Posted by River1924 on October 19, 2005, at 1:37:16
HI,
My nephew, Luke, 28 yeare years old, has been told he will probably be dead by age 37 due to very abnormal liver enzymes. His liver is diseased, apparently, by obesity, drinking, and an exuberant if brief use of every illegal drug available.
Well, I think, (and contrary to his current doctors) he should take medication for ADD. His liver enzymes are very messed up. Yes, that's true. His doctor says he needs to exercise and eat right. Okay. Obvious.
I think, the dangers of harming his liver further with ADD medication is, greatly, outweighed by this: He is much more likely to eat right and exercise and live a healthier lifestyle if he is on the right meds. Right now, he is depressed. He thinks he is dumb and a loser. He is bored easliy, has been given a death sentence and he can't sustain interest in his own life and health. He can't really sustain any real interests/activities unless it involves high risk activities. Self-confidence and friendships would help his body recover. I think he is less likely to drink, eat poorly, do drugs, or live passively on ADD meds.
Does this make sense? Am I crazy? Are stimulants so bad for the liver that they aren't worth the benefits?
I'd appreciate any input. Thanks. River.
More background: I'm not a big believer in ADD. It is too easy to label a child with ADD when his real affliction is his enviroment. BUT, I'm sure Luke has it and continues to be afflicted by it. I asked him about his previous use of cocaine. I expected this answer: it didn't make him really wired or give him courage to do stupid things. On cocaine, he felt normal. He had conversations and thought about the future, etc. As a child, he managed to pour house paint on the living room floor and not realize the consequences of the pretty stuff flowing out of the can until he heard his mother screaming at him. When he was in seventh grade, I gave his mother a small book on ADD and she realized, "hey, he isn't dumb, a deliberate troublemaker... he must have ADD." For a few years, he took ritalin and he made friends and his grades improved and he seemed more content and happy.
Then, his father's not-so-subtle insistence that his kids don't need drugs encouraged him to discontinue meds. (IE: If my boy takes ritalin it means he isn't normal and that makes me look bad. Plus, men... manly men don't take psychiatric drugs.) So, Luke stopped his medication and pretty soon he was always tardy to school and failing and bored and dropped out in high school.
Ten years later, he has been given a death sentence. It is so frustrating.
poster:River1924
thread:568745
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20051017/msgs/568745.html