new member needs advice

[Guest guest]

Teddi:

I sent a response, but I'm new to the group and perhaps I sent it incorrectly.

Here is what I sent. Good luck.

Teddi:

Wow, I can't believe your pediatrician is taking such a stance on your concerns.

I would really recommend you having your son evaluated by a psychiatrist who

specifically works with children. Your son's questioning/anxiety reminds me so

much of Luke. Also, Yale University has a test you can take on line to assess

the degree of severity at which your son may be suffering from OCD. I can't

remember the exact sight, but I think you could search the web for it pretty

easily (i.e. " Yale OCD test " ). This test if compromised of the DSM IV criteria

that is used by doctors to diagnosis OCD.

I hope this helps. I think you are going to have to take a more aggressive

stand on your son's behalf since it doesn't appear you are getting much support

from the pediatrician. Good luck, and let us know how things go.

Warmly,

new member needs advice

I sent this short note out a few days ago, but have not heard from

anyone. I am resending it in case I did not do it right the first

time.

________

Hello everyone,

I have been reading many of your letters today and I can relate to so

many of you. This is the first time I am making contact with this

group. I'm the mother of an 7 1/2 year old son who I believe suffers

from OCD in the form of excessive worry/doubt, apologizing, washing

hands, and seeking constant reassurance " is that ok mommy? " He gets

so distressed about little things. He cries about just about anything

that upsets him. I attended a local ocd support group last week and

they recommended this group. For years I thought that my son was

just " dramatic " . When his little hands started to bleed because of

the constant washing, I thought that there was something wrong. I

have spoken to my son's pediatrician twice recently about the severe

repetition and anxiety my son is experiencing. He said that I should

not put the wagon before the wheel. That he does not have ocd. That

the anxiety (life) is causing all the repetition, not the repetition

causing anxiety. He believes that it is normal for a young child with

changes in his life (death of great grandma, new school and new baby)

to respond by repetition. He asked me to not address the issues that

my son brings up, but to only talk about the feelings. I should

ignore the issue or current " thing " that my son is stuck on. He said

I should say things and distract him with things that make him feel

good. Do whatever possible to not feed into the anxiety. I have been

trying this method all week, but my son makes remarks about being

ignored when I do not respond to his unreasonable and irrational

statements. I hate to label my son with ocd and to excuse his

behaviors. How does one really know if it is truly ocd? Please help.

Any advice is greatly appreciated.

Teddi

[Guest guest]

Teddi:

I sent a response, but I'm new to the group and perhaps I sent it incorrectly.

Here is what I sent. Good luck.

Teddi:

Wow, I can't believe your pediatrician is taking such a stance on your concerns.

I would really recommend you having your son evaluated by a psychiatrist who

specifically works with children. Your son's questioning/anxiety reminds me so

much of Luke. Also, Yale University has a test you can take on line to assess

the degree of severity at which your son may be suffering from OCD. I can't

remember the exact sight, but I think you could search the web for it pretty

easily (i.e. " Yale OCD test " ). This test if compromised of the DSM IV criteria

that is used by doctors to diagnosis OCD.

I hope this helps. I think you are going to have to take a more aggressive

stand on your son's behalf since it doesn't appear you are getting much support

from the pediatrician. Good luck, and let us know how things go.

Warmly,

new member needs advice

I sent this short note out a few days ago, but have not heard from

anyone. I am resending it in case I did not do it right the first

time.

________

Hello everyone,

I have been reading many of your letters today and I can relate to so

many of you. This is the first time I am making contact with this

group. I'm the mother of an 7 1/2 year old son who I believe suffers

from OCD in the form of excessive worry/doubt, apologizing, washing

hands, and seeking constant reassurance " is that ok mommy? " He gets

so distressed about little things. He cries about just about anything

that upsets him. I attended a local ocd support group last week and

they recommended this group. For years I thought that my son was

just " dramatic " . When his little hands started to bleed because of

the constant washing, I thought that there was something wrong. I

have spoken to my son's pediatrician twice recently about the severe

repetition and anxiety my son is experiencing. He said that I should

not put the wagon before the wheel. That he does not have ocd. That

the anxiety (life) is causing all the repetition, not the repetition

causing anxiety. He believes that it is normal for a young child with

changes in his life (death of great grandma, new school and new baby)

to respond by repetition. He asked me to not address the issues that

my son brings up, but to only talk about the feelings. I should

ignore the issue or current " thing " that my son is stuck on. He said

I should say things and distract him with things that make him feel

good. Do whatever possible to not feed into the anxiety. I have been

trying this method all week, but my son makes remarks about being

ignored when I do not respond to his unreasonable and irrational

statements. I hate to label my son with ocd and to excuse his

behaviors. How does one really know if it is truly ocd? Please help.

