Log Book

Here I'm done, time's out. During these four months I have been working on hyperactivity. It was a hard nut to crack. It's still difficult to understand this disease for me but I think I've learnt a lot about it though. Medical unit researchers have a lot to do in the next few years, to find better treatments for this disease that is so complex to diagnose.
I enjoyed to do this research because it was like solving a puzzle, building knowledge, step by step. I was reading most of the articles in English, so I could train myself, and if I didn't know a word or expression, I tried to get an explanation with the context or by looking at the dictionnary (which wasn't helpful many times...). I did train my writing skills too because I wrote notes on my own every time. And last but not least, is that I've discovered more about hyperactivity.  I definitely have a better understanding of this idea now than I did before this project, which is important because it is a contested topic of debate at this time.

While I was reading through this "working blog", I noticed that its organisation was messy. there is no clear distinction between what I wrote and the documents. That's why, I think I'm going to change into blue color what I wrote on my own.

Many effective alternatives to conventional medicine exist for treating hyperactivity in children. Parents of hyperactive children are increasingly seeking out these alternatives, not only because they are getting good results, but because there are no known short or long term side effects from these alternative treatments. However, it is essential that anyone seeking out alternative treatments for hyperactivity should approach only qualified and experienced practitioners.

Osteopathy:

Osteopathy treats the musculo-skeletal system. It concentrates on gentle manipulation to restore and maintain the proper functioning of the muscles and bones. It is particularly useful for treating problems with the ligaments and spine. It improves lymphatic drainage and breathing which, in turn, can be very effective in treating hyperactivity in children. Cranial osteopathy also relieved many of the symptoms of hyperactivity such as headaches, dizziness and lack of concentration.

Nutritional therapy:

Much of our modern diet is highly refined and lacking in essential vitamins, minerals and nutrients. Nutritional medicine aims to redress this balance by adding essential nutrients to the diet in such a way that the body is able to absorb and utilise these nutrients. A nutritional therapist will recommend a system for diagnosing and eliminating any foods that are likely to trigger hyperactive behaviour in the child.

Homeopathy:

The homeopathic approach is growing in popularity as an alternative treatment for hyperactivity in children. Homeopathy is gaining recognition in the conventional field of medicine and has been subject to many clinical trials. Homeopathy works according to the principle of “like cures like” where substances that cause certain symptoms can also be used to cure them. However, used in conventional doses, these substances would be toxic, so homeopathy dilutes them to miniscule levels in order to make them safe but, at the same time, retaining their effectiveness. Because homeopathy adopts the holistic approach, the child’s medical history, lifestyle and temperament will be assessed before treatment is prescribed. Hyperactivity is considered a complex problem by homeopaths. It is, therefore, essential that you consult a recommended practitioner rather than trying to treat the child yourself.

Acupuncture:

Acupuncture is based on the principle that well-being depends on the balance and flow of energy (called “Qi”) through the body. The acupuncturist will correct the flow of Qi by inserting thin needles into certain points in the body. Because some children are afraid of needles (acupuncture needles, incidentally, are painless), massage or acupressure will be used instead. However, most acupuncturists treating children will only use the finest of needles and only leave them in place for a few seconds. The acupuncturist will take a full history of the hyperactive child and then concentrate on the points where he or she believes the energy channels are being blocked in the individual child. Acupuncture has proved a very effective remedy for hyperactivity in children.

Herbal medicine:

Herbalism is probably the oldest form of medicine. Whereas modern medicine often relies on extracting one active ingredient, herbal medicine uses the whole plant. Herbalists often point out that symptoms may get worse at first but then a marked improvement will follow. Many herbal remedies are particularly relevant to the treatment of hyperactivity in children. A herbalist will be able to pinpoint the remedies which are best suited to the individual personality of the child.

Whichever alternative treatment you pursue for the hyperactive child, it is absolutely essential that your first move is to consult only a registered and qualified practitioner.

Extract from : http://nmnm.essortment.com/hyperactivitych_rtvv.htm

(...) skin rash or hives ..
I had difficulties to understand the eaxact meaning of these two words but it seems that "skin rash or hives" are an irritated skin.

(...) black, tarry stools..
This is the funniest translation I've ever had to do! Literally, I found that "stool" means "tabouret" in French in the dictionnary... Here, there is no point to translate it by "tabouret", it is something which can be in our urine, and which is black. First of all, it's a side effects, so it can't be something good for our health, and anyway, urine doesn't have black "things" in it normaly...So, here I don't have a clue to know what "tarry stools" means.

"pinpoint red spots on skin"
On the Internet, I saw that "pinpoint" is translated by "pointe d'épingle" or "ponctuelle". I would say that, because of the ocntext, it means that there may have some little red spots, here or elsewhere.

