The fact is that many of LuLu’s latest challenges are physical instead of the typical mental, emotional and developmental issues she’s had all her life. And this is definitely shifting things.

I’ll admit that in a strange way, I’m excited. For some time I have half-believed those in the biomed world who believe that all mental and developmental issues have a biomedical root, and that with the right interventions you can put the body back on its healing equilibrium, and heal much of what appears to be emotional, psychological or behavior in nature.

I’ve wanted to believe, despite my skepticism, that this would be the case for LuLu. I’ve heard countless “miracle” stories from parents who seem incredibly credible (no pun intended), and who have what appear to be much healthier children than before. So, we’ve pursued many treatments: neurofeedback, special diets, numerous supplements, HBOT, allergy testing, pyroluria treatments. Each intervention has brought about a slight change in LuLu…some have actually be significant positive changes. Yet, none has been “the miracle” that has changed her life so drastically for the better.

But, overtime, the aggregate has caused some kind of shift toward a clearer awareness that there are definite physical ailments at play in some of her mental and emotional issues. So, my excitement is pinned to a hope that if we can just find the physical problems, and treat them, behavior/emotional improvement will follow.

The first to show up were the hormonal imbalances this summer, through some bloodwork and her endless periods. Now, her thyroid levels continue to fluctuate and confound us, and we’re awaiting our turn with the pediatric endocrinologist to figure out what to do about it.

Nearly simultaneously, her GI issues became more defined. I’m sure she’s always had GI discomfort, but has never had the words or ability to let us know. I suspect there are many children out there who have lived with chronic pain since they were infants or toddlers, and just don’t have the brain/pain connection to tell us. Instead, we can only guess how much of her behaviors are tied to this pain. But LuLu started telling us this fall how much her stomach hurt. And sure enough, she had h pylori.

Knowing that her problems are physical shifts my parenting of her as well. I’ve always suspected it; but knowing it makes sympathy easier to dole out. Even as she starts to whine and rage, it is easier to get past that if I realize physical discomfort is at the root. I mean, how mad can you stay at a sick kid?

Just this morning, we sat down to do reading and about 15 minutes in she became very oppositional and verbally abusive. She whirled herself into the living room, where she started to kick the coffee table. This was my cue to plop down next to her and ask, “How do you feel?”

It’s still a hard question for her to answer, because she is truly out of touch with how her body feels. But after a minute or two of whining, she said, “My stomach hurts right here.” Which made perfect sense, since she’d just eaten breakfast and her pain usually occurs just after meals. She then shared with me that yesterday she had had three bouts of diarrhea, but was too embarrassed to tell me. Her shame/trauma component is always at play in all this as well. She has this twisted belief that she doesn’t “deserve” comforting and still wants to be too independent about taking care of herself when she’s sick.

We’re in a strange place right now – after years of dealing on the psychological side of things, I am now juggling several different medical professionals, and trying to keep detailed notes on everything from diet and toilet issues, to sleeping, temperature and behaviors. How all these things interplay is both fascinating and overwhelming. For example, when LuLu announced she was dizzy last week, any number of things, from meds to GI distress to hormones could have been the culprit. Now, a week later, I realize the likely culprit was a sinus infection that reared its ugly head with a full-blown fever on Friday.

A sinus infection on top of everything else! I’m determined to look on the positive side. She ran a very healthy fever…a sign that her immune system was attempting to do battle with the infection.

Slowly, we’re unraveling what LuLu herself calls “her mystery diagnosis!”

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