Any advice is greatly appreciated.

Teddi

[Guest guest]

Teddi:

I sent a response, but I'm new to the group and perhaps I sent it incorrectly.

Here is what I sent. Good luck.

Teddi:

Wow, I can't believe your pediatrician is taking such a stance on your concerns.

I would really recommend you having your son evaluated by a psychiatrist who

specifically works with children. Your son's questioning/anxiety reminds me so

much of Luke. Also, Yale University has a test you can take on line to assess

the degree of severity at which your son may be suffering from OCD. I can't

remember the exact sight, but I think you could search the web for it pretty

easily (i.e. " Yale OCD test " ). This test if compromised of the DSM IV criteria

that is used by doctors to diagnosis OCD.

I hope this helps. I think you are going to have to take a more aggressive

stand on your son's behalf since it doesn't appear you are getting much support

from the pediatrician. Good luck, and let us know how things go.

Warmly,

new member needs advice

I sent this short note out a few days ago, but have not heard from

anyone. I am resending it in case I did not do it right the first

time.

________

Hello everyone,

I have been reading many of your letters today and I can relate to so

many of you. This is the first time I am making contact with this

group. I'm the mother of an 7 1/2 year old son who I believe suffers

from OCD in the form of excessive worry/doubt, apologizing, washing

hands, and seeking constant reassurance " is that ok mommy? " He gets

so distressed about little things. He cries about just about anything

that upsets him. I attended a local ocd support group last week and

they recommended this group. For years I thought that my son was

just " dramatic " . When his little hands started to bleed because of

the constant washing, I thought that there was something wrong. I

have spoken to my son's pediatrician twice recently about the severe

repetition and anxiety my son is experiencing. He said that I should

not put the wagon before the wheel. That he does not have ocd. That

the anxiety (life) is causing all the repetition, not the repetition

causing anxiety. He believes that it is normal for a young child with

changes in his life (death of great grandma, new school and new baby)

to respond by repetition. He asked me to not address the issues that

my son brings up, but to only talk about the feelings. I should

ignore the issue or current " thing " that my son is stuck on. He said

I should say things and distract him with things that make him feel

good. Do whatever possible to not feed into the anxiety. I have been

trying this method all week, but my son makes remarks about being

ignored when I do not respond to his unreasonable and irrational

statements. I hate to label my son with ocd and to excuse his

behaviors. How does one really know if it is truly ocd? Please help.

Any advice is greatly appreciated.

Teddi

[Guest guest]

Dear Teddi,

To get an accurate diagnosis, you may need to find a child

psychiatrist, or at least a psychiatrist who works with children regularly.

Your pediatrician does not seem to know much about about the best treatments

for OCD. This miserable condition can be quite successfully treated with

Cognitive Behavioral therapy and, occasionally, medication. Also, you might

try the OCFoundation web site - it is a treasure trove of information, and

they can help you find a therapist familiar with the best treatments for

children.

Best wishes,

[Guest guest]

Dear Teddi,

To get an accurate diagnosis, you may need to find a child

psychiatrist, or at least a psychiatrist who works with children regularly.

Your pediatrician does not seem to know much about about the best treatments

for OCD. This miserable condition can be quite successfully treated with

Cognitive Behavioral therapy and, occasionally, medication. Also, you might

try the OCFoundation web site - it is a treasure trove of information, and

they can help you find a therapist familiar with the best treatments for

children.

Best wishes,

[Guest guest]

Hi Teddi, welcome! I THOUGHT I wrote you a reply, but if I did it

got lost somewhere in " yahoo land. " I've noticed some of my posts

don't show up or show up a day later!

Well, your son certainly sounds like he has OCD behaviors. I'm

thinking that the repetitive behavior is done to relieve the

anxiety. Like when my 13 y/o son has to do things a certain way,

he'll feel anxious until he does it " just right " or it " feels

right. "

I know lots of parents here can identify with how their kids react

when they don't get the answers/reassurance that they are expecting

and wanting from you (parent).

