Newbe here and here is my story!

iVillage Member
Registered: 09-05-2006
Newbe here and here is my story!
3
Sat, 03-17-2007 - 6:13pm

Hi! My name is Jenny! I live in Florida and I have been married for ten years now and have two children. Joshua 9 and Victoria 7. I just wanted to share what our family has been through for the past three to four years. Our home was almost destroyed by Hurricane Charley about three years ago and we still have hurricane damage and we are finally able to repair our home. We had to sue our insurance company because they didn't give us enough money for repairs. Victoria has Cerabral Palsy and I found that out about a year ago when they finally put a lable on what was wrong with her. When she was born she had seizures when she was two days old and she wasn't developing with those milestones as a normal child would. We have had her in therapy for most of her life trying to get her to progress she finily walked when she was three years old and we are so blessed not to have her in a wheelchair. She doesn't communicate well eighter she babbles and says about ten words so the therapist suggested a communication board for us to use at home. She has been so frustrated lately that she has been banging her head and pulling out her hair and I let the neurologist know what was going on and they did an MRI and EEG and they tests came back good.

My mom got sick around this time last year from brain cancer. One day she was really confused and couldn't find her way home from the grocery store in a town that she was born and raised in. She also lost all of her eye sight in her right eye and most of it in the other eye. She then drove herself to the hospital in that condition and they admitted her and she needed brain surgery. She came through the sugery just fine and then the dr. told us that she had less than a year to live. She was doing good with the chemo and radiation it didn't make her sick not once and then she went back to the dr. after the treatments were completed and the dr. told her the treatments did nothing and so she was placed on hospice care. We had some family photos made with my brother and sister and there families and then about a month later she died on July 24, 2006. My parents were diviorced when I was three and I don't know much about my father except that he is a jerk to us kids. I feel like an orphan!

I went to see my dr. because I was having alot of anxiety and panic attacks so he put me on medication. I couldn't deal with this pain any longer so my husband and the dr. put me on Prozac. I was taking Xanax but I was having really bad headaches. Well I better go and feed the kids so they don't get cranky. Love Jenny!

iVillage Member
Registered: 03-22-2003
Sat, 03-17-2007 - 6:29pm

Hi Jenny & welcome!!

Sheri Ann

iVillage Member
Registered: 03-11-2004
Sat, 03-17-2007 - 9:02pm

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Hi, Jenny! Nice to see you. Many folks, including myself, can relate to life stressors that become ovewhelming & result in anxiety/panic. My oldest dd is mentally challenged. She's 30 yo, but I can tell you that navigating the system over the years was NOT easy): Please take care of you. Just like they say on an airplane for you to put the oxygen mask on first, in real life you will need to keep yourself well & in a good place to be there for your kids. Get into any programs that are available to you. Don't feel ashamed to accept free care giving services or extra help with a YMCA membership, for your family. Finding time to exercise & de-stress is very important for you & your family.


I just wanted to add a note on head banging. I am no expert, but have dealt with this issue @ several state hospitals where I worked. They say watching it is more painful than it is for the person doing it. I am not sure about that! Please tell the therapist that you need help coping with these behaviors. In spite of negative tests the problem is still there. Have you been told that a lightweight helmet might be of help?


Take a look @ our *coping tips & tricks* folder below. I use the belly breathing & daily meditation to relax & get out there & face the world. You can learn to live a better life with anxiety. Folks on our board are all works in progress. We'll be glad to support you as you regain your balance. Join us in chats on Tues. & Thurs. evenings. We care about you. Good luck & God bless you! Thanks for sharing. (((hugs))) jan

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iVillage Member
Registered: 01-07-2007
Sun, 03-18-2007 - 1:51pm

Hi Jenny and welcome!! Wow, you have been through alot...I am so sorry to hear about your mom...even though my parents are still alive and well I know the orphan feeling all too well lol...are you dealing well with things now? I am glad that you sought out help for the panic attacks...its hard to admit sometimes I know it was for me too...I also wanted to suggest something for your daughter...I worked with a chiropractor for over two years and we saw two children with the same condition your daughter has, and they did wonderful getting chiropractic adjustments with their other therapy as well...I know for some people a chiro seems scary and some doctors don't reccomend it, but good chiro care focuses on the health of your spine and nervous system so the body can heal, and it really makes a difference in your overall health...just something to think about and look into, especially if you can find one that is hands on (more gentle if they use their hands for everything as opposed to a little tool called an activator) or that sees alot of children...it can work wonders!! so just something to think about...but I wanted to say welcome and we are here for you for anything...hope to see you in chat sometime!! Take care and God Bless...

Krista