Any Suggestions?

May 20, 2001

Hello Minc:

I'm not a lawyer but it sounds like, from reading what you put in the

post that the Lawyer is looking at the legal portion of the fight. If

she is right, even though you know what you know, you still have to work

within the legal system. Perhaps you can find another lawyer and confirm

or disprove her perspective. It would be a shame to just disregard what

she is saying and then find out she is legally correct in how the court

will handle the case and be removed from the home in a way that

will ultimately prevent her from receiving the proper help.

In Christ's love and mine...Jen : )

On Sun, 20 May 2001 01:26:24 -0400 " Minc " <minc@...>

writes:

> I am having a bit of trouble with an attorney named Lyda Astrove who

> evidently has an autistic child but does not feel the Chang family

> deserves

> a DAN doctor to be in charge of 's recovery.

>

> Grace Chang wrote to me and said, " The world never looked crueler. "

>

> They have been feeding Chang cheese and macaroni and nothing

> else.

> The attorney seems to think a school program can heal autism.

>

> Here is a clip from the attorney's letter to the Chang family. The

> Chang

> family now knows should not eat certain foods and be given

> the

> chance to see whether or not, even under the institutionalization,

>

> can make advancements.

>

> Don't you feel everyone has the basic human right to the best

> medical

> assistance? In my mind, to institutionalize away from

> competent

> medical assistance, is just the same as locking a cancer victim away

> from

> medical treatment.

>

> >From: ASTROVE@...

> >healthylife@...

>

> >Subject: Re: Get treatment for

>

> >1. The trial is not about whether can be cured.

> >

> >2. The trial is about whether you are able to take care of her.

> >

> >3. Unless this person (Minc ) is an MD or a psychologist

> or a

> masters level special education teacher, the court will not receive

> anything

> she has to say as an

> expert opinion. I guarantee you that the judge will not give

> back

> based on one pseudo-scientific theory of what causes autism.

> >

> >4. Maybe a special diet and food allergy treatment could help

> .

> However, the people that I know that are doing the special diet and

> allergy

> testing are doing it IN CONJUNCTION with a highly structured

> special

> education program.

> >

> >5. Do you understand that it is my legal opinion that if you go to

> a trial

> you will almost certainly lose short term custody of and it

> could be

> the first step on the way to termination of your parental rights. I

> cannot

> say strongly enough that THE BEST WAY TO ULTIMATELY GET JESSICA BACK

> is to

> attempt to work out an arrangement where OUR expert is keeping data

> on

> over the course of several months, to determine whether or

> not the

> level of supervision she is getting is decreasing the behaviors to

> the point

> where she can learn.

> >

> >6. There are rules to be followed in a court both about what can

> be

> introduced as evidence and who can testify. I can't just submit

> pages of

> letters from people who think a particular treatment helped their

> child. If

> it is my legal judgment that particular items or people cannot be

> introduced

> as evidence, I will not embarass you or my professional reputation

> by trying

> to violate the evidence rules.

> >

> >7. I really have tried my best to help you over 2 years. Now,

> however, the

> department of child welfare services is in the drivers seat and your

> ability

> to make choices is being limited, and may be LOST forever if you

> don't try

> to save it in a way that is consistent with the law. For the sake

> of your

> >family, I urge you to focus on the long term goal of reuniting

> with

> your family, not on the elusive hope of a " cure. "

> >

> >Lyda Astrove

> >

>

> =======================================================

>

February 24, 2005

Lynda, that is an awful long time to be in misery while you're waiting

to see the rheumatologist. Unfortunately, that is typical, since there

are not enough rheumatologists to go around.

I was in the same situation a couple of years ago waiting for my first

appointment with a rheumy. I looked him up on the Internet, found an

email address for him, and sent him a message asking for tips on how to

cope with the pain while waiting to see him. Two days later he called

me and said he was going to get me in to see him sooner. So I wound up

seeing him in one month instead of three. No doctor had ever called me

like that, out of the blue. He is such a compassionate person; I just

loved him. Unfortunately, he relocated to Atlanta recently.

I do sympathize with you; I know just how you feel. Sometimes

prednisone is prescribed to tide people over and can relive pain

tremendously. But it has so many bad side effects if used over a long

period.

