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From: TBI caregiver
Date: 06 Jan 2002
Time: 17:55:09
Remote Name: 67.163.26.26
My son was nine at the time of his tbi from a car accident. He is twelve now. He was on Parlodel for a year. They introduced parlodel first, then a few weeks later added ritalin. About 2 1/2-3 months later, he started having mild seizures. We thought it might have been from the ritalin. So we stopped that, but continued the parlodel. He was making progress on the meds, but when he started having the seizures, he regressed. From my observations, the ritalin was doing more to help him progress than the parlodel. When we took him off the ritalin, he never regained the progress he had made. We are not big on any medication unless it was absolutely necessary. Our doctor stressed to keep giving the parlodel for a year, because that's how long it could take to start seeing results. It never did anything for him but make him totally out of it, and made his face puffy looking. Please understand that our son cannot walk, talk, hardly eat 2oz. of pureed food at a time, or even smile at us consistently, or hold his own head up. Please let me be blunt. There seem to be many variables in your situation. As you know with TBI nothing is cut and dry. Just suggestions- your son may have had Giardi and Helocobactor(not sure on the spelling of the last one). I know that's what my son was throwing up from. It seems like the parlodel was working for ya'll, although we never saw results. I don't know who told you that TBI patients never regress. I've been told that it will always be one step forward and 2 steps back. Or 2 steps forward and 1 step back. Hope this helps you in some way. No matter what anyone says, I believe that we know whats best for our son and we listen to what the docors say, but we ultimately decide what is best for him. As I am sure you know, you are your childs only advocate. Sorry to ramble. Just venting a little, I guess.