Suzy

[Guest guest]

SuzyQ,

I don't necessarily think that having CP sufferers feel things worse than other

people. However, I do believe that stress impacts anything that we have wrong

with our body. When you are stressed about something, it only makes sense that

it would potentially increase the pain and discomfort of CP. I can relate

several of my severe attacks to times of major stress. It's tough when your

child (no matter the age) is sick or has to have surgery. I can assure that all

of Nikki's surgeries were probably harder on me than on her. She just takes it

all in stride. Of course, what choice does she have? She really is a trooper,

though. She had her wisdom teeth taken out over the summer between her

sophomore and junior year of high school. She was out on a date the following

night and back at work 2 days later. My stepdaughter whined for over a week and

didn't go back to work until 7 or 8 days afterward. Of course, my stepdaughter

called me almost hysterical on more than once occasion when she was sick. 17

years old (or maybe even 18 by then) and she called me at work hysterical to

tell me that her temperature was 100.5, not 105, but 100.5! I thought something

really serious was wrong because I couldn't even understand her at first. When

I finally figured out what the problem was, I was confused and asked her why she

was so upset and what she wanted me to do (I was an hour away). She said she

didn't know what to do to get her fever down. I told her that 100.5 was really

nothing to be alarmed about and that she could take either tylenol or ibuprofen,

whichever she preferred. Another time she called all hysterical because she had

thrown up. I felt like saying - And? I had phenergan tablets in the medicine

cabinet so once I got her calmed down I told her to take one. I just don't get

it but she has always been a major baby over the tiniest discomfort. She went

on and on for two months prior to having her wisdom teeth out - poor, pitiful

me, I've got to have my wisdom teeth out over Christmas break. I finally told

her she better be glad she's not me or Nikki as she would never survive all the

surgeries that Nikki and I have had. I know that was probably kind of mean, but

geez! I know having your wisdom teeth out is no fun but it doesn't warrant the

amount of whining she did both before and after! I would have had a lot more

sympathy and compassion for her if she hadn't made such a big deal out of it.

It's really kind of funny because until Nikki was about 12, she was HORRIBLE

about having blood drawn or getting a shot. was really pretty good about

stuff like that when she was young. She didn't even cry when she had to get a

shot. It wasn't until got older that she became so whiny over the

tiniest thing. Nikki still hates having blood drawn but she just takes it and

the surgeries all in stride.

Sorry I got off on a tangent. I'm not trying to make light of anyone having to

go through surgery. It's not fun and it's much harder as a mom when it is one

of your kids. Hope all goes well with your son and he has a speedy recovery.

Try not to let yourself get too stressed!

W