Nids

Hi Erin,
Here is some information that Dr G posted in Feb of this year. It gives
reference to his success statistics.
Suzanne
From: "Dr. Michael J. Goldberg, MD, FAAP" <office@n...
2001 3:33 pmSubject: RE: [NIDS] Digest Number 673
General Posting NIDS list (please feel free to repost . . . )As we come very
close to launching the NIDS effort fully for your children(thanks to the
hard work and dedication of some very dedicated parents andresearchers out
there), the "question" always comes up, what are my"statistics," what is my
"success" rate in the practice. Unfortunately, asI have always explained,
as a clinician, doing things the way I have, it isvery difficult to present
"statistics" based on many, many variablesinvolved. Anything within the
practice is regarded scientifically asantidotal. However, in preparing for
some recent presentations I cameacross a sheet from a visit back east 3
years ago, which actually creates avery valid document / statement for all
of you.At that visit I saw 48 patients. 24 are still with me (as has been
remarkedit would be interesting to look at the 24 who are no longer with
me). Ofthe 24 still seeing me, 7 are "not good enough" Most of these are
childrenwho are doing better than ever predicted or imagined by the parents,
but fora combination of reasons (older age, poor education and rehab
assistance,lack of immune modulators), they are not what I can call
"normalized." Ofthe remaining 17, 10 are FULLY normalized (functioning in
regular classes,academically often at the top of their class, healthy,
bright, "regular"children - usually still on some type of "maintenance"
therapy); the other 7are almost there (will be shortly).Needless to say
these are unheard of statistics or results in the world of"Autism."
Preparing for the NIDS effort to launch, the first 2 - 3 weeks inJanuary,
within the office I have another list of 40 - 50 "normalizing"(already there
or will be) patients seen or spoken too in follow up in thatshort time
period. NONE of these patients have been treated withmegavitamins, multi
supplements, IVGG, steroids, Secretin, Chelation, codliver oil, or ANY of
the many recommendations you all continue to receive.As I have spoken and
written, this has become pediatrics for me, these arechildren, this is a
MEDICAL problem. In the end, ONLY science and medicallogic are what are
going to prevail / work. As I say repeatedly to theparents, IF there
children were born "defective," IF they were ever what theworld still tries
to think is "Autism" this could never occur; as aphysician I could not
"fix" a "presumed" defective brain. As is the focusof current thinking,
you might be able to improve function, but you couldnever expect a truly
normal child, and that is what you are all still toldtoday.Years ago I was
warned "don't say the wrong things to parents, don't givefalse hope.
Thankfully, it is now the other way around. NOT to be told tobelieve in
your children, NOT to be told they have the potential to beregular children
IS thankfully WRONG. Over the years the "myth" of Autism(some undefined,
unknown, congenital, developmental defect) continues todoom your children
and you as parents to accept a "fate," with NO science tosupport what that
really is and WHY they are supposedly doomed to the fatecalled "Autism."
Thankfully, as the years progress, EVERY piece of solidscience support the
idea of an autoimmune, often chronic viral process inyour children, and THAT
does make sense medically, it can be definedobjectively, and it has become
reality. It is time the system focused onthe real crisis facing all of
you, this country, and the world. NOTsomething your children thankfully do
not have.In a short time the NIDS effort will be officially launching a
chance tobring NEW agents, open the door expediently to potentially very
safe,potentially very effective therapies for your children. While I have
becomeuse to ongoing success with what I am doing (it remains difficult).
It isup too all of you however whether this is going to have a chance to
receivethe focus, NATIONAL attention it should, whether we are going to have
a realchance to change that "Autistic" system, the image of how your
children areperceived, how they are treated and educated, in essence create
literally a180 degree shift in medical thinking, educational thinking,
therapyapproaches, or will that system manage to maintain control for
anotherdecade or so. AS noted, thankfully, ongoing research and scientific
factssupport everything I have been saying for many years. When I now
presentscience, clinical logic, and appropriate MEDICAL information to
physicians,therapists, and parents, IT makes sense, it is logical, and it
isscientifically valid.Sadly, as reflected by the recent "discussions" re my
failure to be invitedto the upcoming rally in DC, you are all living in a
VERY "controlled" worldthat wants you (I might add obviously the media and
congress,representatives) to hear what it wants you to, not open to "other"
opinions,ideas (even based on hard science), etc. That world continues to
pursuefunding for "Autism," says it wants to encourage "advocacy" for Autism
(thanvague, UNKNOWN dysfunction) which thankfully, happily as noted,
a"disorder" (as currently understood) your children DO NOT have, CAN
NOThave. As many of you have appropriately begun to ask, WHY is that
systemafraid for you to hear "other" opinions, to have a chance to be
presentedwith medical facts that do NOT support their false conceptions or
ideas.Most important, why continue to pursue ADVOCACY for a disorder your
childrendo not have, a disorder that dooms the world to believing your
children cannot really be fixed. What might happen IF the media, congress
reallyunderstand we could help truly change your children, their futures,
and oursocieties future now? Isn't it time the truth became known? Isn't
it timeyou all demanded science, logic, NOT ideas built around a "mystic" of
someunknown disorder, undefined dysfunction, your children seem to have.
Or atleast, expect that ALL information should be open to you, the media,
andcongress. Fortunately, science, the understanding of "neuro-immune"
hasprogressed such that you're children are going to have a chance in spite
ofthe system, NOT because of it. As a pediatrician, this remains a Very
SADstatement, a terrible tragedy UNLESS we all change this NOW.
Thankfullyit's looking like we will finally be able to do that!! None of
you shouldallow this chance to be missed (it won't come again for many years
IF thesystem continue in its "usual" manner).So, this is IT. Either this
effort succeeds, or it will be many more yearsbefore the system will do what
we can make happen now. We must not letthese old ideas, old "mystics," old
concepts, old prejudices old "politics"stop you're children from having a
chance to truly become children, to havea chance for a truly productive
life. The chance too change this is aboutto be right in front of you. It's
up to all of you to help break down thefalse walls, false information, false
knowledge surrounding your children.(I might add, that as noted on one of
the recent Tuesday night Chats, thechance to make this happen, the evolution
of the necessary science andtechnology, the chance to really change things
now, is NOT based on pennyspent on "Autism" research in the last 6 - 7 years
- think about that!!)With hope for a very exiting 2001Michael Goldberg,
MD(Note: With apologies for my lack of time (primary day-to-day focus
isalways patient care), please approach any posting on this list with the
sametype of skepticism and review. Certainly, this list will continue
toprovide you with an open forum and place to look at any "logical" idea
asNIDS evolves. BUT as reflected frequently, physicians, therapist,
informedparents will take a logical piece of the NIDS approach and evolving
science,and still make what may be very unlike "scientific" presumptions,
etc. Oneof the first lessons in medical school, is how to decipher, look
at"studies" ?? validity, etc. As noted by many recent patient visits,
whenpatients are in contact with relatives with "scientific"
backgrounds,previous research experience, the "credibility" of the multiple
pieces ofpseudo-science and logic you are all presented with rapidly falls
apart!