Re: New to the group-Marietta

[Guest guest]

Marietta-

Have you found your little guys to be helpful? I have

my 4 yr old learning to vacuum and clean right now. He

loves helping me out. Everyone asks me if Im going to

have another to try for the 'girl' and no one seems to

understand physically I can never have another child.

The last one almost killed me :0)

How are things in Pheonix? Seattle had some rough

weather and left me in bed for 3 days- but now the sun

is out and we should have a few warm days.

Hope your doing better-

Trish

__________________________________________________

[Guest guest]

Actually with two kids, they tend to fight a lot, and it's 10x more

work to get them to do anything. My older son has Asperger's Syndrome,

a mild form of autism (it runs in my family), so that adds another

dimension to things. My first one almost killed me too, if I hadn't

gone into a brief remission, we wouldn't have my 2nd son. All my

friend's have 3, and frankly one was tough, and two was the ultimate

limit for me physically. I know what you're saying! People don't get

it.

How long have you lived in Seattle Trish? I lived there 8 yrs, from

the time I was 7mo. pregnant with my first son. It's a great place to

have kids, but it wasn't so great for my health. My husband is able to

keep his job & telecommute (he's a software engineer) when we moved to

Phoenix, so we are doing OK yet.

-Marietta

> Marietta-

> Have you found your little guys to be helpful? I have

> my 4 yr old learning to vacuum and clean right now. He

> loves helping me out. Everyone asks me if Im going to

> have another to try for the 'girl' and no one seems to

> understand physically I can never have another child.

> The last one almost killed me :0)

> How are things in Pheonix? Seattle had some rough

> weather and left me in bed for 3 days- but now the sun

> is out and we should have a few warm days.

> Hope your doing better-

> Trish

[Guest guest]

Marietta,

I have been in Seattle 7 years. We lived in Fed. Way-

and when the interest went really low- we were at a

good time to sell high and then buy a nice home with

low interest. We now live in the Lake Tapps/Sumner

area. When I first moved here everything was pkay- and

I really got into skiing- but, then that one yr when

everything happened - it took its toll.

I have told my hubby a million times I would love to

move to Pheonix~ Alaska Flies down there- and it would

be an easy commute for him. He says the property is

very expensive though as is Tuscon.

I'm from Louisiana- So, my whole life has been spent

in sweltering heat/humidity/bugs(smile).

With your sons autism- how early on did you suspect

it?

__________________________________________________

[Guest guest]

I too felt great the first few yrs we lived in Seattle... we lived

out in Woodinville, only place we could afford. Wonderful little

neighborhood to have kids however... we had horse farms, a guy with

some chickens, a salmon creek, and some pet goats on our street!

We ended up selling our 1975 tri-level... with original kitchen, for

$420,000. For $420,000 here, we have basically a mansion, in the

best school district, gorgeous pool with waterfall & mosaic turtles,

about 75 ft. from the huge artificial lake we can canoe / kayak on.

So, I would not say that it is more expensive here than the Seattle

area... I'd say you could get A LOT for your money. Brand new houses

with the works, but further out, are selling for $250,000 or so.

Is your hubby from the Seattle area? My husband and I are both from

the midwest. This is just one more adventure in heat for us, but

without the winter deep freeze FYI, there are almost no bugs

here, I *hate* bugs, after living in CA for a few yrs, I learned the

joy of no bugs. My neighbor is from the deep south... lots of

stories of humidity & bugs! So I know where you're coming from

About my son's autism, he was a pretty difficult kid from birth...

one of those 'high needs' babies. We finally got a diagnosis around

age 4, when my husband's manager quit to take care of HER son was dx

with classic autism, and she talked about the symptoms with my

husband. My son met every one of his developmental milestones except

social ones, and I didn't know anything about autism, except kids who

didn't talk at all. If it wasn't for that conversation, it might have

taken a few more yrs to get a dx.

-Marietta

> Marietta,

> I have been in Seattle 7 years. We lived in Fed. Way-

> and when the interest went really low- we were at a

> good time to sell high and then buy a nice home with

> low interest. We now live in the Lake Tapps/Sumner

> area. When I first moved here everything was pkay- and

> I really got into skiing- but, then that one yr when

> everything happened - it took its toll.

