Drugs Are Not Always The Answer For Autism

It's been a long road with all the drugs my son was on since he was 2 years old. He suffers from severe autism, seizures, bipolar disorder, etc. At one point, at 9 years old, he took 35 pills a day and was institutionalized out-of-state. When there is dual diagnosis, it is very hard to stablize a youth. The seizure drugs caused behavior problems and the behavior drugs caused seizure problems. Each disorder was one worse than the other. His seizures were over 5 hours long and his behavior was absolute 'rage'.

Thousands of miligrams of medication to counteract the seizures did not stop them in the intensive care unit of the Hospitals. He was on a pyramid of drugs. Eventually, the only solution was to go the other way. When the drugs were doing him in, causing comatose ammonium poisoning; putting my son in a coma for 2 weeks, then something else had to be done for him. Withdrawal from most of the medication was what had to be done in my care at home.

Now, many years later he was residentially placed on only 2 pills for seizures/behavior. But, after being placed since 2001, new behaviors emerged that were of the self-abusive type. It broke my heart that a new drug was added 3 times a day. This drug causes other debilitating conditions that are destroying his health and, I believe, was the cause for him to have gland surgery, where he was a 1/4 inch away from a tracheotomy.

But, with a person like this, you are damned if you do and damned if you don't. Without drugs he rips his skin off his body. The drug is not fool proof.....as a matter of fact he is becoming immune to it and it's not even working very well now.

As a parent, all you do is worry. You worry if the phone rings and it's bad news. I can live with myself because I take him home 2-3 months out of the year. I'm glad they let me, too. I'm bonded to him. I know how to read him, even though he has little to no speech. I know how to take care of him and make him better. But, he is a lot of work. All these extreme cases of Autism are overwhelming for anyone.

It is unfortunate that there is no other treatment for this most severe form of Autism. It affects a smaller population of this group. But, drugs are not always the anwer.

Jury Duty and Children with Autism

Jury Duty!!! What a horror. Having 3 children with Autism Spectrum Disorder is bad enough. My son just had surgery and needs further surgery. What a time to be called for performing "my duty". My children are considered "adults" or age of majority, 18 and over, but the legal system does not take into consideration their developmental age. Do the courts understand all this?

This is the 3rd time I am called and it is so overwhelming when you have more important things that have to be done for your children. I have no time for myself whatsoever. Endless doctor visits, school meetings, behavior modification, post-school programs, and being a mother to perpetual children can be exhausting. Since I am a "Single Mother" for many, many years now, it can be very depressing. The weight of the world is on your shoulders.

I am in New Jersey and I assume because the crime is so high here now, there is a major need for continuous jurors. Many jurors are excused or disqualified, so that leaves a small pool of potential jurors. Out of desperation, they allow shoplifters and those accused of a crime, but not yet convicted, to participate, as per "NJ Court Online".

But, how on earth do I neglect my developmentally disabled children to go do my "duty"??? If parents with "normal" children have a hard time finding babysitters, lots of luck finding one qualified for Autism, Anxiety, and especially one with a seizure disorder.

There is absolutely no category for "ME" on the list of "Excuses". I send them large envelopes of information and reports to try to get excused. I write to the Judge. This time was the worst for me because it came right at the time of my son's surgery.

How can I medicate him and send him on the school van if I have to leave before him and leave him unattended?
How can I return home after him and not be there to know if my daughter, who is in her own world, let him in?
What if something happens to him during the day? I am the responsible party. Does DDD kick in?
One of my sons is placed in a group home and I am legal guardian; how do they contact me if something happens to him? He is severely disabled.
Would they interrupt the trial if something happens?

My worries are based on the fact that I have no luck whatsoever. When it rains, it pours, everything at once.....that is my luck, always has been.

Does the court understand any of this, or what?

I got excused for now, again, but for how long? Should I worry from now for next time? Too many years dealing with this makes you feel hopeless, especially because there are so many ignorant people out there regardless of their education.

It is getting very hard to live in New Jersey, especially because there is a aura of emotionlessness. There are more cold and heartless people taking over. It is very sad and very uncomfortable to comprehend it. I wish I could move out, but my kids are waiting for services here. They were born here, got sick here, and deserve what little they get.

UPDATE: Don't you know I received another Jury Duty notice just months after this last one. This time my 2nd son who is severely disabled just had a very serious gland surgery coming within a 1/4 inch of a tracheotomy in which I was devastated. How could it be such a coincidence to be called again at such a devastating time? This time I was able to get DDD to write letters about my situation and need for availability of my children as a priority.