Let nature take it's course...

[mysticshores]

Does anyone just give up all the appoints and not worrry about docs and therapy? DD has had splints made for hands and feet and we've never really used them. Speechy just wanted to teach sign laungage.. ehhh no thanks....PT can be achieved just as well at the local playground.. Ped just makes mroe appointments and sends us a nice letter twice a year.. I'm just signing off from the help and deciding not to try fix something that's not broken. DD is happy and if I ask her if she needs fixing she shakes her head. Just because she doesn't fit into the box of what's normal doesn't make it wrong. I always felt guilty by not doing what they told me. Now I want to live guilt free and be OK with giving my daughter a normal as possible childhood.

[MummaBear03]

You do what will give your child the best life possible:yes:

[Nowhere]

I guess its a very personal choice, DD has done therapy her whole life, first was feeding therepy but that was useless as her body couldnt digest it anyway, then she needed physio and OT and speech therapy, We still do all three, do i like that she needs it hell no, Does it kill me that she cant just be a kid dam straight. But do I want to give her the best start in life she can possible have YES i do with out a shaddow or a doubt.

DD is now 4 years old she can talk great, She still uses a wheelchair that I push most of the time, but she can also use her self propel chair when she is feelng up to it and can walk a bit wth her frame and when really well even little bit by her self. The therapy does help yes it hard, we do 3 hours of therapy every single day with DD (when not in hospital) and I can honestly say it does pay off, and you know what even if it doesnt I know that if DD gets upset over what others can do and she cant I can tell her hand on heart that I did everything I could to give her that chance.


As for letting nature take its course we are faceing decisions like that with DD now, as to how far we intervein with her health as every whch way we turn has its down sides, but I cant and wont give up on her, If her quality of llfe deminishes then we re asses but untill that time no wont let nature take it course.


Sounds like you are havng a bad time at the moment with therapy and thats normal it happens from time to time, same with hospita appts I HATE having to come to the hospital every week it kills me to have to do all this stuff but unfortunately you gota play the hand you have beeb dealt no matter how sh*ty i is sometimes.

hugs

[mysticshores]

I agree you have to do whatever it takes to make the best decisions. I just think maybe the professionals don't always have all the answers. I don't see my DD as having major issues. If she did yes I'd want to do whatever it takes. I just think that it's ok to be different.. Ok to run your own race. Why try make everyone into normal when it's obvious that can't be achieved. I'm just in a place of happy acceptance. I'm sorry your DD has major medical issues. Never give up that's for sure. xxxxx

[chrysalis]

Hi, I can see your point of view. And I agree it's a personal thing. But I have persisted with therapy for my DD and have seen benefits even when I doubted it at the beginning. I was told to teach her sign language but didn't start for a long time. When I did, she picked it up really quickly and now uses it a lot. She is a lot happier being able to communicate what she wants or needs. She seems to enjoy learning new signs and it has also improved her verbal communication. Now she says the word when she signs it.

Also, I found the hydro and the physio quite helpful. It's true you can do a lot of it on your own, with play ground equipment or toys. But I found the guidance useful.

It doesn't cost me anything, except time. So I figure I'll give it a go and if she really doesn't need it, then it won't hurt anyway.

[MummaBear03]

DD has been in the bottom level in reading for her class yet the top level with maths. While I want to extend on her maths ability, I want to assist her to get up to a good level with reading. In fact, she's come ahead in leaps and bounds just this term after over a year of working at it, thinking we were getting nowhere. She sees a number of specialists to help her because she has to fit in with life and society. She can still be herself and that's something that's encouraged, but I don't want her struggling with something that I can help her with and enlist the help of specialists to assist with. But at the same time, she has seen someone about anxiety but it was making her anxiety worse by having to go so I stopped it. It's just about working out what's right for your child and going down that path.

[chrysalis]

Yeah, I also had the experience where nothing seemed to be happening for a while and then suddenly a lot of progress was made in a short space of time.

I think various therapies are invaluable when they are young, it can help prevent a lot of issues down the track. Early intervention can make a huge difference.

mysticshores, maybe you could see the therapy as something to help her rather than something to "fix her when she isn't broken" - I don't see it like that for my DD, I see her as just needing a bit more help. It doesn't need to interfere with her childhood. I hope you feel ok with whatever path you choose.

[Bel1978]

We go to ASD playgroups, OT and speech I would never give that up but I guess it depends what level your child is at.. We know our kids will drop the diagnoses at some point with help just depends how long it will take... My ds maybe longer he is showing some improvement

[kiwibird27]

I think u need to therapists there as a preventative.. To prevent scoliosis, to prevent muscles and joints tightening and stiffening, and to ensure your child develops to there full potential.. something as simple as an incorrect posture in a wheelchair can cause life long damage... but I totally understand wanting to just get them away from u.

Communication at home may not be an issue, but what about in the future at school, at McDonalds, at girl guides???? there needs to be some system put in place.

My DD is 4yrs and has just learn't to sit up... not because of weekly therapy but because she was ready to do so... they all make sure her hips don't fuse, her elbows don't lock and her shoulders don't disclocate

[supa_star323]

I think it's a personal decision that no one else can really judge.
DS does have therapy, and will continue to do so. Although his gains are small, and he is still nit speaking, I think it is what is best for him.

[Bel1978]

I know a few of you were talking about melatonin and I said I wouldn't drug J, his OT said he might get to the point that we need to do something as he is going round in circles lack of sleep then bad behaviour and melt downs.. Although she thought there was a natural and prescribed melatonin so I asked at the chemist .... Yep she was right so I'm going to try the natural one