Here's some info from the OCD foundation on OCD:

OCD symptoms can occur in people of all ages. Not all Obsessive-

Compulsive behaviors represent an illness. Some rituals (e.g.,

bedtime songs, religious practices) are a welcome part of daily life.

Normal worries, such as contamination fears, may increase during

times of stress, such as when someone in the family is sick or dying.

Only when symptoms persist, make no sense, cause much distress, or

interfere with functioning do they need clinical attention.

1. Obsessions.

Obsessions are thoughts, images, or impulses that occur over and over

again and feel out of your control. The person does not want to have

these ideas, finds them disturbing and intrusive, and usually

recognizes that they don't really make sense. People with OCD may

worry excessively about dirt and germs and be obsessed with the idea

that they are contaminated or may contaminate others. Or they may

have obsessive fears of having inadvertently harmed someone else

(perhaps while pulling the car out of the driveway), even though they

usually know this is not realistic. Obsessions are accompanied by

uncomfortable feelings, such as fear, disgust, doubt, or a sensation

that things have to be done in a way that is " just so. "

2. Compulsions.

People with OCD typically try to make their obsessions go away by

performing compulsions. Compulsions are acts the person performs over

and over again, often according to certain " rules. " People with an

obsession about contamination may wash constantly to the point that

their hands become raw and inflamed. A person may repeatedly check

that she has turned off the stove or iron because of an obsessive

fear of burning the house down. She may have to count certain objects

over and over because of an obsession about losing them. Unlike

compulsive drinking or gambling, OCD compulsions do not give the

person pleasure. Rather, the rituals are performed to obtain relief

from the discomfort caused by the obsessions.

****************

The link to this page at the OCD Foundation is:

http://www.ocfoundation.org/ocf1010a.htm

Keep us posted on how your son is doing (and YOU!).

- single mom to (13) with OCD and dysgraphia; (13-

twin); Randally (17) -

> I sent this short note out a few days ago, but have not heard from

> anyone. I am resending it in case I did not do it right the first

> time.

>

> ________

>

> Hello everyone,

>

> I have been reading many of your letters today and I can relate to

so

> many of you. This is the first time I am making contact with this

> group. I'm the mother of an 7 1/2 year old son who I believe

suffers

> from OCD in the form of excessive worry/doubt, apologizing, washing

> hands, and seeking constant reassurance " is that ok mommy? " He gets

> so distressed about little things. He cries about just about

anything

> that upsets him. I attended a local ocd support group last week and

> they recommended this group. For years I thought that my son was

> just " dramatic " . When his little hands started to bleed because of

> the constant washing, I thought that there was something wrong. I

> have spoken to my son's pediatrician twice recently about the

severe

> repetition and anxiety my son is experiencing. He said that I

should

> not put the wagon before the wheel. That he does not have ocd. That

> the anxiety (life) is causing all the repetition, not the

repetition

> causing anxiety. He believes that it is normal for a young child

with

> changes in his life (death of great grandma, new school and new

baby)

> to respond by repetition. He asked me to not address the issues

that

> my son brings up, but to only talk about the feelings. I should

> ignore the issue or current " thing " that my son is stuck on. He

said

> I should say things and distract him with things that make him feel

> good. Do whatever possible to not feed into the anxiety. I have

been

> trying this method all week, but my son makes remarks about being

> ignored when I do not respond to his unreasonable and irrational

> statements. I hate to label my son with ocd and to excuse his

> behaviors. How does one really know if it is truly ocd? Please

help.

> Any advice is greatly appreciated.

>

> Teddi

[Guest guest]

Hi Teddi, welcome! I THOUGHT I wrote you a reply, but if I did it

got lost somewhere in " yahoo land. " I've noticed some of my posts

don't show up or show up a day later!

Well, your son certainly sounds like he has OCD behaviors. I'm

thinking that the repetitive behavior is done to relieve the

anxiety. Like when my 13 y/o son has to do things a certain way,

he'll feel anxious until he does it " just right " or it " feels

right. "

I know lots of parents here can identify with how their kids react

when they don't get the answers/reassurance that they are expecting

and wanting from you (parent).

Here's some info from the OCD foundation on OCD:

OCD symptoms can occur in people of all ages. Not all Obsessive-

Compulsive behaviors represent an illness. Some rituals (e.g.,

bedtime songs, religious practices) are a welcome part of daily life.

