Hurrah for Good Health

Dear all,
Well, if any still wander here...I am so sorry about the lapse of blogging. I was completely blown away a few months back when my son, Brandon, was diagnosed with possible seizure disorder. We were so blessed to have survived childhood leukemia, and thought we were in the clear twenty two years later. Well, 5 doctors and months of waiting for authorization and appointments later, we finally have a diagnosis. He is suffering from panic attacks or panic disorder. They are a result of having a family predisposition for mental illness (ie. manic depression, or bipolar disorder etc.) followed by the radiation to the cranium he received as a child for treatment of leukemia. It manifested now, at age 27, because of the incredible stress he has been under due to caring for a wife with CP, going to school, working, etc. The solution was to put him on a sedative and an antidepressant and wean off the sedative gradually. Children's Hospital of LA has been most helpful and compassionate. His neurologist was a bit of a jerk actually causing Brandon to have attacks when he had to visit him due to his attitude of treating Brandon like he was an idiot. Brandon has not had any more episodes since going on the antidepressant. Hurrah! It is great to have my son back, laughing and happy again. I found out online back in November that these were the meds he needed. He finally is getting treated properly this month!
We were all stressed out by this experience, mostly because of the delay in getting him treatment. When someone you love is having daily attacks or seizures it is highly upsetting. The doctors did not seem to understand how life altering this was. He can't drive and therefore cant work (he's a float driver for Disney). Someone had to take him to his appointments etc. He felt terrible whenever he had an attack, manifesting all kinds of symptoms including, paleness, sweating, nausea, dizzyness, weakness etc. I had difficulty concentrating on my job, his wife was beside herself with worry; and found new strengths caring for someone else with a health problem which was a new experience for her, and for Kimberly it was like the nightmare of her childhood coming back with all the appointments and time spent worrying when another attack would happen. We got through this experience, but still feel much could have been done to streamline the process. Why did it take 6 months to see the right doctor and get on the right meds when it says online how to treat this disorder? As a health care professional, I was very disapointed in the process. It caused undue stress, lowered self esteem, self doubt, and more distress than was necessary, for Brandon and our whole family.
Needless to say, our holidays were affected, as well as our financial well being, and our personal relationships suffered as well. We really tried hard to be supportive of one another, but we all lost it at one time or another. I hold the medical doctors responsible, as well as the insurance company. It should not take months to get in to see a psychiatrist when you are having daily seizures and/or panic attacks! Did they think it was funny to put this young couple through this ordeal? Children's Hospital at least took the time to advise us as to what should be done. The rest all need to go back to school to learn communication skills, and compassionate service!
We all had a lovely, but frugal, Valentine's Day, yesterday, since I have to work today. I made speghetti, and we had a "Lady and the Tramp" theme. We played the sound track from the movie and had candlelight. All their money is going to medical bills now, and mine is supporting them. Six months of income has been lost while accumulating medical bills, which takes all the disability pay. Christine is now back at work, these last 2 weeks, after recovering from her head injury received while at work, 7 months ago. It was great to celebrate the love we have for one another, and remember how this too shall pass. I hope that all will be well soon and get back to "normal".
Kimberly is still trying to find a job for the degree she went to school for. She is very patient and perservering under the circumstances. The economy can not improve fast enough for me. When I think of all the money spent getting her an education, and now there are no jobs, it just sickens me. Things seem to be looking up, and I am so grateful we are all doing okay now. Without our faith, we would not have made it. Love Kim