Depressed/ Bipolar/ or food allergy???

[Moochie Mamma]

This is what I wrote in Dec in the Childhood Years threads: Would love to hear your thoughts on what's going on????

"I don't know what to do. My 9-yr-old son has expressed recently a desire to kill himself. He carved into his dresser "I hate life".

He has had some stress in the past year which we have done our best to help him through. He switched schools (at his request) to one that offers more academic challenge. He isn't fitting in and complains that he gets picked on at his new school. His old school was somewhat alternative, he fit in well, was looked up to and was a leader among his age group. Now he is in a private school where he is the only boy with long hair (though he doesn't want to cut it). It is a much more "traditional" setting and he hasn't found any good friends yet (although he has had several playdates and sleep-overs with kids from the new school). We are going to be losing our house to foreclosure at some point (we also own a rental property that we will move into) but we don't know when so I'm sure the uncertainty is rough.

I've made him an appointment next week to get a physical exam and rule out any physical causes of his symptoms (fatigue, loss of appetite, stomach aches, headaches, etc).

Has anyone experienced this? I have battled depression for years and know how it feels so I want to get him help now. "

This is today's update:

"Well we ended up switching schools starting after xmas break. He is liking his school much more although we ended up in the ER last week after he was pulling out hair, scratching his forehead and threatening to dive head first off the monkey bars if I made him go to school. The did a blood draw (with 4 men holding him down)- all normal. Talked to a social worker who had a phone consult with a child psychiatrist who wanted to admit him for antipsychotics. I took him home instead. We took him off of wheat a week ago, saw a DO that specializes in child psychiatry on monday. DS was withdrawn, flat affect, wouldn't respond with more than yes, no. By Wed he was back to normal, happier, animated when we went back to DO. DO is very concerned about change in DS, diagnosed potential bipolar. We are hoping that it is just his wheat allergy (which was diagnosed last summer with a blood test by our naturopath but we didn't take him completely off of until last Sunday) that was causing the depression.

Have any of you noticed such a dramatic change in behavior only 3 days off an allergic food? "

[KatWrangler]

I read your other thread.

Honestly, he sounds Bipolar. My husband has Bipolar II and was only recently diagnosed with it.

Satori will probably post to give her insight as well.

[Satori]

hmm... I've been thinking about this post and I do think that he is depressed and his behavior would indicate that. How has his behavior been long term? Usually BP kids have been ummm difficult for years and leave you frequently thinking "WTH is WRONG WITH YOU!?" It sounds like this is a pretty recent thing but the rapid mood shift is probably why there thinking BP. If it is BP do not take any threats of suicide lightly, these kids can and do mean it and will attempt it.


This time of year is often really hard on both BP and people suffering from depression, tends to start around Nov and resolves around March/April if I remember right. Anyway, be very aware that if he's BP and they start him on straight antidepressants there's a very real risk of throwing him into a manic state. An antipsychotic would be a good starting point to get things under control quickly while a mood stabilizer kicks in for longer term control. Just remember, just because you start meds does not mean its forever. Things can change but for now you need to get your son help. There's 2 books I found really helpful when my dd was dx'd with BP1 a year ago (I had a REALLY HARD time accepting the dx so I know how hard it can be to accept it as even a possibility) "The Bipolar Child" and "Bipolar Kids". Reading those was like reading a manual on my dd and realizing that it was the right dx for her.


You might also want to check out the website http://www.bpkids.org


Now about the food allergy, yes that can really mess with them but I would not dismiss a potential serious mental illness dx on the hopes its just a food allergy. I would keep an eye on your DS at all times and if you don't see a major constant improvement within say, 2 weeks I would really consider meds while you explore other options/therapies.

[mrsfru]

I agree w/Satori 100% (and I myself was dx'd w/Bipolar Disorder Type 2 when I was 19 yrs old). I suffered for years--all through middle and high school. It was only depression (and hearing voices at times) until I took an antidepressant in hs that flipped the switch, and I had my first hypo-manic phase. Once the meds were all leveled out and I went to therapy, life was soo much better. I wish my parents had been more open to treatment and had understood when I was younger, b/c many things would have been different for me (college, dating choices, etc). The brain is so plastic at a young age and new skills can be taught so much easier--including skills that deal w/functioning in the real world w/a mental illness.

Remember, if someone said they thought he had diabetes, you would grieve a bit, but you'd go on and treat it. Please don't let yourself dwell too long on "mental illness". HUGS

Today, unless under severe stress or lacking support and rest, I do not require medication (per my docs, thank you!). For some, symptoms can come and go and are not a permanent/constant problem.