> I have told my hubby a million times I would love to

> move to Pheonix~ Alaska Flies down there- and it would

> be an easy commute for him. He says the property is

> very expensive though as is Tuscon.

> I'm from Louisiana- So, my whole life has been spent

> in sweltering heat/humidity/bugs(smile).

> With your sons autism- how early on did you suspect

> it?

[Guest guest]

hi marietta. i also live in the graham area and i know what you mean. i was

really active up here also. then this. i visit my family for 2 weeks in florida

each year, and guess what. i dont have any pain or breakouts. the salt water is

helpful to the skin and the hot sun warms the joints? but cant get husband to

move south oh well. one more thought. i have had alot of emotional upsets where

my kids were concerned and was told that stress can cause or bring on PA. any

truth to this?

lorrie

Tricia <nurseontherunn@...> wrote:

Marietta,

I have been in Seattle 7 years. We lived in Fed. Way-

and when the interest went really low- we were at a

good time to sell high and then buy a nice home with

low interest. We now live in the Lake Tapps/Sumner

area. When I first moved here everything was pkay- and

I really got into skiing- but, then that one yr when

everything happened - it took its toll.

I have told my hubby a million times I would love to

move to Pheonix~ Alaska Flies down there- and it would

be an easy commute for him. He says the property is

very expensive though as is Tuscon.

I'm from Louisiana- So, my whole life has been spent

in sweltering heat/humidity/bugs(smile).

With your sons autism- how early on did you suspect

it?

__________________________________________________

[Guest guest]

i have had alot of emotional upsets where my kids were concerned and

was told that stress can cause or bring on PA. any truth to this?

> lorrie

>

>Betz wrote: With most diseases, stress can aggravate the condition.

Think about people with heart disease or a tendency for strokes, or

digestive issues....the body is a whole.

[Guest guest]

Hi Lorrie,

My apologies if some of this sounds a bit too preachy/teachy, but

the focus for my masters in counselling is trauma and related

anxiety. I have spent years researching the mechanism of trauma and

its effects on a person. I find it highly ironic that I get to have

myself as a client through all of this trauma that I continually

experience as a result of PA

Further to what Betsy has told you (which is right on), I would like

to comment on one aspect of stress in relation to PA. One of the by-

products of stress (and the subsequent release of norepinephirine)

is cortisol - a substance that destroys brain tissue and one's

ability to think clearly. People with a chronic illness

(particularly a chronically painful illness) are already producing

more cortisol than the average person - just to deal with the pain.

A PA person can be already under high levels of trauma/stress - just

living and getting through a day. Add to that, external stressors

that one can have with work, family, natural disasters etc., and a

PA person may find it difficult to cope - " brain fog " /confusion

results. If you find you are having a foggy brain, then stress/pain

are probaby effecting you in negative ways. I guess the brain fog

is nature's way of trying to give you a break from thinking about

whatever is stressful or painful so that you can slow the production

of norepinephirine). For me, I just get kind of " spacey " and

time/days even weeks of pain and stress just sort of foat by, mostly

unremembered by me. When norepinephirine levels are hig, some

people find it difficult to be calm. Further, the fire that it puts

in one's eye and general posture can look like the same fire that

one has when one is angry. Note that people can react to a pained

persona in negative ways (bullies can think you want to fight them,

or don't like them so they fight with you; and other people may

judge you as a tense/intense person - best to be avoided).

In order to ameliorate the affects of stress/trauma:

Find ways to breathe calmly and relax. After-all, you are the only

one who can control herself. Meditatation for a couple of 10-15

minute periods a day and/or naps can do much to releave the stress

and lower your cortisol levels. Do not " awfulize " about a situation

by rehashing its negative aspects over and over - just do what you

can to make it better, get help when possible, accept that you are a

living organism with limitations and do not measure your

expectations of yourself by what you used to do or what others are

able to do (or may expect of you). Accept that you have a life-

alterring disease, alter your life as best you can, and find the joy

in doing that. Note that repeatedly high levels of stress (self-

induced included) can lead to anxiety disorders and even Post-

Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD). Look for ways to simplify your

life. Some people see their doctor and get a prescription for a

small dose of an anti-anxiety medication (like amitrityline) that

can help them sleep through the night. I have a prescription for

this that I use a couple of times a month when the pain/stress is

bad and I haven't been sleeping well. I don't enjoy taking this med

often as I sometimes feel a bit slow/hung-over the following

morning. When I was first getting a handle on my disease, I had gone

about 10 years (because of pain) averaging 2 to 5 hours of sleep per

night, so I took some of this med just about every night for almost

a year to help me sleep and allow my body (and brain) to heal. Hope

this helps.

Best wishes, Brent

[Guest guest]

thank you! there is so much to learn and changing my lifestyle seems to be #1.

like many others here ive had PA for almost 30 years and just diagnosed 1 year

ago. one step at a time right? thanks again for all the advice. its time to take

care of me now and not feel guilty because im no longer giving 150% to everyone

else. now if i could just sleep. unlike most of you, im averaging 4 hours per

night. the fatigue is there. but my brain keeps going like the energizer bunny.

which i believe is another factor with the cortisol. thanks for the reply!

lorrie

skrewtz <brentherman@...> wrote:

Hi Lorrie,

My apologies if some of this sounds a bit too preachy/teachy, but

the focus for my masters in counselling is trauma and related

anxiety. I have spent years researching the mechanism of trauma and

its effects on a person. I find it highly ironic that I get to have

myself as a client through all of this trauma that I continually

experience as a result of PA

Further to what Betsy has told you (which is right on), I would like

to comment on one aspect of stress in relation to PA. One of the by-

products of stress (and the subsequent release of norepinephirine)

is cortisol - a substance that destroys brain tissue and one's

ability to think clearly. People with a chronic illness

(particularly a chronically painful illness) are already producing

more cortisol than the average person - just to deal with the pain.

A PA person can be already under high levels of trauma/stress - just

living and getting through a day. Add to that, external stressors

that one can have with work, family, natural disasters etc., and a

PA person may find it difficult to cope - " brain fog " /confusion

results. If you find you are having a foggy brain, then stress/pain

are probaby effecting you in negative ways. I guess the brain fog

is nature's way of trying to give you a break from thinking about

whatever is stressful or painful so that you can slow the production

of norepinephirine). For me, I just get kind of " spacey " and

time/days even weeks of pain and stress just sort of foat by, mostly

unremembered by me. When norepinephirine levels are hig, some

people find it difficult to be calm. Further, the fire that it puts

in one's eye and general posture can look like the same fire that

one has when one is angry. Note that people can react to a pained

persona in negative ways (bullies can think you want to fight them,

or don't like them so they fight with you; and other people may

judge you as a tense/intense person - best to be avoided).

In order to ameliorate the affects of stress/trauma:

Find ways to breathe calmly and relax. After-all, you are the only

one who can control herself. Meditatation for a couple of 10-15

minute periods a day and/or naps can do much to releave the stress

and lower your cortisol levels. Do not " awfulize " about a situation

by rehashing its negative aspects over and over - just do what you

can to make it better, get help when possible, accept that you are a

living organism with limitations and do not measure your

expectations of yourself by what you used to do or what others are

able to do (or may expect of you). Accept that you have a life-

alterring disease, alter your life as best you can, and find the joy

in doing that. Note that repeatedly high levels of stress (self-

induced included) can lead to anxiety disorders and even Post-

Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD). Look for ways to simplify your

life. Some people see their doctor and get a prescription for a

small dose of an anti-anxiety medication (like amitrityline) that

can help them sleep through the night. I have a prescription for

this that I use a couple of times a month when the pain/stress is

bad and I haven't been sleeping well. I don't enjoy taking this med

often as I sometimes feel a bit slow/hung-over the following

morning. When I was first getting a handle on my disease, I had gone

about 10 years (because of pain) averaging 2 to 5 hours of sleep per

night, so I took some of this med just about every night for almost

a year to help me sleep and allow my body (and brain) to heal. Hope

this helps.

Best wishes, Brent

__________________________________________________