Normal worries, such as contamination fears, may increase during

times of stress, such as when someone in the family is sick or dying.

Only when symptoms persist, make no sense, cause much distress, or

interfere with functioning do they need clinical attention.

1. Obsessions.

Obsessions are thoughts, images, or impulses that occur over and over

again and feel out of your control. The person does not want to have

these ideas, finds them disturbing and intrusive, and usually

recognizes that they don't really make sense. People with OCD may

worry excessively about dirt and germs and be obsessed with the idea

that they are contaminated or may contaminate others. Or they may

have obsessive fears of having inadvertently harmed someone else

(perhaps while pulling the car out of the driveway), even though they

usually know this is not realistic. Obsessions are accompanied by

uncomfortable feelings, such as fear, disgust, doubt, or a sensation

that things have to be done in a way that is " just so. "

2. Compulsions.

People with OCD typically try to make their obsessions go away by

performing compulsions. Compulsions are acts the person performs over

and over again, often according to certain " rules. " People with an

obsession about contamination may wash constantly to the point that

their hands become raw and inflamed. A person may repeatedly check

that she has turned off the stove or iron because of an obsessive

fear of burning the house down. She may have to count certain objects

over and over because of an obsession about losing them. Unlike

compulsive drinking or gambling, OCD compulsions do not give the

person pleasure. Rather, the rituals are performed to obtain relief

from the discomfort caused by the obsessions.

****************

The link to this page at the OCD Foundation is:

http://www.ocfoundation.org/ocf1010a.htm

Keep us posted on how your son is doing (and YOU!).

- single mom to (13) with OCD and dysgraphia; (13-

twin); Randally (17) -

> I sent this short note out a few days ago, but have not heard from

> anyone. I am resending it in case I did not do it right the first

> time.

>

> ________

>

> Hello everyone,

>

> I have been reading many of your letters today and I can relate to

so

> many of you. This is the first time I am making contact with this

> group. I'm the mother of an 7 1/2 year old son who I believe

suffers

> from OCD in the form of excessive worry/doubt, apologizing, washing

> hands, and seeking constant reassurance " is that ok mommy? " He gets

> so distressed about little things. He cries about just about

anything

> that upsets him. I attended a local ocd support group last week and

> they recommended this group. For years I thought that my son was

> just " dramatic " . When his little hands started to bleed because of

> the constant washing, I thought that there was something wrong. I

> have spoken to my son's pediatrician twice recently about the

severe

> repetition and anxiety my son is experiencing. He said that I

should

> not put the wagon before the wheel. That he does not have ocd. That

> the anxiety (life) is causing all the repetition, not the

repetition

> causing anxiety. He believes that it is normal for a young child

with

> changes in his life (death of great grandma, new school and new

baby)

> to respond by repetition. He asked me to not address the issues

that

> my son brings up, but to only talk about the feelings. I should

> ignore the issue or current " thing " that my son is stuck on. He

said

> I should say things and distract him with things that make him feel

> good. Do whatever possible to not feed into the anxiety. I have

been

> trying this method all week, but my son makes remarks about being

> ignored when I do not respond to his unreasonable and irrational

> statements. I hate to label my son with ocd and to excuse his

> behaviors. How does one really know if it is truly ocd? Please

help.

> Any advice is greatly appreciated.

>

> Teddi

[Guest guest]

Hi Teddi, welcome! I THOUGHT I wrote you a reply, but if I did it

got lost somewhere in " yahoo land. " I've noticed some of my posts

don't show up or show up a day later!

Well, your son certainly sounds like he has OCD behaviors. I'm

thinking that the repetitive behavior is done to relieve the

anxiety. Like when my 13 y/o son has to do things a certain way,

he'll feel anxious until he does it " just right " or it " feels

right. "

I know lots of parents here can identify with how their kids react

when they don't get the answers/reassurance that they are expecting

and wanting from you (parent).

Here's some info from the OCD foundation on OCD:

OCD symptoms can occur in people of all ages. Not all Obsessive-

Compulsive behaviors represent an illness. Some rituals (e.g.,

bedtime songs, religious practices) are a welcome part of daily life.

Normal worries, such as contamination fears, may increase during

times of stress, such as when someone in the family is sick or dying.