GL! Hope he's feeling much better ASAP!

mrsfru

[APToddlerMama]

To answer your question about food allergies...yes, we noticed a dramatic change in my son's mood and behavior within probably 24-48 hours of being off of milk. He doesn't even test positive for a milk allergy, but does for several other foods.

As far as the bipolar diagnosis, that is a tough situation and I would definitely also want to explore all possible alternatives first as far as both diagnosis and treatment. Very recently a family member of mine with sleep apnea and who was having an odd reaction to Zyrtec (the allergy medication) was diagnosed incorrectly with bipolar. Having worked with children with a variety of psychiatric and mental health concerns, I knew this family member didn't have bipolar. (Another two family members do in fact have bipolar). He had a terrible time on the meds, and then finally got off of them, had treatment for the sleep apnea, and is doing great. Subsquently, two psychiatrists have told him he does NOT have bipolar (which he was hesitant to believe after being told he did.)

With your son, of course, who knows, but I would want to have a second opinion for sure and look at the food issues as well before proceeding to an antipsychotic medication which can be lifesavers but also can have devestating side effects. I have seen way too many kids diagnosed inaccurately with bipolar, medicated, and then later pulled off meds by another doctor who thought something else was going on. Many times, it turned out that they were better off without those meds or on a different medication entirely for a different diagnosis. I am not trying to advocate against treating a child for bipolar, because like I said, I do have two family members for whom these medications have been life saving, but I have also seen many kids misdiagnosed, so I am just suggesting to look at all other possibilities and get a second opinion. And if you do get a second opinion, *don't* say anything about the first opinion because that just seems to lead them in one direction or another. Good luck and hugs....it must be so hard for you to go through this as a mother and for him to be going through this as well.

[APToddlerMama]

Just wanted to also add that if all of this behavior is mainly related to school, perhaps it really is situational more than anything. I remember people asking me if I thought that I had post partum depression after my son was born when I was crying every day and I was like "ummmm, how would you expect me to be reacting when I have mastitis, bleeding nipples, a colicky baby who can't latch, and a 3rd degree tear through my rectum that isn't healing and might have to be surgically repaired?" Of course I was going to be super upset.

Kids can be really mean and perhaps he isn't telling you everything that is going on at school. I could see a challenging school situation making a child very upset and extremely depressed too. I myself went through a horrible time with changing schools where I probably would have looked like I was in real rough shape psychologically. Again, not saying that he does not have bipolar, just throwing some other possibilities out there. The whole wheat thing sounds sooo much like my son with dairy. We held our breath for three weeks waiting for the other shoe to drop but it didn't.

[heatherdeg]

You know, when I was about 12 I was dx'd as bipolar or clinical depression depending on the specialist looking at me. I struggled with it (including a brief hospitalization) for 17 years. Medications worked to some extent, but never fully controlled the problem. And I can't even tell you what this did to my life.

It wound up being an insulin disorder. My blood sugar was checked frequently over these years, but nobody tested my insulin until it started causing other issues due to years of being uncontrolled. Once my insulin was regulated, the mental health issues disappeared.

I'm not saying that's what it IS; but 1) it's definitely something to check; and 2) it's clear that sometimes there is an underlying issue that goes undetected that can contribute such an enormous problem.

I wish I had more things to offer you to check. Hugs to you...

[joyluc]

My son was evaluated at high risk of suicide last March, we tried to help him with therapy but in November he attempted after being put on antidepressants without a mood stabilizer or an anti-psychotic. Since then he has been diagnosed with BP although I don't see it and he has had a few weeks of feeling better. I regret waiting to find a good child psychiatrist who would develop an appropriate treatment plan. Good luck momma what a hard time for you and your DS.

[Oubliette8]

Antidepressant use in children can increase their risk of suicide regardless of whether they are bipolar or not. That's why the drugs have black box warnings.

I think your sons symptoms could be due to a number of different things. I would probably start with the least invasive treatment, and proceed from there. I would try to find him therapy with a good therapist who has experience with kids. That could help you tell if its likely based on situational problems like bullying or school issues, or if something more is going on. If its related to life problems, counseling can help and the therapist can give you suggestions to help your son at home. If its due to a medical issue, a trained counselor will likely be able to detect that, and you can take your son for more tests or medication. And the counseling will still be helpful to teach him how to deal with the consequences of his condition and manage it in his daily life.

Growing up my sister often threatened suicide- to the point she would stand in the middle of the road and wait for oncoming cars. She does not have a mental illness, today as an adult she is fine. My own counselor believes the behavior was a symptom of abuse in our home. I'm not saying your son is abused- just that he is going through some very stressful life events for a 9 year old and its not unheard of for that type of thing to lead to suicidal threats in kids.