Blog #13

I think it is a sign of personal strength if women admit to having a drug or alcohol problem. To admit to having a problem takes a lot of courage. Many people want to hide or deny they have a problem. This makes it very difficult to treat. When someone admits to having a problem that is the first step in making a change. They are more willing to seek help and are compliant with their treatment plan. Their chances of recovery are increased compared to those who don't think they have a problem. Those people who don't own up to it tend to continue hurting themselves. It is a very sad situation. Anyone who is willing to admit to it shows me that they are courageous and care for themselves and their loved ones. There is no way I can feel that this is a weakness. Admitting to a drug or alcohol addiction is the hardest thing anyone can do, but it is the most beneficial and I applaud anyone who does so.

Blog 12

My sister was diagnosed with antisocial personality disorder. It is a mental disorder that disrupts thinking and relationships are dysfunctional. She was diagnosed at the age of 21, only 4 years ago. Up to the time she was diagnosed she was in and out of trouble, could not maintain a job, used drugs and accompanied herself around the wrong crowd. The relationships she formed were abusive and potentially were life threatening at times. For many years she seeked counseling but never was a diagnosis given. Finally my parents couldn't take anymore. They were helpless. They set her up with a psychiatrist and within weeks she was diagnosed and given many different meds. The psychiatrist called the whole family to come together so we could discuss our sisters mental illness and what we could do to help. I was so thankful for this meeting. I didn't realize that things I would say to my sister was actually hurting her more than helping her. After many years, my family has came along way. My sister currently is living with my father attending college and working part time. She is doing great. I am so proud of her.

Blog #11

I interviewed a pt of mine who has lived with Multiple Sclerosis for 15 years. She was first diagnosed with MS at the age of 25. She currently in a wheelchair due to her increased weakness in her lower extremities. This disability doesn't stop her from doing some of her favorite hobbies. She loves going to the movies, reading, watching her children play sports, and loves shopping. She has not had a relapse of her symptoms for a year. When she does experience a relapse the most common symptoms experienced is tingling and numbness in her lower extremities and increased fatigue. She is thankful that she hasn't experienced some of the common symptoms such as loss of vision, incontinence and paralysis. She currently receives home health physical therapy for increasing muscle tone and improving her strength especially in her lower extremities. She is so thankful for having a supportive family and wonderful friends that keep her positive and keep her spirits up. She is a pleasant woman and has a huge heart. It was a great opportunity for me to be able to interview her.

Blog #10

Cardiovascular disease is a very important topic to me. It's a topic that I am very knowledgeable about and research often. It is very important to me because at the age of 21 I suffered a heart attack. To this day doctors can't tell me why. It really bugs me that I don't know what happened. It worries me that it could possibly happen again. It is not something that I want to experience again or put my family through again. I don't have a strong family background of heart disease. My uncle and aunt both have had heart attacks in their 40's and both suffer from congestive heart failure. As far as my immediate family goes they are very healthy. So your probably wondering how this happened. Luckily my father is a doctor and he was visiting me after I had just had my 2nd child 3 weeks prior. I was driving and starting feeling pressure to my chest. The only way I can describe it by saying it felt like an elephant was sitting on my chest and wouldn't get up. I began to cry. I immediately pulled over and my father checked my pulse. It was all over the place. He immediately took me to the ER where they hooked me up to an EKG and run all my cardiac enzymes labs. At that point they told me a had suffered from a heart attack. I was there for 2 weeks and left with still no answer to why it happened. 7 years later I still don't know. I see a cardiologist yearly and everything looks fine.
One thing that I want to educate everyone on is that it is true everyone experiences a heart attack differently. People may feel indigestion, nauseated, radiating pain from shoulder down arm, chest pressure and I have heard of not feeling any symptoms. It is so important to be knowledgeable on cardiovascular disease because it can affect anyone. Take me for example, I was a 21 year old healthy fit, mother. If it wasn't for my dad being there with me I don't know what would have happened. Please everyone take care of your health.