Turkey with a side of ANXIETY

[Guest guest]

I know this is probably a hard post for all the new parents to read and I

apologize for that. Casting is still the best option and I can not imagine what

i would be dealing right now had we opted for the surgery route.

My son Cole is 2,5, he will be 3 January 3rd. We started casting at 15 (I

think) months. Did 5 casts over 10 months and are now 7-8 months into a brace.

HE has 1 very bad cast sore in his last cast, but other wise things could not

have gone any smoother throughout the process.

Cole is developing some serious anxiety and at times I would say it is very

close to PTSD like symptoms. Here is an example. We leave for my aunts house

for Thanksgiving and he IS SO SO excited. The last time we had been there had

been for an MRI from our Neurologist. We ran up to the door SO excited, but the

second we stepped inside he knew exactly where we were and he instantaneously

went CRAZY with FEAR. He was terrified, kicking, screaming, fighting, sobbing

to be let out of the house. It was beyond anything normal for the age. It took

several trips outside and over 30 minutes to get him to enter the house and be

OK. Of course I don't know exactly why he did it but I can imagine it was

because of the dr association.

Other freak out inducing things are any hotel (even the one for vacation we have

never been to), laying down on a doctors exam table (honestly being forced to

lay down at all) the worse is the x-ray machine. When it comes down to x-rays

we have to pin him down wit at LEAST 2 people and have had to put his legs in a

sac and strap him down along with people holding him because he is TERRIFIED.

THis is starting to impact him medical care because we can not get accurate

standing x-rays from him.

It is not just these things either. He is nervous about other things he used to

like for example slides. Although not a timid child he is pretty scared of

water, and things like sledding. He won't do them even with my husband and I.

He won't even sit on a sled not moving. He just wants to stay home. I think

because it is the ONLY place he knows is SAFE.

I know some is most likely heightened by the age. We have reached the phase

where we check the closet at night and he doesn't like me leaving him with a

sitter which are all so NORMAL.

It is tough to see him so scared. I have been thinking about taking him to a

play therapist and am going to talk to his doctor in a month when we go for his

well-kid check up. I am a VERY high anxiety person and don't want him to feel

that way.

Something that drives me SO SO nuts is when people say well he won't remember

any of this. And I'm sorry (I don't want to freak out parents but...) I am most

of my way through a masters in clinical social work and I don't buy that for a

second. I think that because he is so little he was coded these things in a

non-verbal way that he doesn't understand and can not verbally retrieve for to

process through with me. I think what is left is a more " primal " terror of some

of these things with no way to let it out and work through. I don't think even

at a very simple level that he understands or remembers WHY that house was

scary. If he doesn't remember like an older child or adult then how can I go

back and work through with him why this time is different and help him

understand that it is ok. HE is too young to CONSCIOUSLY remember his fear and

why is was scared but I am afraid that these associations will keep popping up

like they did on Thanksgiving.

Anyways. Thanksgiving was an intense reminder that THIS does effect our kids

emotionally at some level even when, like Cole, they often put on a very brave

face through the process.

Jenn

Mommy to Max, 4 months and Cole, 3 in January, 1st brace from Rochester. 0

degrees laying down after 10 months in 5 casts.