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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

To be fed up with woo woo medicine

25 replies

Booboostwo · 01/02/2019 20:26

7yo DD has been stuttering for the past 18 months. She has seen a speech therapist every so often during this period who has told me that there is nothing to be done and we should wait it out. I have been trying to get a second opinion but we live in rural France and there is a long waiting list. It looks like we finally have an appointment with another speech therapist who specializes in stuttering.

The original speech therapist also sees DS regularly so I mentioned that DD would be seeing her colleague so as not to alienate her. The original speech therapist then said that we should probably see a kinesthiologue instead. A kinesthiologue, at least in our part of France, is a woo woo energy manipulator. I didn’t want to be rude to the speech therapist so I said that DD, who has a rare bone disease, cannot be manipulated by anyone without having been briefed by her orthoapedic surgeon. This is true as far as physio goes, so it was a plausible lie to extend to kinesthiologie.

But the speech therapist trumped me by saying that was not a problem at all since the kinesthiologue could manipulate me instead and the energy would jump to DD, deblock the psychological blockage and DD would stop stuttering.

AIBU to think it’s disgraceful that health professionals believe in such crap and give this kind of bollocks advice?!

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PinkSparklyPussyCat · 01/02/2019 20:30

I don't think it's a disgrace that they believe in it, each to their own, but I do think it's disgraceful to try to push it on to you.

DaisyDreaming · 01/02/2019 20:30

You did well to come up with a good response to her being manipulated, utterly insane (sorry believers) that a professional can suggest that to you. I hope you can find actual help for your daughter

Booboostwo · 01/02/2019 20:33

I do think it’s disgraceful that someone that has training in science and medicine believes such rubbish. Their ability to reason must be really poor.

My friend who is a vet called out an animal communicator to her horse. She didn’t do a fucking lameness work up, or x rays or scans or a scintigraphy for the poor animal who was obviously in pain but called an animal communicator.

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Booboostwo · 01/02/2019 20:34

Thanks DaisyDreaming, I have high hopes for the second speech therapist!

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ChickenCrimpy · 01/02/2019 20:35

We used the Lidcombe Program techniques for DS' stutter. He was a bit younger than your DD tho. It was OK, seemed to work a little. At least there's an evidence base for it, unlike kinaesthesiology shit. YANBU.

Rarotonga · 01/02/2019 20:36

Shock I'm in shock that an SLT has said that nothing can be done for stammering and staggered by the recommendation to the kinesthiologue. I am an SLT.

Glad you will be able to see a specialist SLT soon.

Tinyteatime · 01/02/2019 20:42

Totally agree op. Have several friends who have been advised by midwives to have crainiosacral therapy on their newborns at great cost (that one definitely couldn’t afford) to cure all manner of things, mainly feeding problems and reflux. It’s absolute horseshit and makes me want to spit that these charlatans are conning new parents out of money when they could do really with the extra cash.

Bigsighall · 01/02/2019 20:47

Yanbu

Booboostwo · 01/02/2019 20:50

ChickenCrimpy I read about that online but there wasn’t enough information for me to do it by myself. DS 4yo has also started stuttering and will also see the new person so that might be a way to go for him.

Rarotonga hopefully we’ll get some help. She doesn’t stutter when she sings so I have been encouraging her to sing her sentences but it’s the blind leading the blind!

^Tinyteatime* France is very woo woo. My MW suggested homeopathy for HG and she was lucky I didn’t throttle her. When I politely declined she insisted until I said that I did not think that works and she replied that how would I know if I hadn’t tried it?!

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Rarotonga · 01/02/2019 22:14

These websites have some useful information and tips (apologies if you have seen them already) whilst you're waiting for support.

www.stammering.org/help-information/parents

actionforstammeringchildren.org/support/for-parents/

Michael Palin Centre - tips www.whittington.nhs.uk/default.asp?c=28946

I'm on my phone so links may not be clicky. If you do struggle to get the support your children need, some Independent UK based SLTs may well offer Skype sessions. Hopefully it won't come to that but wanted to mention it as a possibility if necessary.

