To Patty

[Guest guest]

Patty,

Actually, 's OCD is getting better, but it gets better VERY slowly. He

has been on meds since January of this year. He started at 50 mg. of Luvox

and was gradually increased to 400 mg. He is also on 5mg of Zyprexa (an

antipsychotic that the doc is using to boost the effect of the Luvox). He

has only been on the higher dose for about 2 months so we are still trying

to " level out " the dosage. I'm hoping we won't have to go any higher.

My prayers are with you also. OCD is a very confusing and distressing

disorder. The thought processes our children go through seem to make

absolutely no sense at times. It is very confusing, especially at first as

you are trying to educate yourself on the subject and help your daughter at

the same time. It is especially scary when there are threats of violence

against you or themselves.

I experienced quite a bit of depression myself as and I are going

through this. None of us thought that our children would have to go thru

anything like this or that we would have to deal with it.

I work in an orthodontist office where we treat primarly kids, and it is

painful to look at these " normal " kids, and then see my son struggling so

much. Take heart though - the medicine does help, it just takes a while for

it to " kick in " and it sort of accumulates in the brain (hope I said that

right) - in other words, they have to be on it for a while before you see

the results. It took about 3 months before we saw any positive effects.

Now things are SO much better than they were in the beginning.

OCD manifests itself differently in different people. For my son it's fear

of dirt, germs and a fear of doing something " wrong " - making mistakes

(kinda like perfectionism). Your daughter's OCD manifested differently from

's but it still sounds like OCD to me.

Some books that have really helped me are Obsessive-Compulsive Disorders by

Fred Penzel and The OCD Workbook (can't remember author).

There will be good days and bad days for you. I know that I have cried

buckets of tears through all we've gone through, but be patient and don't

give up. I have been where you are now and survived (even tho sometimes I

wasn't sure that I would). and I still have a long way to go, but I

know we will make it and I believe that you will too. You are the best help

and hope that your daughter has because you love her and care about her.

Will be thinking of you and praying for you. Take care and hang in there

Sharon

>

>Reply-

>< >

>Subject: Re: to Patty: explaining disabling OCD

>Date: Sat, 15 Dec 2001 09:45:17 -0800

>

> Dear Sharon, my prayers are there for you and especially your son, my

>heart goes out to you and him. Has he been on meds for a long time and is

>getting worse? Im still trying to understand ocd and i am haveing a hard

>time, with it. my daughters obsessions are the sexual thoughts and thoughts

>of harming others, which since she has been on meds the harming others has

>really calmed down ,, BUT the sexual obsessions is still a major problem ,

>also she is showing alot of anger now like hitting walls, shes been

>suspended from school twice now and shes only in 6th grade she is really

>showing her anger more now then ever and i am real nervous since she does

>have thoughts or was haveing thoughts of killing me etc, i dont know, i get

>to the point sometimes where i cant even think anymore.

> I try to be happy and i cant, i am really confused now and you cant ever

>get enough info from the doctors. You take care and write soon ok, hang

>in there sharon , I pray that god gives you the strength you need to help

>your son, Patty in calif

>

> Re: New to Group and already worried about

> > >college

> > >Date: Mon, 10 Dec 2001 13:54:19 EST

> > >

> > >Hi,

> > >

> > >I'm new to the group. My 16 year old daughter was diagnosed with OCD

>one

> > >year

> > >ago, but had signs of it before that we didn't recognize.

> > >

> > >She also was diagnosed with bipolar disorder at age 10, but that's

>almost

> > >completely under control with lithium. Since bipolar disorder in kids

>was

> > >barely recognized, I was one of the founders of the Child & Adolescent

> > >Bipolar Foundation. Its website is bpkids.org. We've come a long way

> >since

> > >the non profit corporation got off the ground, with now over one

>million

> > >hits

> > >to the website every month. (Apparently there's a huge overlap between

> > >those

> > >having OCD and bipolar or other mood disorders.)

> > >

> > >So, after learning all about bipolar and being an activist in that

>cause,

> > >our

> > >family has to deal with a new issue - - OCD -- and start all over.

> > >

> > >Her OCD went from mild to bad to extremely bad in a year's time. In

> > >November,

> > >it became disabling. The medication (luvox) and the OCD

>exposure/response

> > >therapy once or twice a week was not enough and not working.

> > >

> > > I found out about the Menninger Clinic program in Topeka, Kansas, the

> > >only

> > >program in the United States for OCD particularly geared to teenagers

> >(with

> > >an accredited school on the beautiful 250 acre campus which the kids

> >attend

> > >two hours per day) and using exposure-response and cognitive therapy.

> > >Despite

> > >separation anxiety, our daughter wanted to go immediately, which must

> >have

> > >been an indication of how much pain the OCD was causing. She's been

>there

> > >about 6 weeks, and I think the average stay in about 3 months. I can't

> >say

> > >enough about how wonderful the program at Menniger's is.

> > >

> > >I have a special concern and maybe some of you have thoughts. Our

> >daughter

> > >is

> > >smart, and before the OCD hit was on honor roll, etc. In the past year,

> > >we've

> > >needed all sorts of accommodations, including taking three subjects

> > >privately

> > >on a one-to-one basis. Her classmates are now taking SAT's and thinking

> > >about

> > >colleges to apply to this coming Fall.

