Re: Re: I'm so glad to find you all!

[Guest guest]

,

My son with OCD is a " Cody " , too. I thought that was interesting. Also, what

you said about personality traits is so on-target, too, because my son is very

tender-hearted, compassionate towards people, and has a very strong conscience.

I have to tell you that when we had him on the high dose of Luvox, he acted a

little differently-more hyper, but I wouldn't say he had any true personality

change. Psychotropics have behavioral side effects sometimes, but the payoff is

so worth it. It is a tedious thing sometimes-to get the med right and the dose

right to do the job without dealing with the side effects. Most of the side

effects do go away, but the goal is to take the least amount of medication that

does the job. Good luck with your " Cody " .

in Southern IL

Re: I'm so glad to find you all!

You're right, we haven't yet neared a point of desperation -

But, I think I need to explain his friend situation a little

further. He has a widely cast net of friends and we've lived in the

same town so at least half of them are 'from the beginning'. They

are a kind group of boys (and girls) and they talk to each other and

are supportive of each other. 'A' had ocd as a younger boy, 'B' and

his father suffer from depression, 'C' has adhd and is

medicated, 'D's dad is an alcoholic, 'E' has anger management

problems, 'F's Mom has crippling migraines, 'G's dad is dying from MS

and 'H' hasn't officially come out of the closet yet... he says most

of his friends have 'problems' and they talk to each other about

them - so, I'm sure he'll be sharing his treatment both

pharmaceutical and behavioral with his friends so he'll have them

behind him.

My tone of voice was missing when I said he won't take prozac or

zoloft - if I handed him a pill of either right now his reaction

would be the same if I offered him a congealed bacon grease hair

pomade and told him he couldn't go wash his hands . . . we're lucky

there are other treatment options because he would need treatment

before he'd accept receive that particular treatment!

I read somewhere recently that it is common for those with ocd to

have certain personality traits - tenderhearted, strong conscience,

thoughtful - I guess my concern was that these things about my son

that I adore will be medicated away - after your reassurance and

after some thought I guess common traits don't necessarily mean

common afflictions and they will remain as the ruminations fade away.

His doubting, ruminating fears and subtle rituals to ward off danger

started so very long ago when he was so very young that I don't think

I know who or what the " real " Cody IS! What exactly will I get

back? What will he return TO? You all make it sound like a

wonderful experience! I imagine I will adore that Cody as much as I

adore this one.

>

> My son, 13, will be seeing a psychiatrist in a week to have his

first

> analysis - I don't think we have anyone in the family with ocd so I

> didn't recognize what I was seeing - but, I've read widely and knew

> this or that about the " hand washing/counting people " . The clues

> clicked together one day - followed by me asking him . . . " how

many

> times a day do you wash your hands??? " Then when I read a book on

it

> he and I came up with a pretty long list of things we think are

> involved. I've had to hear things in the past few weeks that pain

> me - he's able to see them for what they are and is telling me

things

> he never told me all these years. .. . . oy.

>

> I have so very many things to say but I'll get right to my two

> questions - both are about possible medications.

>

> First, he has said he really really doesn't want to take either

> zoloft or prozac - the teen grapevine has spread bad rumours about

> them - that's fine with me to a point (there are other treatments)

> since I'm not interested in trying to get him to do anything he

> doesn't want to do just now. Does anyone suppose it will be a

> problem saying NO to these two to the doctor? Any chance she's

going

> to strongly prefer either one?

>

> Second, though I'd love to see what his life is like without the

> symptoms . . . should I be prepared for the disappearance of

aspects

> of his personality that I just adore? Has anyone seen this

happen?

> I'm pretty concerned about this . . . should I be?

>

> Thanks so much

>

>

>

>

>

>

>

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