Booboostwo · 01/02/2019 22:29

Thank you for those links! I hadn’t come across them, perhaps because I was searching for stuttering not stammering (is that a US/UK thing? I am not a native English speaker).

The Skype idea is brilliant! I’ll see how it goes with this second woman and if she comes up with more woo woo I will see if I can find anyone willing to help via Skype.

Thank you so much!

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Rarotonga · 02/02/2019 08:32

No problem, happy to help. Those terms are both used in the UK (not sure about elsewhere as it isn't my area of specialism), but those websites I linked to are the best sources of information and support over here. Wishing you all the best.

longwayoff · 02/02/2019 09:09

Oh I get so cross with crystal reiki psychic aura reading massage aromatherapy reflexology bannen etc. bullshit. Of course they know more from the 12 week full training course than a fully trained, 7 years, medical professional does. Many of my friends have poured money into the pockets of such charlatans. Good luck OP, there's help out there.

endofthelinefinally · 02/02/2019 09:20

Aromatherapy massage is an effective complementary therapy. There have been credible studies published in medical journals.
Ditto herbal medicine.
Neither should be lumped in with auras and crystals etc.
Homeopathy is a complete load of rubbish and clinical trials have proved that.
I am infuriated that my health insurance policy will pay for homeopathy as it is a complete waste of money.
Alternative medicine is not the same as complementary medicine. Terminology is important.

UbbesPonytail · 02/02/2019 09:21

YANBU. I have two chronic illnesses and a close friend who sends me all kind of articles about ways to ‘cure auto immune diseases’ - not specific to my diseases but absolutely certain that if I just ‘let go’ and tried them I could physically change my biology. They are incurable.

I’m not against homeopathy, especially for pain relief etc and swear by rescue remedy but the actual woo stuff, I can’t even listen to. I don’t actually ever open her links, the websites never seem ok.

I hope you find the right medical specialist for you!

endofthelinefinally · 02/02/2019 09:23

I agree that the first speech therapist is bonkers.
My point about terminology is a general one.

Meangirls36 · 02/02/2019 09:25

I'm not sure I would have been able to keep a straight face.

Sproutsandall · 02/02/2019 09:31

Oh, I sympathize Op. I’m in rural France too and the amount of shite people believe is absolutely astounding. I’ve had a GP prescribe homeopathic remedies for my sick DD.
My eyes could not roll back far enough.

Earslaps · 02/02/2019 09:34

There's so much bullshit out there and the number of seemingly sensible people who buy into it is crazy.

I think it all goes to show the power of the placebo effect, and just being listened to.

Go to a GP and they nod along for a few minutes and rush you out of the door (not their fault in the slightest, appointments are so short).

Go to a homeopathic practitioner, kinesiologist, reiki practitioner etc and they will actually spend time listening to your problems. That in itself must have some sort of healing potential.

Wouldn't work for me though as I don't believe in it at all.

BriocheBriocheBrioche · 02/02/2019 09:39

Im not a a huge believe in homeopathy but here in France it seems to be that or antibiotics every time i take my kids to the dr. I’d rather give the homeopathic remedies a go before resorting to yet more antibiotics.

My daughter also struggled with a stammer and our speech therapist was brilliant.
Happy to pm you her suggestions that helped.

Sproutsandall · 02/02/2019 09:43

Brioche, homeopathic remedies can’t possibly work, or only as a placebo effect at best.

kalinkafoxtrot45 · 02/02/2019 09:46

YANBU. Here in Germany, so-called „Heilpraktiker“ seem to be everywhere and every second doctor seems to be into homeopathy. Thankfully none of mine have ever suggested it. I love my sensible doctor. She’s hugely keen on vaccination too.

kateluvscats · 02/02/2019 09:59

Go on you tube and search "speecheasy' or 'speakeasy' device,the results are amazing

kateluvscats · 02/02/2019 10:00
Booboostwo · 04/02/2019 10:02

Thank you everyone for the very helpful suggestions. I've called an SLT provider who offers Skype appointments and I am waiting to hear back.

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