> > >

> > >Do any of you have ideas about what colleges may be open to a kid like

> > >this?

> > >I know she's worried about whether she'll have a future, and though I

> > >reassure her, I worry as well.

> > >

> > >-, in California

> > >

> >

> >

> >_________________________________________________________________

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>http://explorer.msn.com/intl.asp

> >

> >

> >

> >You may subscribe to the Parents of Adults with OCD List at

> >parentsofadultswithOCD-subscribe . You may subscribe to

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>the

> >OCD Kids Support Group at OCDKidsSupportGroup-subscribe .

> >You may change your subscription format or access the files, bookmarks,

>and

> >archives for our list at .

> >Our list advisors are Tamar Chansky, Ph.D., Aureen Pinto Wagner, Ph.D.,

>and

> >Dan Geller, M.D. Our list moderators are Birkhan, Kathy Hammes,

> > Joye, Kathy Mac, Jule Monnens, Gail Pesses, Kathy ,

> >Vivian Stembridge, and Jackie Stout. Subscription issues or suggestions

> >may be addressed to Louis Harkins, list owner, at louisharkins@...

>or

> >louisharkins@... .

> >

> >

> >

> >

[Guest guest]

To everyone, my name is patty in calif. and my daughter is shauna with ocd and

most iof you know me. i ve been off work since june on workmans comp , just

haveing my second surgery, I get home from staying at my parents house on

christmas eve cause they helped with shauna since i have a 6inch cut on my

shoulder and cant move my rt arm hardly, anyway i come home to a letter from my

job terminateing my employment for being out on leave for longer then 6 months,

I am saddened with this, i dont think they can do this, does anyone know? What

do i do now it took me 3 yrs to find a dr for shauna and a therapist and now i

cand go due to no ins, I am sooooo sad and lost right now i cant even think

straight, Please i need advice from anyone. I am a single parent and truly need

advice.I am in california, i dont see how any job can let you go for a work

injury,

Patty in calif.

To Patty

Patty,

One more thing - have you been to the OC Foundation's website yet. It has a

lot of valuable information that was very helpful to me. I also joined the

OC Foundation - that's how I found this group (thru the newsletter). If you

haven't been to site, I highly recommend it.

Sharon

_________________________________________________________________

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You may subscribe to the OCD Kids Support Group at

OCDKidsSupportGroup-subscribe . You may change your

subscription format or access the files, bookmarks, and archives for our list at

. Our list advisors are Tamar

Chansky, Ph.D., Aureen Pinto Wagner, Ph.D., and Dan Geller, M.D. Our list

moderators are Birkhan, Kathy Hammes, Joye, Kathy Mac, Jule

Monnens, Gail Pesses, Kathy , Vivian Stembridge, and Jackie Stout.

Subscription issues or suggestions may be addressed to Louis Harkins, list

owner, at louisharkins@... or louisharkins@... .

[Guest guest]

Hi Patty:

Hugs to you. I hope your shoulder is recovering from your surgery.

It must be very hard to deal with ill health (although recovering)

and economic hardship (job layoff) at the same time.

Do you have a social worker or a case worker? THey should be able

to help you find out what your best options are in this complicated

situation. I am an at will employee and that means I could be

fired at any time without any reason given. That is legal - even

though I am covered by ADA due to my history of physical

disability.

Remember you are much, much more than your body or your job. You

have your own powerful spirit which can help you through tough

times. We, who parent kids with OCD, have unbelievable strength

and determination and this helps us through a lot of these very

difficult times in life. I hope that 2002 brings you new

opportunities and much happiness. Take care, aloha, kathy (h)

kathyh@...

> To everyone, my name is patty in calif. and my daughter is shauna

with ocd and most iof you know me. i ve been off work since june on

workmans comp , just haveing my second surgery, I get home from

staying at my parents house on christmas eve cause they helped with

shauna since i have a 6inch cut on my shoulder and cant move my rt arm

hardly, anyway i come home to a letter from my job terminateing my

employment for being out on leave for longer then 6 months, I am

saddened with this, i dont think they can do this, does anyone know?

What do i do now it took me 3 yrs to find a dr for shauna and a

therapist and now i cand go due to no ins, I am sooooo sad and lost

right now i cant even think straight, Please i need advice from

anyone. I am a single parent and truly need advice.I am in california,

i dont see how any job can let you go for a work injury,

> Patty in

calif.

[Guest guest]

Dear Patty,

I would be sure to get a second opinion from someone who is an

expert in OCD (someone from Stanford perhaps? UC San Francisco?) before you

accept this psychiatrist's opinion. I think you're right that children can

avoid sharing their OCD with others and only let it out at home.

I wish you the very best with this - hang in there and keep in

touch.

[Guest guest]

Dear Patty,

I would be sure to get a second opinion from someone who is an

expert in OCD (someone from Stanford perhaps? UC San Francisco?) before you

accept this psychiatrist's opinion. I think you're right that children can

avoid sharing their OCD with others and only let it out at home.