Only when symptoms persist, make no sense, cause much distress, or

interfere with functioning do they need clinical attention.

1. Obsessions.

Obsessions are thoughts, images, or impulses that occur over and over

again and feel out of your control. The person does not want to have

these ideas, finds them disturbing and intrusive, and usually

recognizes that they don't really make sense. People with OCD may

worry excessively about dirt and germs and be obsessed with the idea

that they are contaminated or may contaminate others. Or they may

have obsessive fears of having inadvertently harmed someone else

(perhaps while pulling the car out of the driveway), even though they

usually know this is not realistic. Obsessions are accompanied by

uncomfortable feelings, such as fear, disgust, doubt, or a sensation

that things have to be done in a way that is " just so. "

2. Compulsions.

People with OCD typically try to make their obsessions go away by

performing compulsions. Compulsions are acts the person performs over

and over again, often according to certain " rules. " People with an

obsession about contamination may wash constantly to the point that

their hands become raw and inflamed. A person may repeatedly check

that she has turned off the stove or iron because of an obsessive

fear of burning the house down. She may have to count certain objects

over and over because of an obsession about losing them. Unlike

compulsive drinking or gambling, OCD compulsions do not give the

person pleasure. Rather, the rituals are performed to obtain relief

from the discomfort caused by the obsessions.

****************

The link to this page at the OCD Foundation is:

http://www.ocfoundation.org/ocf1010a.htm

Keep us posted on how your son is doing (and YOU!).

- single mom to (13) with OCD and dysgraphia; (13-

twin); Randally (17) -

> I sent this short note out a few days ago, but have not heard from

> anyone. I am resending it in case I did not do it right the first

> time.

>

> ________

>

> Hello everyone,

>

> I have been reading many of your letters today and I can relate to

so

> many of you. This is the first time I am making contact with this

> group. I'm the mother of an 7 1/2 year old son who I believe

suffers

> from OCD in the form of excessive worry/doubt, apologizing, washing

> hands, and seeking constant reassurance " is that ok mommy? " He gets

> so distressed about little things. He cries about just about

anything

> that upsets him. I attended a local ocd support group last week and

> they recommended this group. For years I thought that my son was

> just " dramatic " . When his little hands started to bleed because of

> the constant washing, I thought that there was something wrong. I

> have spoken to my son's pediatrician twice recently about the

severe

> repetition and anxiety my son is experiencing. He said that I

should

> not put the wagon before the wheel. That he does not have ocd. That

> the anxiety (life) is causing all the repetition, not the

repetition

> causing anxiety. He believes that it is normal for a young child

with

> changes in his life (death of great grandma, new school and new

baby)

> to respond by repetition. He asked me to not address the issues

that

> my son brings up, but to only talk about the feelings. I should

> ignore the issue or current " thing " that my son is stuck on. He

said

> I should say things and distract him with things that make him feel

> good. Do whatever possible to not feed into the anxiety. I have

been

> trying this method all week, but my son makes remarks about being

> ignored when I do not respond to his unreasonable and irrational

> statements. I hate to label my son with ocd and to excuse his

> behaviors. How does one really know if it is truly ocd? Please

help.

> Any advice is greatly appreciated.

>

> Teddi

[Guest guest]

First, let's distinguish between brainmaster, which is the name of a specific hardware/software platform, and brain training--or neurofeedback--which is the term for the field. I don't think that BrainMaster hardware and software, which was among the creators of the low-priced brain training process, and which I still use and sell to those who want it, IS necessarily any more superior than any of the other options for low-priced hardware and software. Each of them has strengths, and one of the things we do at The Learning Curve and BrainTrainer is to help folks evaluate their options and decide what best fits their own needs.

Brain training is a powerful intervention when properly focused, because it works at the source of all of the individual problems you mentioned. For example, a brain which is dominated by slow frequencies is likely to have difficulty with language processing, external focus of attention, perhaps ability to sleep and awaken feeling rested, social interaction and a number of other issues. With brain training, you can work on the root cause (speed up the neurons' firing rates) and impact many different "symptoms" at the same time.

The best way to start would be to get an assessment of your son and determine the most appropriate training plan from an actual look at his brain. If you'll let us know where you are located, someone on the list may be able to help you get started with that, and I'll be happy to take a look at the files and see if I have any ideas for training.

