Ted is back on medication. He hasn’t taken a prescription drug since July 2004 when I weaned him off of Zoloft after being told by one practitioner that the dosage of Zoloft another practitioner had Ted on was not only NOT helping his anxiety but quite possibly, because the dosage was so high, intensifying his anxiety. That was the final blow, the moment I said “no more.” No more guessing about the drugs we were putting into my son’s body.
Now, this time the medication is being prescribed not by a neurologist, but instead a cardiologist, and as per my normal modus operandi, I have a plan that will hopefully get him off this drug as well. It will take time and effort, but anything worth having, such as Ted’s health, is well worth time and effort.
But this post isn’t about Ted’s medication, past or present, although I do really want to address that topic as there were many lessons learned from the experience. Hopefully this post will be just the trigger I need to sit down and finally write those.
Today though my mind is focused on the mixed feelings I have about doctors.
You see, I don’t hold doctors in particularly high esteem.
Yeah, I wrote that.
Don’t get me wrong. There are some great doctors out there doing some really great stuff. I know that.
But over the years I have worked with some, well, not great doctors. And when I think of medication, it leads me to thinking about the series of psychiatrists, psychologists and neurologists we met during Ted’s elementary and middle school years.
So, the timing is perfect to be thinking of medication and my feelings about doctors, for when I last left off in my continuing series, Educating Teddy, my dear boy was in 4th grade, 2000-2001. This was the year he returned to a mainstream setting after spending the majority of 3rd grade in an Emotionally Conflicted classroom. That placement resulted in us filing a due process lawsuit to remove him from the EC room and return him to the general education classroom with an aide. The lawsuit also resulted in our receiving assistance from the school system in paying for a counseling psychologist who treated Teddy through March 2001.
This is the story of that counseling experience.
I begin at the end.
This is a letter I wrote to the psychologist’s group practice as part of a complaint I filed with the practice. I took the original “Initial Psychiatric Evaluation” they did and modeling their template, made my own evaluation of the evaluator’s evaluation. The doctor’s statements are in bold black. My comments are in italics.
August 14, 2001
PATIENT’S MOTHER’S EVALUATION OF PRACTITIONER’S ABILITY TO DO AN INITIAL PSYCHIATRIC EVALUATION
1. PRESENTING COMPLAINT: “Asburger” Syndrome. I recommend your office purchase a DSM IV and use it. (At least to check spelling. Try looking under “Asperger’s”)
2. EDUCATION: My son was NEVER in “split classes, which means part regular, part Learning Disabilities classes.” At the time of this evaluation Ted was fully mainstreamed with an aide. Prior to this, from 8/99 to 3/00 he was in a self-contained EC (Emotionally Conflicted) room. It was this incorrect EC placement and the behaviors which resulted that led us to seek therapy with your office.
3. MENTAL STATUS: “Insight and judgment are unable to be measured because he would not mind his mother and get up off the floor.” You then contradict yourself three sentences later when you conclude with “Insight and judgment are poor.”
4. MENTAL STATUS: “Both his recent and remote memory seemed to be fair.” On what grounds did you make this assessment? His incredible memory for facts and details can be astonishing, as it can be with individuals with Asperger’s. (Read Tony Attwood, Asperger’s Syndrome: A Guide to Parents and Professionals, Memory, p. 116)
5. MENTAL STATUS: “Estimated intellectual functioning is low-average.” This is the kicker. On what grounds did you make this assessment? Ted has had at least seven intakes done on him and you were the first to come to this conclusion. Since his diagnosis in 1995, Ted has consistently scored three standard deviations above the norm on the multitude of the intellectual ability tests he has been given. Are scores as high as 160 low-average to you?
My impression of your overall ability to document basic facts that became part of my son’s permanent medical record, observe and grasp my son’s “mental status” and to comprehend the incredible anxiety he felt while in a room with a complete stranger who was asking intimate questions about him is abysmal. After my experience with your office I now know to ask for copies of records much sooner as it is obviously imperative that I more closely monitor the competency of the providers I hire to work for me.
Next: What led to my utter exasperation.