"drowsiness"
It's a state where/when you are nether asleep or awake. In French, "somnolence".

"or are bothersome"
To bother is to annoy, and to be bothered is to be annoyed by something or someone. Considering that, I can imagine that it is an adjective which says that something is annoying. I would translate it by "gênant" or "ennuyant".

I had a neurobiology lesson today which was linked to my subject of research. Mr. Bret told us the side effects of the neuroleptics (also called psychostimulants), Ritalin. It can cause a loss of appetite, tics, create growth delays and can also lead to sleep problems, but what is more, it can change the personality of the person who takes it... !

To be more exhaustive, this additional information has to be written down, but it is a never-ending list : (found in this website)

More common :

     Fast heartbeat; increased blood pressure

Less common :

  Chest pain; fever; joint pain; skin rash or hives; uncontrolled movements of the body

Rare :

     Black, tarry stools; blood in urine or stools; blurred vision or other changes in vision; convulsions (seizures); muscle cramps; pinpoint red spots on skin; uncontrolled vocal outbursts and/or tics (uncontrolled and repeated body movements); unusual bleeding or bruising

With long-term use or at high doses :

     Changes in mood; confusion; delusions (false beliefs); depersonalization (feeling that self or surroundings are not real); hallucinations (seeing, hearing, or feeling things that are not there); weight loss

Symptoms of overdose :

        Agitation; confusion (severe); convulsions (seizures); dryness of mouth or mucous membranes; false sense of well-being; fast, pounding, or irregular heartbeat; fever; hallucinations (seeing, hearing, or feeling things that are not there); headache (severe); increased blood pressure; increased sweating; large pupils; muscle twitching; overactive reflexes; trembling or shaking; vomiting

Other side effects may occur that usually do not need medical attention. These side effects may go away during treatment as your body adjusts to the medicine. However, check with your doctor if any of the following side effects continue or are bothersome:

More common :

  Loss of appetite; nervousness; trouble in sleeping

Less common :

  Dizziness; drowsiness; headache; nausea; stomach pain

Here is a list I've done with the principal side effects listed above :

• fast heartbeat
• chest pain, joint pain
• fever
• skin rash or hives
• uncontrolled and repeated movements of the body (tics)   
  
• black, tarry stools
• blurred vision
• convulsions
• muscle cramps
• pinpoint res spots on skin
• unusual bleeding or bruising
• confusion
• changes in mood
• delusions   
  
• depersonalisation
• hallucinations
• weight loss
• .....

I know that every medecine has its frightenning side effects, but, here it's worrysome how common they are with Ritalin or other psychostimulant. It is not astonishing if people use it as a real drug, which can be compared to amphetamines. What is more, it has a strong addiction.

I have been thinking of something which I kept in mind after I saw an episode of the soap "Desperate Housewives" : the sixth of the first season, called "Running To Stand Still".
In this episode, mother Lynette Scavo, one of the main characters is having a race against time to prepare costums for a remake of "Little Red Riding Hood", her sons' school play. One of the mother of her sons' schoolmate is an unbelievable woman who seems to be never exhausted. She tells Lynette Scavo her secret : she takes pills for hyperactive children treatment. For normal people, these pills are comparable to amphetamines which keep people on a constant activity and frenzy.

I was quit chocked when I saw that and discussed it with a friend of mine who told me that it's quite a common use... Too many people are doing some business with these miracle pills which keeps you up all day and night.
 

What we can extract from this article written by psychiatrist Jacques Thomas is that nowadays, children are more likely to simplify information taken from fast and interactive media such as television; it's quicker to listen to the radio or watch the TV than to read a book. They are limiting their sources of knowledge, by choosing the quickest ones.
We can notice that the main idea in the "clinical part" of his developement is that hyperactive children are more unhappy, disorganised and disorientated than naughty, disobedient, and violent children, even if on the surface their behaviour seems to be the contrary. They act before they think; that is it. They can't organise their taughts with their acts, they don't take the time to do so, it's impulsive.
To understand what appears as a maniac mecanism of self defense, where the relationship between the child and his mother takes a great part, the organisation of the child's brain has to be considered.
Apart from the perspective of a psychotherapy, Jacques Thomas doesn't include a chemical treatment.
We can understand why : chemical treatments are not solving the problem, they just hide it. It's only an alternative solution which doesn't replace a clinical treatment, a psychological one, to go deeper in the reasons why a child is hyperactive.

I received the "Journal des psychologues" I ordered. I read five pages about dyslexia. Here they are :

p. 34 to 38

from : National Institute of Mental Health web site

Not only is the Ritalin an effective treatment but the Cylert and Dexedrine too. All of them are similar in their basis molecule, and their chemical name is "methylphenidate" for Ritalin, "pemoline" for Cylert and "dextroamphetamine" for Dexedrine.