Anafranil

[Guest guest]

Thanks for your reply! Do you need to stay on Anafranil for life once you start?

Have you had any side effects? Also wondering about cost - we don't have any

insurance but son is eligible for Medicaid until age 18.

Rhonda

Update from

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> > Hi all,

> >

> > So sorry I couldn't post earlier. I tried a few times but for some reason

it bounced back via webmail.

> >

> > Well.......I am back home now, just flew in this evening. My son is now at

's, and not a moment too soon! I'm glad I prepped myself mentally for a

nightmare ordeal getting him there because it definitely was one. From beginning

to end, every step of the way he was extremely difficult to deal with.

> >

> > The MD did an amazing job with the " intervention " on Tuesday morning, but

I don't think anyone could have done a good enough job for my son not to

completely flip out about going. Despite giving him Ativan and later on some

Valium, neither one phased him in the least or helped with his major

anxiety/stress.

> >

> > On top of everything else, on the way to the airport a crane toppled over

on the main highway so we had to sit for an hour not moving and barely made our

plan on time. Meanwhile, my son peed all over the back seat of my car so we had

to pull off the highway and I had to run in the store and get a dishrag, soap

and water to clean it because I was leaving the car in the parking garage for 3

days in very warm weather.

> >

> > Every step of the way, my son didn't want to get in our out of the car,

then once he finally got out at the airport he sat down on the ground in the

parking lot. If my STBX husband wasn't there, there's no way I could have

handled it on my own. Even with the two of us it was almost impossible!

> >

> > When we got to the terminal, I grabbed a wheelchair and that was a

lifesaver because an attendant pushed the wheelchair so my son wasn't going to

try anything with someone else pushing. We get through security and I realize I

left my cell phone in the car. I go running top speed to the parking lot and

back, and after I come back I find out that while I was gone who do they pick

out to pat down??? My son in the wheelchair!! Totally freaked him out and he was

already so stressed to begin with!

> >

> > The next morning, we finally got him to 's then he wouldn't get out

of the car. Eventually he did get out and the program Director came outside to

talk with him and start the process. We were SO impressed with how he handled

it! My son was sitting on the bench outside, so the directory immediately got

down on one knee to be at eye level with him and started talking. I was blown

away with how he was able to really connect with my son despite his terrible

state.

> >

> > Eventually he signed the paperwork and was admitted.The process was pretty

long, so he mostly sat in a chair outside in the hall or laid on one of the

sofas while my husband and I met and talked with everyone. At one point I got up

to go out in the hall and check on my son. He was sitting in a chair and I look

down and his shorts are soaking wet, he had peed in the chair!! One one hand I

was mortified, but on the other hand I was glad that it happened right as we

were admitting him so they could see first-hand. As usual, he insisted it was

water.

> >

> > He is miserable there now, but that's to be expected. He's having a

terrible time with his tics, but that's to be expected as well from the stress

of the whole thing. Even under the best of circumstances it's a huge adjustment

for any teenager to be away from home, but especially under these circumstances.

> >

> > So far, we are VERY impressed with all the staff, the facility and the

whole operation. They do not seem to leave any stone unturned there when it

comes to getting every minute detail about the kids during admitting. I think in

my son's case it will be a pretty long haul because despite the fact that he's

wasted away to nothing, is peeing all over the place, and living the life of a

complete recluse, he still insists that there is " nothing wrong with him, " and

said the same to his psychiatrist and therapist. He is in such SEVERE denial in

every respect that to get him to the point of recognizing and acknowledging he

has issues will be no easy feat. Then, and only then, will he be able to begin

the work with CBT, ERP, etc. to get to the point of eventually being able to

return home.

> >

> > Coming home to a childless home this evening and walking by my son's empty

room was so very difficult and heartbreaking. I have been living on high-alert

24/7 for such a long time now dealing with my son that my nervous system became

accustomed to that and it's going to be really tough making such a big

adjustment to almost an opposite extreme. I'm trying to take things one day at a

time now, it's the only way to do this. I just hope and pray that my son's case

is not too complex or too advanced at this point for 's to help him.

> >

> > I was thinking of you all while i was there and remembering all of your

words of support and encouragement, and it truly helped me get through this

awful ordeal. Thanks SO much again, from the bottom of my heart!

> >

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