It's too bad that people in great pain cannot get in sooner to see a

rheumy. Keep us informed. Sue

On Thursday, February 24, 2005, at 12:03 PM, hazelmyst66 wrote:

>

> My name is Lynda and I live in Dayton, OH. I was wondering if anyone

> has any suggestions on how to get some relief for my RA symptoms? I

> cannot get into the rheumatologist until April 26th (it is my first

> appointment) and my hands/wrists (especially) are killing me.

>

February 24, 2005

I am SO sorry you are having to cope with this for so long till your

appt.

For me in the begginning, I had a hard time getting relief for my

hands, wrists. At that time I could not tolerate much, mostly I

relied far too heavily on Ibuprofen. Ibuprofen can be hard on some

peoples stomachs. I could NOT use ice back then, and water soaks

also were intolerable for me. (Now ice or water soaks work nicely)

I know on bad days I wear wrist splints or these glove type things

(by ace bandages etc at the store) - you might want to ask a doc,

whether you ask your GP or rheumy......it is possible they might give

you some relief. Some days warmth helps me with stiffness, some days

ice is better for numbing and reducing swelling. I think I had to

just kinda grow some kind of intuition to help me figure out which

days I want the glove things or splints and which days I want ice or

heat. I also use Aspercream, Ben Gay, Vicks Vapo rub, Tiger

Balm..........yeesh, LOL. And yes some days I just cry and get

emotional r just give in to pain, some days I get angry.......some

days I just sit and stare off with my hands (of feet) propped on

pillows and stare into outter space.......other days I grit my teeth

and try to push......(usually I regret that)

I did learn how to fold laundry using my elbows. LOL, sounds weird.

The good news is my rheumy was able to help me massively. For me,

it was simple enough, every person is going to need different meds,

different ideas etc. I take methotrexate, Ibuprofen and Folic acid,

and am lucky enough my MTX is oral and the Ibuprofen does not bother

me either.

Hang in there.

--- In , " hazelmyst66 " <hazelmyst66@y...>

wrote:

>

> Hello everyone,

> My name is Lynda and I live in Dayton, OH. I was wondering if

anyone

> has any suggestions on how to get some relief for my RA symptoms?

I

> cannot get into the rheumatologist until April 26th (it is my first

> appointment) and my hands/wrists (especially) are killing me. It's

> hard to type, hard to do anything, but I knew I could come here to

> you all. My doctor prescribed Ultraset for me this week and I've

> been using a rub that's similar to Ben-Gay. I'm so depressed and

> worried. I just got married (for the second time) in September and

> my new husband is so sweet, tries to do all he can, but gets upset

> because I cry. I looked up some RA stuff online and showed him

some

> of the things that go along with it. Fortunately, it mentioned

> crying. I just don't want him to think I hate being married. I'm

so

> thankful for you all. I try to talk to my sister and she tells me

> to " dry up " and to be thankful I'm alive. Well, I've gotten way

off

> track of my question, sorry. Any suggestions would be greatly

> appreciated! Thanks!

February 24, 2005

Hey Lynda, welcome to the group, and also congratulations on your

marriage! I'm sorry to hear about your dx, I know it's tough on

you. It's hard to take it all in. I'm glad you found the group, you

will find out so much info here, and find wonderful support, and

friends. When I first was dx, I didn't know what to do, or what to

expect. I found this group, and it has been my life line.

With the crying, it's natural. A lot of people with RA, and other

chronic diseases have depression. You might need to go on a anti-

depressant of some kind to help with that. I would see the doctor,

and see if he can't help you, until you can get into the rheumy.

Sometimes, a family doctor will put you on Prednisone, or a DMARD

until you can get to the rheumy. Also, he can help you with your

depression, you need to talk with him.

It is hard for family to understand what were going through. I would

get some information, and give it to her. Or, maybe she can go with

you on your rheumy visit. Maybe, with the rheumy explaining might

help her to understand it better. I still have problems with my

family, so I have just stopped trying. I have the support I need

right here, and I'm so thankful for everyone here.

So, just know were all here for you. If you would like to email me

anytime, please feel free.

Big hug,

Tawny