Pete

Van DeusenBrainTrainer ()16246 SW 92nd Ave, Miami, FL 33157305/321-1595

new member needs advice

i am the parent of a high fucnctioning autistic boy who is 5. we have used ces but never neurofeedback, his major problems are lack of consistant laertness, poor attention, audiotry processing and complex tics.i know nothing about this area. why is brain master superior to other methods and given my situation what would the best approach be? thank sjeff

[Guest guest]

Pretty scary stuff you are facing. There are many on this list who can help you.

Not me unfortunately. I have not have to of gone through surgery yet. But I am

50 too. So I know just how it feels when you are that age and you don't know

what is ahead of you. My life and spine actually was " wrecked " with a rare

disease when I was 31. So draw strength through your family and kids.

All I can say is start a notebook. Write everything down. Ask questions, write

them down too. Keep a diary. The thing will help both yourself and anybody who

treats you.... errrrr.... pick a medium size one... a big one might look

intimidating, if you know what I mean.

As for pain, we all here know what that is. Mine has increased significantly

lately.... Raising dogs????? What breed???? JCurious. My sister raises Corgies

and JRT. If I do move south and nearer to her (.... not TOO near, she has ALOT

of dogs...BUT I am sick of SNOW) I would like to try training some as as

theraphy dogs.

As to pain meds, insist on percocets.(JMO) Morphine never did diddly for me and

they REALLY do not like prescribing those. Get hooked up with a pain clinic

asap...ASAP... they saved my life. My GP I swear would let me suffer and die

before writing a script for pain meds that worked. My 83 y.o. mother that just

had open heart surgery, they gave her 30 from the hospital, our GP was reluctant

to script her some more when she ran out..... Good grief, as if they had to

worry about her getting addicted.... ssshhheeessshhh. Pain care clinics... find

one. Very important. They go where " few Doctors dare to go " . Again, JMO.

in NH

new member needs advice

I am new to this group and am hoping for some advice.

I am 50 years old with a young family, 3 kids 8,10 and 14 years old and a

wonderful husband who has been a rock for us all.

i used to be an active person, breeding and showing dogs, growing our own

food, lots of walking etc.

I have had back surgery in the past (7 1/2 years ago) for a very displaced

disc L3/4 which had badly compressed my spine (the consultant said that had I

fallen I would have had to use a wheelchair for the rest of my life as the

compression was so great, he showed me the MRI and even I could see that the

spine was compressed to about 1/6 its normal circumference.) I had the disc

removed but no fusion, I have suffered with lower back pain and sciatica

intermittently over the last 7 years, but with pain relief and appropriate rest

I have managed to recover within a couple of weeks or so.

Last March I awoke to major sciatic pain which did not go away after 6 weeks.

I had taken co-codamol and ibuprofen as usual, but the pain just increased over

time until I had major spasms in my whole back and both legs.

I twice was sent to hospital for collapsing due to the pain, I could not walk

and had to have morphine shots to get back on my feet.

I had an MRI scan last time in November but my own consultant was away on

holiday and they did not have another available so my scans were sent to be seen

by a neurosurgeon at another hospital.

He recommended surgery and would have had me to him for an operation if they

could have fitted me in,(but they couldn't) but I did not find this out until

after my own consultant returned and he wanted to leave it to see how it panned

out.

That was in November, I ended up asking for a second opinion to the

neurosurgeon who recommended surgery, (as I did not receive another appt with my

own consultant when promised).

I saw the neurosurgeon in March and he was still of the same opinion, I have a

collapsed disc L4/5 and major spinal stenosis at L3/4 and 4/5 I need surgery as

things have deteriated to a lower point. I am barely able to walk more than

100yds with crutches before the pain becomes unendurable (I am now on 30mgs

morphine twice daily along with 2 other drugs for nerve pain) and am due to go

this week for a pre-op and then my op later in the week.

I had a one-sided nerve block done in november in order to get home again, and

a central spinal epidural in March, both fairly successful, but I could not

reduce my morphine as the spasms started immediately.

My questions are;

What do I need to ask the consultant?

What are my options?

What have other people had done to relieve this type of pain?

Is it possible to manage without using major drugs after this type of surgery?

How long am I likely to stay in hospital, and what is the usual recovery

period for this type of surgery (my last op, I took 7 days for the pain to

reduce to a level at which they could stop my morphine injections so that I

could go home)?

