![[dr. bob]](/dr-bob-sm.gif)
Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 7 of 7. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by floridagal on July 26, 2006, at 17:07:34
Hi, fca! How are you? I have been too busy (ie- forgetful) to think of checking this site for awhile. So I checked today and see that your daughter managed to get into a treatment center in Georgia. Wow, that is awesome! I hope both of you are doing well. Please write back when you get a chance.
Posted by fca on July 27, 2006, at 17:55:27
In reply to fca- how's your daughter?, posted by floridagal on July 26, 2006, at 17:07:34
ask, I was just going to post an update and there you were. I just returned last night from Atlanta where I spent three days with her--she got an overnight for one of the evenings--she looks wonderful, has that glow of sobriety and is immersed in the ED program--she resisted it at first but it has been much more revealing to her (about herself, self image and needs) than her parallel involvment in the substance abuse program. She will be there until 8-12-06 for a total of about 7 weeks. I am optimistic but natuarally guarded. What I feel the best about is she seems to have moved through denial and deeply appreciates the seriousness of her disorders (no more glibness), appears to be on a very good medication program (her first). As you know she has groups from morn until bed time but also sees a psychiatrist three times a week and her therapist three or four times a week. It is a very well structured program, no fluff, but extremely professional and thorough. Interestingly one of the drugs she is on is remeron which is known for weight gain--it is almost a given--when she raised this concern they were very direct and told her this was the drug they were going to use and her weight was not a priority for them--this was not about weight management but effectively managing her anxiety/depression, self image and false beliefs about herself. She is also on lexapro and very low dose seroquel. I thought the most interesting thing she said is that with the medications she feels the way she always wanted to feel while drinking--no rumination, no anxiety and an ability to concentrate. She is moving back to her apartment when she is discharged and will go back to her former job. We all know this is higher risk strategy than a 3/4 house but they are very hard to find. She has made a treatment comitment to then move to another community--away from us--for at leat a year or two. She understands the need to build active support with others and not be so dependent on us for social support. She feels very strong about returning to her job as they have been extremely supportive and she truly likes the people with whom she works--I will keep you updates--Thanks for asking Frank
BTW--we had some great food while in Atlanta and I was delighted to see her appreciate it, eat with gusto and moderation--
Posted by fca on July 27, 2006, at 17:57:35
In reply to fca- how's your daughter?, posted by floridagal on July 26, 2006, at 17:07:34
I never asked about you--hope all is well--sorry for the self absorption--you are very kind and have been extremely helpful Frank
Posted by floridagal on August 21, 2006, at 20:07:20
In reply to Re: fca- how's your daughter? I just realized, posted by fca on July 27, 2006, at 17:57:35
Hello, Frank.
How is your daughter doing? I assume that by now she has left the treatment center, so hopefully she is adjusting well to the outside life.Thanks for asking about me, by the way. Things have been a whirlwind around here. My mother had a heart transplant in May (completely unexpected and done on an emergency basis), I found out I had a tumor on my pituitary gland and just had it removed a few weeks ago, and now, my fiance is at Sierra Tuscon for oxycontin addiction. WHEW. Sort of ironic that I was just looking at that place when it was suggested for your daughter, and now I'm looking at it because my fiance is there. His brother was there for the same thing last year, and although I know it's not the place that cures the person, at least I know his brother is still doing well. Thank God, my fiance did this all on his own. He wants sobriety badly, and as he put it, this is the first time HE wanted it and couldn't get it. He seems like he is ready to change, so we will see.
Well, I hope you are doing well. Keep in touch,
floridagal
Posted by Racer on August 23, 2006, at 2:20:25
In reply to Re: fca- how's your daughter? I just realized, posted by floridagal on August 21, 2006, at 20:07:20
>
>
> I found out I had a tumor on my pituitary gland and just had it removed a few weeks ago,Acromegaly? Or Cushing's? Sorry -- someone I loved very much had Cushing's, from a benign pituitary tumor, and I'm always curious about other people's experiences with it.
Have you noticed any improvement in your mental health since having it removed? Depression was a big symptom for my friend.
Posted by fca on August 24, 2006, at 15:32:58
In reply to Re: fca- how's your daughter? I just realized, posted by floridagal on August 21, 2006, at 20:07:20
Thanks for the reponse--she is home--four days later she relapsed for one night but has since pulled herself together and appears to being well--working regularly, has a sponsor, very active in AA and setting good boundaries. My mother had Cushings and we have always wondered about my daughter--she has many, many of the signs. Your post encourages me to have her follow up with an endocrinologist--she has almost every clinical symptom of Cushings but her physicians have always written it off to either her drinking and /or ED. Please take care and stay in touch fca
Posted by floridagal on August 25, 2006, at 19:02:05
In reply to Re: fca- how's your daughter? I just realized, posted by fca on August 24, 2006, at 15:32:58
Hi!
My pituitary tumor was a complete surprise to me! It was found only because it began to hemorrhage, giving me an incredible migraine. Fortunately, I was already in the hospital for another surgery when it happened, so I only had to suffer for 48 hours before they discovered what was going on. They thought I had had a stroke or something. I was given a steroid injection to decrease the swelling, which I guess saved my life. I was then given oral steroids for 5 days, and that was it! I never had another symptom previously or since. The reason I had it removed, however, is because it was crushing my optic nerves, and was therefore threatening my vision. My doctors were surprised I am not blind and that in fact, my vision is quite good. As far as depression goes, I haven't suffered with that since a year or so after I quit drinking and gave up my eating disorder.Fca, I am glad to hear that your daughter is doing well. It's not abnormal at all to have a slip, especially so early in recovery, but it is good to hear that she has immersed herself in AA and other groups. My sponsor, others in AA, and people from my old eating disorder groups have truly been my saving grace. I have a tendency to be an isolator, so for me, reaching out and becoming involved has been a key element in my recovery. I'm certain this is true for most alcoholics and ED people.
Anyways....I'm off to visit my mother on the other side of the country tomorrow. It's been almost 4 months since her heart transplant, and 3 months since I've seen her, so I am pretty excited. I am also going to visit my fiance at Sierra Tuscon this Sunday. Talked to him last night and this afternoon and he sounds pretty upbeat, which surprised me! Again, it's my support group who is carrying me through this.
Hope all of you are well! Stay healthy!
This is the end of the thread.
Psycho-Babble Eating | Extras | FAQ
Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.org
Script revised: February 4, 2008
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/cgi-bin/pb/mget.pl
Copyright 2006-17 Robert Hsiung.
Owned and operated by Dr. Bob LLC and not the University of Chicago.