Thank you so much for writing this and sorry it’s taken me a bit to respond. We have been to doctors who have taken one half-look at Charlie (it seems) and said that they want him on meds; we have not gone back to see those doctors. The meds are one piece in a whole lot of options and certainly exercise plays a big part, and healthy eating. While I might question the claims of recovery or cure etc. from diets, Charlie’s lunchbox has some very nutritionally sound contents: Rice, homemade chicken, fruits and vegetables, brown rice bread, the occasional pack of frozen French fries, edamame. And some fast food on the weekends — it’s all a balancing act, no?

Yes, namaste.

Ok, my rant is over. Thank you for listening. And thank you Kristina for your wonderful blog!

Namaste.

I am all for parents doing whatever they feel is best for their children on this issue. I’ll add, though, that “school problems” are usually just that in my opinion. Though we live in a district that is particularly unfriendly to children with special needs in the elementary school, so perhaps my comment should be taken with a saltshaker and a little sympathy LOL!

Thanks for your kind words about my writing—–we’re still kind of gluten-free casein-free with Charlie, with planned “infractions.” Did a lot of biomedical remedies and have a lot of reservations about the claims made and the practitioners and have watched the son of a friend—who has done a laundry list of treatments, still chelates regularly, etc.—seem to have some changes in his health, not for the better.

I know and tried to state that of course all parents weigh these decisions with excruciating car—-I figured I would not strike the right note! I do think that Warner touches on an important point, about a sort of undercurrent of reserve about medications.

My mother-in-law was in a psychiatric institution the summer before last (not the first time this had occurred). She was catatonic and hallucinating. She has had depression, bipolar, throughout her life; one relative “blamed” the medication for causing her to have the hallucations—-but she has had mental illness for much of her life. It seemed inaccurate to me that some chose to “blame the medicine,” rather than to consider the facts of her life and try to address those.

Always too much to consider.

Thanks for your writing too——

However, I do take issue with your implication that parents who choose to use biomedical treatments, do not enter into it with the same level of concern as those who chose pharmaceutical measures. Or that anyone who makes the choice to explore special diets, supplements, etc. is automatically anti “big pharma” and is allowing their desire for “a cure” to outweigh logic and reason.

Dietary changes and a few supplements have helped my son feel better. Did they cure him? No. Did I expect them to cure him? No. But he feels physically better. That’s all that matters to me. When he feels better, he does better overall. Like any of us. We may find that meds are necessary to help him with different issues, and that is ok. Do I think the meds will “cure” him. No. They may or may not help him. It is the exact same principle. You research, you consult specialists, you talk to other parents. You weigh your options.

I fail to understand why the so-called “curebies” and so-called “ND’s” are in such separate camps. I am not either. I consider myself a little bit of both. I embrace the gifts that autism has given my son. I wouldn’t change those for the world. I actually love the way he looks at the world, though it is different from me.

However, did my son enjoy his constant diarrhea prior to exploring GFCF? No. And he has told us so. For us, and I am by no means suggesting this is for everyone, GFCF eased that one particular problem. That’s all.

I am sorry if it seems I am taking this out on you. I love your writing. I read you every day. But just because someone chooses to use “alternative” medicine does not mean they are not thoughtful people or that they shun all logic and modern medicine.

I really wish these “parent wars” would stop. I do not see how it is helping anyone.

Katherine

Uh-huh. And this one passing acknowledgment notwithstanding, the entire article is meticulously calculated to trivialize that very concern — which is itself at the very core of the anti-Big-Pharma argument. Judith’s high school debate team must be very proud.

But as Regan suggests, There’s A Lot More To It.

While I freely acknowledge that many people are greatly helped by some psych-meds, and that many who could be helped instead go untreated, it is hardly approp—

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