emotion would continue escalating and escalating. Everything bothered her, smells, touch, sounds, etc. which made one doc say it was asperger's, but it is also bipolar, the tantrums, the weird behavior, you name it, I've seen it. I have been bipolar type 2 since 16, and I'm now 32 so I am not so afraid of trying medications, I know the alternative of being off them or being on the wrong one, is not an option. The brain just doesn't work right. It's nothing to be ashamed of, or afraid of. Of course it's taken years to accept this but I'm like yea, I'm mental, so what. I take meds and deal with it. I know how alone you feel and pressured to make the right decisions for your baby. But my daughter had tried probably 10 medications and different combinations before she found the right one. Now she is doing so well. I have been through three psychiatrist and two counselors. I have been through 7 pediatricians before I found ones that wouldn't look at me like I was crazy when I was describing her symptoms. She has now been on the same meds for two years and it has been a long road to get there. I would love to tell you who her doctor is and anything else you might like to know. I really feel for you. I too have always wanted to share everything I've learned in this area, but I'm not a professional, and it's hard to find the right people to talk to. It is just too much to write all these years down here, but I would love to share what I've learned. If you need a friend or a listening ear. Email me at ____@____.com.
