Question:
Hi, My name is Claudia, and I have been diagnosed with PTSD. I’m 17, and the incident in question was 2 1/2 years ago, when my mother was show jumping her horse, and she and the horse fell over and into a water jump. The horse broke both of his front legs and was immediately euthanized on the spot, my mother broke her neck, and thankfully is still recovering, though she will always have problems as you can well understand. My problem is this: I have these horrible attacks, usually when i am asleep of all things. It is like when i start to dream, and then I start holding my breath, and then I wake up gasping for breath, and I feel like there is a steel band around my chest. I have hot and cold chills just like the flu, and I shake all over, and sweat, (sorry, this gets kinda gross too) and then I have the most horrendous phlem(sp) i.e. snot that drains profusely, to the point that I have to sit up to breath at all. Again, I’m sorry, I just wanted to know if anyone else had this problem, and if so, what do you do about it? After this all calms down, usually 6 to 8 hours later, yeah, it really kills a whole day, I missed school today because of it, I feel weak, and nauseous, and sore, like my muscles have really taken a beating. This feeling of general illness stays around sometimes for 3 or 4 days. My Doctor has prescribed Paxil for me, and I take it faithfully, at the same time everyday, but it doesnt seem like it is doing much. I also am trying meditation, that I learned in a book from the library. My mother is supportive, but I still feel like I am the parent and she is the child some days, because she still needs care everyday. I’m an only child, and our relatives live all the way in California, Im in Kentucky. I have great grades and a lot of good close friends who want to help, but I have no idea what to ask them to help me with. When I have one of those attacks, I cant even talk, and then I get so scared that what if I am dying this time, and I cant even call 911? I’m sorry this is so long, but most of you all seem like such a nice bunch. If you need more info to understand what I am talking about, I would be happy to provide it. Thanks in advance, and I hope that one day I can get it all together again like most of you Regs seem to have done. Love, Claudia
Response:
In article <87nnup$kr…@newsread.stdio.com>, "Daemina Piccolo" <daeminapicc…@iwebworks.com> wrote: >My problem is this: I have these horrible attacks, usually when i am asleep >of all things.
Have you been checked out by a doctor? They can refer you to a sleep clinic for further testing to determine what’s causing the attacks you describe. >My mother is supportive, but I still feel like I am the parent and she is >the child some days, because she still needs care everyday.
What about having someone come in for a few hours everyday to help out? Your mother’s insurance should cover the costs if her doctor will verify the need for it. It might take some of the pressure off you and give you a chance to be a kid for a while longer. Seems like you have enough stress without being the primary caregiver too. Risa Joan of Arc heard voices too. * Sent from RemarQ http://www.remarq.com The Internet’s Discussion Network * The fastest and easiest way to search and participate in Usenet – Free!
Response:
Risa wrote in message <03ec244a.f00f2971@usw-ex0105- >Have you been checked out by a doctor? They can refer you to a >sleep clinic for further testing to determine what’s causing the >attacks you describe.
Hi Risa, Thank you for your kind reply. I have told my regular doctor, ::grins:: still a pediatrician I’m sorry to say, and my psychiatrist about my problems. My regular doctor sent me for a test to make sure that I didnt have asthma, and they said that I didnt. My psychiatrist upped my Paxil slightly, and it made me kinda loopy for a few days, and I didnt have any more attacks for three months, and now they have started again. I didnt tell you that the accident happended in January. Do you all think that I could be having some kind of anniversary thing, even though the dates are just a bit off? >What about having someone come in for a few hours everyday to >help out? Your mother’s insurance should cover the costs if her >doctor will verify the need for it. It might take some of the >pressure off you and give you a chance to be a kid for a while >longer. Seems like you have enough stress without being the >primary caregiver too.