Anything else anyone can tell me that would help me in this challenge.

I am fairly bouyant at the thought of something being done, but am a realist

and realise that I will never be able to do everything I once could, but was an

active person and would like to be again if possible.

But I like to know what I am getting into.

Thanks for your time and patience reading my story.

S T

[Guest guest]

Thanks for your reply,

i have today been in for a pre-op assessment and will be going for surgery on

thursday for a discectomy and laminectomy as this is all i have been offered, it

is this or nothing, so i go forward with a hopeful heart and if they are right

and i can throw away my crutches in a month or so then I will be glad.

I am being treated by a great pain consultant who is the first doctor that

talked to me like a human being with hopes and fears instead of just a patient.

she too, said i must have an operation as she has done all she can for me. I

trust her judgement as she is very well-respected by everyone I have spoken to

about her. My GP only offered me ibuprofen and cocodamol which just didn't hit

the pain enough to stop the spasms. But Morphine with pregabalin and

nortriptyline seems to have worked up till now alongside the cortisone

injections, incidently, I was offered the chance of sedation for these, but just

wanted to get on with it, and had no problems, that pain is nothing compared to

what i put up with every day before them.

The dogs I breed are miniature wire dachshunds (funnily enough a breed which

has its fair share of back complaints) I used to breed Bullmastiffs, very

successfully, but my back problem 7 years ago took them away from me. In my then

consultants words, 'one pull from one of those and you Will be in a wheel

chair', so i chose a smaller breed, but not sure it was the right choice now as

have to bend down to them all the time!

Anyway i am going to look at my op in a positive light and will let you know how

i get on.

>

> Pretty scary stuff you are facing. There are many on this list who can help

you. Not me unfortunately. I have not have to of gone through surgery yet. But I

am 50 too. So I know just how it feels when you are that age and you don't know

what is ahead of you. My life and spine actually was " wrecked " with a rare

disease when I was 31. So draw strength through your family and kids.

>

> All I can say is start a notebook. Write everything down. Ask questions, write

them down too. Keep a diary. The thing will help both yourself and anybody who

treats you.... errrrr.... pick a medium size one... a big one might look

intimidating, if you know what I mean.

>

> As for pain, we all here know what that is. Mine has increased significantly

lately.... Raising dogs????? What breed???? JCurious. My sister raises Corgies

and JRT. If I do move south and nearer to her (.... not TOO near, she has ALOT

of dogs...BUT I am sick of SNOW) I would like to try training some as as

theraphy dogs.

>

> As to pain meds, insist on percocets.(JMO) Morphine never did diddly for me

and they REALLY do not like prescribing those. Get hooked up with a pain clinic

asap...ASAP... they saved my life. My GP I swear would let me suffer and die

before writing a script for pain meds that worked. My 83 y.o. mother that just

had open heart surgery, they gave her 30 from the hospital, our GP was reluctant

to script her some more when she ran out..... Good grief, as if they had to

worry about her getting addicted.... ssshhheeessshhh. Pain care clinics... find

one. Very important. They go where " few Doctors dare to go " . Again, JMO.

>

> in NH

>

> new member needs advice

>

>

>

>

>

> I am new to this group and am hoping for some advice.

> I am 50 years old with a young family, 3 kids 8,10 and 14 years old and a

wonderful husband who has been a rock for us all.

> i used to be an active person, breeding and showing dogs, growing our own

food, lots of walking etc.

> I have had back surgery in the past (7 1/2 years ago) for a very displaced

disc L3/4 which had badly compressed my spine (the consultant said that had I

fallen I would have had to use a wheelchair for the rest of my life as the

compression was so great, he showed me the MRI and even I could see that the

spine was compressed to about 1/6 its normal circumference.) I had the disc

removed but no fusion, I have suffered with lower back pain and sciatica

intermittently over the last 7 years, but with pain relief and appropriate rest

I have managed to recover within a couple of weeks or so.

> Last March I awoke to major sciatic pain which did not go away after 6

weeks. I had taken co-codamol and ibuprofen as usual, but the pain just

increased over time until I had major spasms in my whole back and both legs.

> I twice was sent to hospital for collapsing due to the pain, I could not

walk and had to have morphine shots to get back on my feet.

> I had an MRI scan last time in November but my own consultant was away on

holiday and they did not have another available so my scans were sent to be seen

by a neurosurgeon at another hospital.

