bid

Well, posters on my wall as a teenager... Marc Bolan (lovingly penned by my own fair hand...) Jim Morrison Gillan (because of his hair...mercifully you couldn't see his face ) Oh, and Bob Dylan, but not for any totty reasons! Bid

Hi All, Has anyone tried homeopathic remedies specifically for acute anxiety? I am not at all anti-meds (see other postings), but both Jester, myself and Auriel's dad are not happy with the medication he is on at the moment (Sertraline) as it is no longer really helping. Only suggestion from consultants is to prescribe Risperidone in addition to Sertraline. None of us are happy with this, and our local pharmacist, who is also a homeopathic practitioner, thinks he might be able to help. The idea is for Auriel to stay on Sertraline while the homeopathic remedies are introduced over the longterm (about a year), and then hopefully gradually come off Sertraline. He also suggested aromatherapy massages to help reduce Auriel's anxiety, which in themselves sound a good idea as A. loves a back massage when he is very agitated anyway. Thanks for any input. Bidx

Ooh ooh!! Me, I was a bo-ho hippy-dippy girlie (still am at heart ) Don't let Jester hear about Bananarama...he'll get thoroughly over-excited!!! I lurved T-Rex (Ride a white swan like the people in the old days...sigh!!) Maybe we should start a new topic: "Old Codgers' Reminisences"??? Bid

Oooh!! I had tassley skirts and black nail polish too, but I was more into Hawkwind and King Crimson!!! Definitely remember falling asleep beneath fug of joss stick smoke...and wondering why I felt faintly sick (or was that the scrumpy??? ) What about plastic bottles flying through the air at 'gigs' as we called them in the olden days??!! Bid

Sort of related...I have just tried a lavender joss stick (free on the front of a mag!) and Auriel loves it. He even asked if he could have them in his room. Can't be worse than the way his room normally smells... (Sorry, Auriel!!) Quite takes me back to my teenage years...it will be patchouli oil next!! (Who else remembers that!?) Bid

Hi Carole, I'm so sorry to hear about your dad. How did you manage with GCSEs with your eldest? Bid

Hi Linz, From the age of 8 to 14 my son was on Ritalin because he has AS and ADHD. From what I can remember, we were told that it could make things worse on the AS side...we were lucky in that it worked very well for him. He was prescribed it in combination with intensive behavioural therapy, and the Ritalin gave him a 'mental breathing space' to take in the therapy. Have you been offered any kind of behavioural therapy? On a plus note, my son decided to gradually come off Ritalin himself about a year ago. There has been no return of his manic hyper behaviour...I think there is definitely an element of 'out-growing' the worst excesses of the impulsive/hyperactive behaviour. Good luck! Bid

Hi Lisa, Have you tried these sites (sorry, I'm not clever enough to make them a direct link!!). http://www.he-special.org.uk/ http://www.education-otherwise.org/ http://www.nhen.org/ On the first site are details of a book about home deucating ASD children. Good luck!! Bid

Nellie and Lynn, How did you go about becoming your sons' proxy/appointee? Bid

Aha She's posted as me ....so I will post as her!!! Bwahahahaha (Note to self - Always log out) To be fair - and had I thought of it, I'd have snogged Best Mate Man and Best Mate Man's Wife Woman by that stage in the evening if I could have got a couple of Corrs tickets out of it!!! I'd managed slightly more wine and champagne than The Female Inquisitor Jester

(To the tune or Wonder Woman...) Yes folks, she's back!! It's the Female Inquisitor!! AKA Samwise Uberthong, and (latterly) Jezebel Woman (long story, ask Jester). And this time she's wearing sparkly shoes and 3 chiffon hankies...for she has discovered Salsa classes!!! Now there is no hiding place for Delete Woman, Ban Man and their new sidekick, QTOOC Woman!! With her 'mambos' and her 'suzie-qs' (don't ask), the Female Inquisitor will route the forces of the Dark Leaord in a whirlwind of bottom-wiggling and smouldering Latino looks!! Be afraid, be very afraid... Oooh, where's my new CD of all-time Salsa favourites gone? And what's all this about that trollopy Blue Rinse Woman being after my Jester? She doesn't stand a chance, not with my new diamante stick-ons in interesting places!! This Bat Cave is an absolute disgrace! And who did something obscene to my crocheted lady loo roll cover?! Honestly, I just have to go away for a few days and the whole place ends up looking like Auriel's bedroom... Sigh, this is like an episode of 'How Clean is Your Bat Cave'...