That is a good suggestion, but we already do. I feel so guilty about this, but sometimes just looking at my poor mother makes me remember horrible images. When I have one of these incidents I just hang upstairs, she lives downstairs all the time now, and I know that I should just force myself to go in and check on her and say something cheery. I mean, she is the one who is really sick right now. I feel like I ought to be more caring, she would do that for me. I cant figure out if this guilty feeling happens before or after the attacks though. My psychiatrist asked me to try and figure that out, but it just seems to be a constant underlying guilt, not that the accident was my fault, but that I cant laugh and carry on with her like we used to. Does that make sense? I’m sorry, this is getting awfully long again. Thanks again for your suggestions. Love, Claudia Today’s Poke Peep Battle—– Mr. Piccolo and Meowth v. Ash and Vileplume Vegas Odds–Ash and Vileplume with a Faint after Four (gotta love that sleep spore attack)
Response:
La Chech wrote in message <87o0h0$ld…@nnrp1.deja.com>…
Hi La Chech, Thank you too for your kind reply. I will definately look up those sites that you gave me the links to. Surprisingly, this diagnosis has become some of my favorite reading material. ::grins:: Isn’t that strange to think that I would enjoy reading about trauma? But I really want to learn how other people cope, and I love the personal stories the best. Are you in regular therapy with your doc? Yes, I see my psychiatrist once a week, for one half hour, and i really like him. He lets me talk about anything that is on my mind, not just the breathing attacks and my troubles at home. Half the time we talk about what I am doing at school. I ask him the questions that I used to ask Mother. I dont know if you read what I posted to Risa, but that makes me feel kinda guilty too. But, mother may or may not be in a good mood. With the medicine that she is taking, it has made her terrible depressed on top of not being able to move right. Sometimes she just isnt in the mood. I dont mean earth shattering things, last week it was about clothes, my psychiatrist told me he felt like my fashion consultant. >Your friends can be supportive by just being your friend and doing what >you would normally do with them – go to movies, dances etc.
Oh, my friends are great. My teachers too. I go to a Catholic school with all girls, and its really small, so they all know about my problem. Like today, I had a whole bunch of people ask if I wanted their notes from class. The only time I dont do my normal things is when I feel real bad during and afterward. I swear it feels just like the flu, and the funny thing is, that before the accident, I dont think I had ever had the flu. I was always really really healthy. Meditation >certainly doesn’t hurt – I admire your initiative there. Physical >activity is also very important – even if it’s only a 20 minute walk a >day.
Now that is something that I dont get enough of. I will try to do just that, and keep your fingers crossed for me. K? >Paxil has a tendancy to wear off on some people and they end up >switching to other meds. You should discuss that possibility with your >doc. There are also meds to help with such severe anxiety attacks – >meds that you can take when you feel one coming on. You can read up on >the different medications at http://www.mentalhealth.com/ It has alot >of clinical information about meds, disorders etc.
That is exactly what my psychiatrist said this afternoon. I am going for my regular appointment on Thursday, and he said we were going to re-evaluate my medicine. He said it may be time to go to something else. I can feel one coming on for annywhere from one half hour to three hours when I am awake, but I havent had one of those for about a year. The ones that happen when I am asleep, I’m just happily dreaming and then BAM! I have requested an InterLibrary Loan about a book that claims to teach you how to control what you dream, but I have to admit I am skeptical. I sleep so deeply that a train could come through my room before I would wake up normally. I dont know how to control what I dream! >Hope this is of help. You’re not alone! >Take Care >Lesleyanne
Thank you! Love, Claudia Today’s Poke Peep Battle—– Mr. Piccolo and Meowth v. Ash and Vileplume Vegas Odds–Ash and Vileplume with a Faint after Four (gotta love that sleep spore attack)
Response:
Claudia, From my experience, what you described is a severe anxiety attack and is certainly a normal symptom. Therapy and meds are the best it seems and education for yourself is also important. There are some good sites: http://www.trauma-pages.com/index.phtml http://www.ptsd.com/ Recovering from the trauma can be lengthy, but quick intervention and a good support system are key. Are you in regular therapy with your doc? Your friends can be supportive by just being your friend and doing what you would normally do with them – go to movies, dances etc. Meditation certainly doesn’t hurt – I admire your initiative there. Physical activity is also very important – even if it’s only a 20 minute walk a day. Paxil has a tendancy to wear off on some people and they end up switching to other meds. You should discuss that possibility with your doc. There are also meds to help with such severe anxiety attacks – meds that you can take when you feel one coming on. You can read up on the different medications at http://www.mentalhealth.com/ It has alot of clinical information about meds, disorders etc. Hope this is of help. You’re not alone! Take Care Lesleyanne The one and only chech @ http://home.thezone.net/~chech Sent via Deja.com http://www.deja.com/ Before you buy.
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