> He recommended surgery and would have had me to him for an operation if they

could have fitted me in,(but they couldn't) but I did not find this out until

after my own consultant returned and he wanted to leave it to see how it panned

out.

> That was in November, I ended up asking for a second opinion to the

neurosurgeon who recommended surgery, (as I did not receive another appt with my

own consultant when promised).

> I saw the neurosurgeon in March and he was still of the same opinion, I have

a collapsed disc L4/5 and major spinal stenosis at L3/4 and 4/5 I need surgery

as things have deteriated to a lower point. I am barely able to walk more than

100yds with crutches before the pain becomes unendurable (I am now on 30mgs

morphine twice daily along with 2 other drugs for nerve pain) and am due to go

this week for a pre-op and then my op later in the week.

> I had a one-sided nerve block done in november in order to get home again,

and a central spinal epidural in March, both fairly successful, but I could not

reduce my morphine as the spasms started immediately.

> My questions are;

> What do I need to ask the consultant?

> What are my options?

> What have other people had done to relieve this type of pain?

> Is it possible to manage without using major drugs after this type of

surgery?

> How long am I likely to stay in hospital, and what is the usual recovery

period for this type of surgery (my last op, I took 7 days for the pain to

reduce to a level at which they could stop my morphine injections so that I

could go home)?

> Anything else anyone can tell me that would help me in this challenge.

> I am fairly bouyant at the thought of something being done, but am a realist

and realise that I will never be able to do everything I once could, but was an

active person and would like to be again if possible.

> But I like to know what I am getting into.

> Thanks for your time and patience reading my story.

> S T

>

>

>

>

>

>

>

[Guest guest]

I am just trying to get on the GAPS diet. I have an ileostomy and have a hard time telling what is diarrhea and what is just the bone broth coming through as is. Seems the veggie juices and broth just come back through very quickly. Wondering if there is anyone on this list that has an ileostomy and can tell me their experiences when beginning GAPS.

Second why are dairy products and carbs not allowed? I understand about the glycemic index, but there are carbs that are low on the index. My doc says I can have sweet potatoes. I'm assuming because of the betacarotene in them. I have beern drinking raw milk for years. Don't have a history of any diarrhea or constipation. I have a history of colon cancer. When I first read the instructions on the gaps diet they recommended going slow and I thought it was for those who have a history of diarrhea. Then when I reread it I thought it was because the diet could cause diarrhea when getting used to it. I'm also on an enzyme diet. I am so confused with the whole thing!! Why not sprouted grains on this diet? Whatever info would be so helpful!!

Sue

[Guest guest]

Grains feed parasitic yeast in the intestinal tract as do many starchy foods such as sweet potatoes. It's assumed on the GAPS protocol that anyone who has been eating a standard American diet and has taken antibiotics, hormones (birth control) or steroids (for asthma or other inflammation) will have yeast overgrowth in their gut. A gut with yeast overgrowth will not heal. Also, people with gut imbalances will not be able to digest grains properly (even soaked or sprouted grains) and the improper digestion will cause inflammation in the gut which will prevent healing.Dr. -McBride is doing research on raw dairy currently to see if it's appropriate for GAPS patients but unless the dairy is fermented in yogurt or kefir, the proteins will still be quite hard to digest and will be a burden on the digestive tract.On Jan 3, 2011, at 10:17 AM, Sue Rutledge wrote:

I am just trying to get on the GAPS diet. I have an ileostomy and have a hard time telling what is diarrhea and what is just the bone broth coming through as is. Seems the veggie juices and broth just come back through very quickly. Wondering if there is anyone on this list that has an ileostomy and can tell me their experiences when beginning GAPS.

Second why are dairy products and carbs not allowed? I understand about the glycemic index, but there are carbs that are low on the index. My doc says I can have sweet potatoes. I'm assuming because of the betacarotene in them. I have beern drinking raw milk for years. Don't have a history of any diarrhea or constipation. I have a history of colon cancer. When I first read the instructions on the gaps diet they recommended going slow and I thought it was for those who have a history of diarrhea. Then when I reread it I thought it was because the diet could cause diarrhea when getting used to it. I'm also on an enzyme diet. I am so confused with the whole thing!! Why not sprouted grains on this diet? Whatever info would be so helpful!!

Sue