My Frustration
I have a 9 year old autistic boy who on his first visit complained of chronic painful constipation as well as other symptoms commonly associated with autism. His abdomen was clearly bloated. He came to me after having previously been to various D.A.N. doctors including one with a very positive reputation. I asked the mom who wanted to pursue Hemispheric Integration Therapy if he had been worked up biomedically and if his issues had been addressed. She told me “Oh yes, I can bring in all his old lab work, he has no biomedical issues”. She said she provided me a list of the supplements he was taking. Finally, about 4 weeks later, after repeatedly asking for his lab work ( which she continuously said she forget to bring) I asked ” Are you sure he doesn’t have yeast?” That day the 9 year old , still in diapers, was constipated, bloated and screaming from the pain. She responded ” Oh yeah, he has yeast.” I asked ” Are you giving him anything for it?”. She said ” I was but I got tired of giving it to him”. Incidentally, she always came in handing the child a cookie. For those of you that don’t know, yeast love sugar. I then asked her what supplements he was taking at present. She responded that he wasn’t taking anything now. ” Then what was that list of supplements you wrote down on your intake sheet on his first day” I asked. “Oh, those are things he has taken in the past but he isn’t taking anything now” she said. FRUSTRATION!! We gave him some saccharomyces boulardii and he started feeling better by Monday. We also ordered some appropriate test to assess the child and be able to monitor his progress. I often say that Hemispheric Integration Therapy is like an exercise program for the brain. Before you begin an exercise program, you would want to make sure you did not have any serious health issues and make sure you eat enough protein to rebuild the muscles. Yeast and dysbiosis are what I call negative factors that should be addressed if you want to get the most out of the H.I.T. I think we will be stricter about bringing records prior to starting treatment. Every child I treat is an ambassador for H.I.T and this office. I want to make sure that they all make the most progress that they can. This treatment approach is a great one but it is not a miracle.
11. August 2009 at 1:23 pm :
First and Foremost, I would like to say that, while it is true, and quite admirable, and an honor really… that you would consider your patients so highly, as to view each of them as “ambassadors” …there are some individuals, who simply are not worthy of that title. And, certainly…if a patient, or in this case a mother of the minor patient is neglectful…this should, in no way shape or form, be a reflection of the doctor or the treatment. I have a Type 1 Diabetic child…How would his Pediatric Endocrinologist feel if I neglected to check his Blood Sugars, or didn’t give him his insulin…because I got tired of giving it to him?? Frustration!! Big Time!! Especially, if that doctor took a lot of pride in his work, and truly cared about his patients. This is just so very hurtful, to the patient, the Doctor, and to everyone involved, and I really hope that this sad and regrettable situation can be resolved, so that this child may heal, and begin to thrive.
Sincerely, Kim Larochelle