Elanor, My mum. bless her, said to me when the whole issue of medication was raised...if he was diabetic or epileptic , you wouldn't hesitate to use meds. She was quite right! Unless you have been there, I don't think you can understand the point you get to where you accept meds. If it wasn't for this kind of intervention, we would not be together as a family. Nuff said! Bid

Oooh dear, tricky one this! My son has ADHD as well as Aspergers. From the age of about 6 he became increasingly violent, with literally no sense of danger...he would run across roads! I could write at length about the things he did (but I won't!!). Suffice to say that at 8 he very nearly dislocated Jester's shoulder!! And he was not happy in himself, not at all!!! When he was 8 he was prescribed Ritalin by the specialist centre where he had been diagnosed (Harper House...anyone know it?). This was used in conjunction with very intensive behavioural therapy, which lasted for years. We found that for the first time, with Ritalin, he had a 'mental breathing space' to allow him to take in the behavioural therapy and hence to allow it to work! I can't possibly describe to you the difference that the combination of medication and therapy made to my son, and to the rest of us. He got his life back, really. When he was about 13 he decided himself to reduce his dosage gradually, and has been off it for nearly a year...and none of the severe ADHD traits have reappeared. A year or so before he started on Ritalin my son was put on an exclusion diet by his hospital specialist. I followed it religiously for a about a year, and can honestly say it had very little effect, plus my son was very miserable on it! So, I would say that if diet changes work for your child that is great. Equally, if behavioural therapy on its own works...brilliant! But there are some children, like my son, whose ADHD is so severe that he simply could not 'access' the behavioural therapy without medication. I get very cross with the media for the sensational stories about 'chemical coshes', etc, etc... Some children have very severe, complex special needs with multiple diagnoses. Life is hard enough for them and their families without the kind of ill-informed articles that appear every so often. Sorry! Rant over!!

Lisa, I'm glad you raised this point because I've been worrying over the same thing! My son will be 16 next year. I think you must be able to fill it in on their behalf, because I know places like the CAB help people generally with benefit forms, etc. Bid

Hi Mike, We are looking at a Discretionary Trust (I think...have got to find time to go through booklet thoroughly!), because we will need to make provision for far longer than 18, maybe very long-term. Thanks anyway! Bid

Debbie, That was a wonderful post! Bidx

Hi Darbo, You will always find a warm welcome on this site! It's just the best place ever for advice, help and support...you will feel that people really do care! <'> Bid

Oh Ksanic, I'm so sorry! <'> I know exactly how you feel...when my son was about 8 social services tried to "help" by applying on our behalf to increase his care rate. Well, the DLA turned round and stopped the whole lot!! Like you , I was devasted and frantic because it meant I also lost my Carer's Allowance and we depended on both benefits . On closer enquiry, it turned out that for some reason the DLA had sent a form to his school...old witch of a headtecher had ticked all the "nothing wrong that I can see" boxes!! We appealed, and I basically got every professional who knew what they were doing to write letters of outrage. Plus apology from head. Anyway, we got the DLA back, at the highest care rate...but it was all a nightmare, and I really felt at the time that "they" were actively trying to destroy us. It is worth asking the doctor who signed your form to write in support of you, and any other medical professionals, etc. And in your appeal include every minute detail...see the brilliant notes further up this discussion. Don't be afraid to tick the boxes for "learning difficulties" and "mental health problems", because that is the reality. I wish you all the luck in the world...try to stay strong and get ANGRY with the b******s...your son deserves this help. We get precious little as it is!! Keep us posted, and we are all thinking of you Bidx

Jester has just said that he finds that water filtered through hops helps him sleep...but I don't think that's quite the same thing!! Bid

Hi guys! I have put little lavender bags under my girls' pillows to help them sleep as life is often very stressful for them. I think it helps, if only because it helped the girls feel that their problems were taken seriously, plus the bags are very pretty...lilac and pink, so a big hit!! Bid

Hi, Can someone explain what Direct Payments is exactly, and where/how you claim it? Thanks, Bid

Hi Sarah, Welcome to the forum! You will find that this is just the best place for advice, support or a (virtual) shoulder to cry on!! It is also very good if you can't sleep because your head is buzzing after an appointment with your child's specialist! And, if you need a laugh, perhaps I can tempt you into the Bat Cave ...see in General Discussions... Bid

Thanks! You are brilliant, Nellie I have sent for the booklet. Bid

Hi, Does anyone know details of the provisions that can be made in a Will to help safeguard the future for Special Needs children? Many years ago a local support group had a solicitor come and give advice on this. Unfortunately I can't remember the details! Bid

HI, My son often asks for a back massage when he is feeling "jiggleywirey" too. Sometimes I use baby oil, but either way he loves it and it definately calms him down. (What a brilliant phrase! My son has some great homemade phrases too. My fav. is 'fiddlebobs' for his sisters hair elastics!!) Jester has remembered that when he taught in an Autistic unit, last "lesson" on a Friday was given over to foot massage with plain oils/lotions but also 'chill-out' music and incense. He says the children loved it. Bid