I wish you the very best with this - hang in there and keep in

touch.

[Guest guest]

Dear Patty,

I would be sure to get a second opinion from someone who is an

expert in OCD (someone from Stanford perhaps? UC San Francisco?) before you

accept this psychiatrist's opinion. I think you're right that children can

avoid sharing their OCD with others and only let it out at home.

I wish you the very best with this - hang in there and keep in

touch.

[Guest guest]

Dear Patty,

I would be sure to get a second opinion from someone who is

an

expert in OCD (someone from Stanford perhaps? UC San Francisco?)

before you

accept this psychiatrist's opinion. I think you're right that

children can

avoid sharing their OCD with others and only let it out at home.

I wish you the very best with this - hang in there and keep

in

touch.

[Guest guest]

Dear Patty,

I would be sure to get a second opinion from someone who is

an

expert in OCD (someone from Stanford perhaps? UC San Francisco?)

before you

accept this psychiatrist's opinion. I think you're right that

children can

avoid sharing their OCD with others and only let it out at home.

I wish you the very best with this - hang in there and keep

in

touch.

[Guest guest]

Dear Patty,

I would be sure to get a second opinion from someone who is

an

expert in OCD (someone from Stanford perhaps? UC San Francisco?)

before you

accept this psychiatrist's opinion. I think you're right that

children can

avoid sharing their OCD with others and only let it out at home.

I wish you the very best with this - hang in there and keep

in

touch.

[Guest guest]

Hey Patty,

I am thinking about you guys. What a horrible past two months. My heart sunk

when I read that the Docs think she won't correct with casting.. That seems to

be my biggest fear..My other huge concerns are the falls that Eli takes while in

the cast. I am really suprised we haven't had stitches or a broken arm with

this cast! Well, hopefully as soon as the stitches come out, you guys are able

to enjoy the waterproof cast.

My heart goes out to you, and I don't think I could have been as strong as you

have been.

Judy POland

eli 20 months, 2nd cast 20* down from 49*, SLC

>

> Sorry, I have yet been out of the loop again but since our casting last week,

I have been putting in some long hours at work. I haven't been too eager to

post either since we didn't hear what we wanted to at this last casting.

Unfortunately, our doc thinks Isabella isn't going to correct on her own and so

he said at some point, we will have to do surgery. I was very upset but stayed

strong for Isabella. Since we seem to be going nowhere, we opted for a

waterproof cast (only approved since we haven't had improvement) for the summer

and then we will most likely go back to the plaster in August. While there, the

doc x-rayed her arm and said it is healing nicely so he put her in a short arm

waterproof cast. It's just been a horrible past 2 months for her with this

news, breaking her arm, and to top it off, she fell Thursday night and split her

head open at her eyebrow and had to get stitches so yet again, no

water!!!!!!!!!

> Patty, mom of Isabella, 2 years old, in 6th scoli cast (Rochester) & now an

arm cast & mom to & Evan

>

[Guest guest]

Thanks Judy! It has been a horrible 2 months and just when I think I can't take anymore, boom, something else happens to say, yes you can. It was hard to hear the news since I had it in my head that I had already had a child taken from me, that God would never make another one of my children suffer but everyone keeps saying there's a reason for this and I've just got to stop trying to figure out why and just live one day at a time. Easier said than done, right? Eli is always in my thoughts... keep the hope up, you caught it much earlier than I did so maybe things will turn out better for you! P.S. You are strong! Patty, mom of Isabella, 2 years old, in 5th scoli cast (Rochester) & now an arm cast & mom to &

EvanFrom: judypoland5 <judypoland5@...>infantile scoliosis treatment Sent: Fri, June 25, 2010 5:33:48 PMSubject: To Patty

Hey Patty,

I am thinking about you guys. What a horrible past two months. My heart sunk when I read that the Docs think she won't correct with casting.. That seems to be my biggest fear..My other huge concerns are the falls that Eli takes while in the cast. I am really suprised we haven't had stitches or a broken arm with this cast! Well, hopefully as soon as the stitches come out, you guys are able to enjoy the waterproof cast.

My heart goes out to you, and I don't think I could have been as strong as you have been.

Judy POland

eli 20 months, 2nd cast 20* down from 49*, SLC

>

> Sorry, I have yet been out of the loop again but since our casting last week, I have been putting in some long hours at work. I haven't been too eager to post either since we didn't hear what we wanted to at this last casting. Unfortunately, our doc thinks Isabella isn't going to correct on her own and so he said at some point, we will have to do surgery. I was very upset but stayed strong for Isabella. Since we seem to be going nowhere, we opted for a waterproof cast (only approved since we haven't had improvement) for the summer and then we will most likely go back to the plaster in August. While there, the doc x-rayed her arm and said it is healing nicely so he put her in a short arm waterproof cast. It's just been a horrible past 2 months for her with this news, breaking her arm, and to top it off, she fell Thursday night and split her head open at her eyebrow and had to get stitches so yet again, no water!!!!!!!!!

> Patty, mom of Isabella, 2 years old, in 6th scoli cast (Rochester) & now an arm cast & mom to & Evan

>