Related Articles:
Teddy v. County Board of Education
Anxiety, Despair and Finally, The Scream
3rd Grade Math: Asperger’s + Emotionally Conflicted Classroom = Lawsuit
I guess having children with “different” needs – because really they are not “special” needs – can put them in “detrimental” states. My daughter was asking yesterday how she can get a hold of her medical file to control what’s in there. In the end, it is the people who pose a treat that have special needs. Am I making sense? I am sooo frustrated – what is wrong with this world?
I have been thinking about you and visited your site yesterday to see if I had missed any new posts, wondering how things were going. And then today, your post and message. Maybe you could sense you were on my mind!
And yes, you are making sense. Can you ask for copies of her records? That’s what I did. She has every right to know what has been written about her, it is a vital part of advocacy and there will be a day in the not too distant future where she is the one responsible for her care, she might as well get started now. I am sorry you are frustrated. As soon as I finish this comment I wills top by and read about what’s up. I am feeling though that I can probably guess…
Yes, she can have a copy of her file but sometimes they omit parts (of course).
I was happy to read your post as it reminded me that I’m not the only one going through such “crazy” battles.
It is nice to know you are not alone. And you aren’t!
Our first assessment for Aspergers took well over an hour and I received a seven page report. It was extremely detailed and went over every little thing, including medical history of my son, myself and his father as well as providing recommendations for what our next step could be in getting him more help. The second assessment took twenty minutes (no, the doctor hadn’t read the first report) and I received a two PARAGRAPH report, stating that, yes, he probably did have Aspergers. No kidding, that was the exact wording – “probably did have Aspergers”.
Sheepinabasket, can I just say you almost made me cry with the phrase “different needs”. I always love finding people out there who “get it”.
Quality definitely does differ. One of my all-time favorite things said to me by a doctor is after I went in for my “official” pregnancy test with my daughter. After seeing the results the doctor stated “Mildly positive.” Yeah, mildly positive! You know, somethings in this world are black and white, and pregnancy is one of them. Either you are or you aren’t!
“became part of my son’s permanent [medical] record” – that was the sentiment that led me into my post-graduate psychometrics program… Tests and assessments have SERIOUS impacts on people’s lives, and I don’t understand why professional judgments aren’t taken more seriously by the people coming up with those judgments…
“You see, I don’t hold doctors in particularly high esteem.” – You didn’t need to apologize for that in the line below. I sometimes wonder whether that Hippocratic oath actually read, “First, do no harm for which you can be held accountable…” cuz that’s how it seems sometimes.
Don’t mind me. I’m in a foul mood.
Tara, you know I like you foul mood or not! Hey, your mood led to good points and I guess I tend towards apology when I say I don’t hold doctors in high regard because it seems to be so unlike most who think they are these infallible beings never to be questioned. NOT! They are human and they don’t know everything, not even close, and couple that often not knowing with the litigious society we have here in the U.S., well good grief medicine becomes this crazy and ridiculously expensive game of CYA. And then in the case of psychology and psychiatry where there is so little measure of what constitutes effective practices, there is this arrogance, this beyond reproach attitude that leads to absolutely lazy work like the evaluation I address in this post. I am just shaking my head but at the same time felt compelled then and now to call BS on them to what end I don’t know. Just to vent I guess. I am a crazy lady….
Nuttin’ wrong with crazy. You’re talking to almond joy here.
I tell you, I wrote this big long thing in response, and then *poof* it disappeared. I blame the AMA…
Many smiles to your comment! When asked if I was food what kind would I be (something no one has actually ever asked me but I am ready with my answer should that magical day arrive) I would say I am trail mix, mostly nutty with a little sweet for good measure!
Thank you for providing laughter before 7 am. A much appreciated rarity! 
I see you on Sheep’s blog and now I know who your are. Nice to know you!
Just wanted to say this post is great. So great! I’m the sick one (and no kids), but we’re all going in circles here. I posted on the same subject recently–long and boring thing about losing a lot of vision due to negligent docs–and I love that letter you wrote!!! I’ve done similar things (following the format, going crazy about typos, and making them look like total morons)… Lol. When I got my records, I found out I wouldn’t have lost so much vision if they had done their jobs. Records are so important and doctors shouldn’t be allowed to charge so much for them (I got the vision ones free due to a referral to a corneal surgeon). Oh, was I mad when I put the pieces of the puzzle together! I think most doctors hate me and I could care less. The good ones appreciate a well-informed, direct patient. Regardless, our lives are hard enough and we don’t need this. Good for you for taking action here!
