This is an area that can become blenderized in my head.
I long to have my children medication free.
Like it is tops my list of wishes and dreams.
I know that congenital anomalies are an exception to acquired disease.
Without significant medical intervention...2 of my children would not have made it past their birth.
I get that...I am grateful *beyond* for the gifts I have in them.
However...I would give anything to have my children not put a man made, foreign substance, chemical...into their amazing, pure, beautiful little bodies anymore.
I have one child out of 5 NOT on daily meds.
ONE.
Four of my children have chronic conditions that we have done everything external to eliminate.
I would say the "base" condition in all four is, allergies and asthma.
All with varying degrees of each.
One receives weekly allergy shots...following a rapid induction where he sat for nearly an entire day and was the recipient of 18 injections. A foreign substance...injected repeatedly into his body for hours, in an attempt to allow him to breath freely while he is outside. *he could not survive another football season without intervention*
In continuing with my desire to be transparently honest with you...I will make a list of "chronic conditions" that we currently struggle with...and then some of the side effects from the meds we have/are giving to eliminate the "condition":
- Allergies
- Asthma
- ADHD
- Seizures
- Reflux
- Arthritis
- Eczema
We want them to be comfortable, able to participate in age appropriate activities without restriction, and we want them to thrive. I have never been afraid to think outside the box...try alternative therapies or techniques. *if it's logical and within reason*
Medication has never been our first line of defense. The ADHD has been my archnemesis. *with asthma as a close second* We. tried. everything *and continue to try alternatives* to prevent medicating. So know that we have attempted a great many things...and made significant environmental changes...to reverse symptoms. *including the loss of pets due to allergies, and new flooring throughout our home*
So, some of the side effects we have been oh so fortunate to experience are:
*not for the faint of heart*
- mood swings
- loss of appetite
- belly pain
- suicidal thoughts
- slowed growth
- behavioral difficulties
- pre-mature puberty
- learning difficulties
- bloody stools
- flat personality affect
- irritability
- insomnia
In list form it is a tidy little package without emotion.
In reality...the thought of your child taking their own life and what it feels like to see them in that state of mind...or repeatedly seeing blood in your baby's stool, knowing the drug that's causing it...allows them to get out of bed and move with reduced *not eliminated* joint pain and swelling.
I will remind you again...these are our treasures. This is not OK.
I am already living outside of the box...if you have been here for any length of time, you know that.
I'm not afraid of going against the grain.
The suicidal thoughts and bloody stools came on the heels of my own personal summer "adventure" of practically living at the BDC *breast diagnostic center*.
Needless to say, the stage had been adequately set...for significant life change.
1 comments:
I'm glad that you are encouraged by Randy. I can tell you that it gets easier physically, but not so much emotionally. I now have to think about social issues, bullying, potty training, etc....
Randy does not drool much anymore. His jaw strength and tone in his trunk has improved greatly. He is still a sloppy eater and cannot completely close his mouth unless I bring it to his attention.
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