Take care and good luck on the journey with your son in this rediculous medical system (ugh),
A
Hi, it’s nice to meet you too. I payed you a visit and read your post about how it came that you lost your vision. Horrifying really. Why? I ask that and then I think I might kinda know, it’s about time and a doctor taking the time to know who you are seeing and what their case is presenting and its history. But when you walk into a doctor’s office and you see there are at least 4 other people who have the same appointment time as yours you realize they don’t allow themselves the time. Time may be money, and getting as many patients through in a day may be how they make theirs, but time can also be the difference in protecting me and my health or not protecting it. But I don’t need to tell you that, do I? You did inspire me though. I am beginning to have dry eyes and so I have been spent this morning researching what dietary adjustments I can make so that my food choices are optimal and I can to better take care of myself and my eyes. Your posts reminded me not to take my eye sight for granted. I send you a tremendous thank you for that. Warm regards. Charlotte
Appreciate you reading my post and the kind words! You must be in the US (feel free to give 1-way tickets to the Bad Medicine Resort to whomever). Our healthcare system is abysmal and aren’t we supposed to get 15 mins per insurance regulations? Right. I think I have doctors who book 20 patients in 1 hr! I’m too sick to wait 3 hrs for the stupid doctors to do nothing. Lol. The doctors need to learn how to work under this for-profit, insurance-based system or else get out of medicine! My step-father co-owned a medical practice and retired in his 50s–he couldn’t deal with the insurance companies or the zillion dollar liability insurance he needed as an OB/GYN. He’s older and worked under the old system when you could be a physician! It’s due to good docs like him that I know that this is so wrong, but it’s sad as he was a brilliant doctor–so we’re left with the rest of them!
My EDS/keratoconus will not get better, but if I were well enough to move abroad again, I would! The Europeans have it figured out. Btw, I have another disorder that causes dry eyes. I can’t take them anymore due to the EDS (thin the blood and cause more bruising), but omega supplements do help a lot of people as you probably know. I think the OTC ones in the vision aisle for eyes are as good as the pricey ones from the eye docs. I’m on Restasis (after resisting for years) due to severe post-op dryness. It may be helping a little, but I’m only at 3 mos or so (takes up to 6 mos to work if it does). I’ll post on all that pretty soon. I don’t post much due to the health issues so just check back in my categories, if interested. I have a lot of “reference info” and then the weird posts on obscure places! I get more hits on my post on dry eyes–it’s an epidemic!
Take care and keep in touch… I’ll bookmark you (too overwhelming for me to follow people anymore),
Alisa
Best of luck to you as well, Alisa. Oh, and I have been researching foods high in Omega 3 and have already made some dietary adjustments. Prefer to get what I need through foods rather than supplements when I can. I like to make the food I eat work for me and when I can find tasty recipes, like flax seed, raisin, walnut, apple, carrot muffins, I’m like, heck ya!
Charlotte
Totally agree on “feeding you body what it needs.” I love how I was a healthy vegetarian my whole life (from Seattle, of course) and am the sickest person ever!!! Out here in the SW, nearly everyone has chronic dry eye due to the desert and “forced air” and even a total Mediterranean diet doesn’t help, hence the need for mega doses of omegas via supplements. Wish I could do that still. Then the post-menopausal group is all stuck on Restasis for major dry eyes from lack of estrogen. Oh, what fun! There’s some controversy as to which is better: fish oil or flaxseed oil. I’ve heard more in favor of fish, but say eat both and hope you can get by with a modified diet. I hate fish so had to take a pill regardless… Lol.
Good luck!
Sorry, forgot to add that I have a lot of typos in my comments as the font is too small for me to see due to my vision. Who knows what I’m saying? That would be funny–someone who mocks doctors who make typos and does the same! You should see my texts! I really have an excuse called keratoconus… Lol.
Don’t give it a second thought.
Go Mom!!
Oy vey! The stuff we moms have to do! Add “fact checker” to the list!