Health

HAPPY NEW YEAR 2019

Published on by Catherine M Laub

My wish is for you and your family to have a very Happy, Healthy and Prosperous New Year in 2019.


2018 ended terribly for me and I am looking forward to 2019 for better days.


I share this because I’m sure some of you are thinking the same thing.


You see, I forgot to discuss with my psychiatrist about adding medications to prepare for the dark season. I struggle with Seasonal Affective Disorder (S.A.D.) which affects many of us when we have shorter days and not enough sunlight. It causes major depression in me and this past week was a horror. I cried uncontrollably and was suicidal. 

Christmas Eve began well. I had my 3 children and my grandchildren here. I loved watching the little ones open their gifts and even several that weren’t theirs. LOL
My kids asked me to be open minded on a conversation which happens yearly. I was informed they were all invited to my brother’s house but to tell me I am not welcome. They are torn between old traditions which ended in 2011 and new ones where just us get together on Christmas Eve.

This conversation stems from a letter I wrote after my second hospitalization for suicidal thoughts in 2011. I shared with each of my 5 siblings how each of them hurt me and pointed out how they all gang up on me. I also pointed out about each of them and their indiscretions. Each one of them doesn’t get ganged up on like I always do.


One of my siblings can’t let it go so they all hold gatherings without me and my husband, Tony. 

My children still blame me for the problem and especially one of my daughters can’t let it go that I “wrote the letter”. It hurts me so much that I told her I can’t speak with her any more. My psychiatrist told me I made the right decision because I have to protect myself.

I share this because I want you to know although I share all my tools and support, I still struggle with mental illnesses and have setbacks.

How I got through last week and continue going forward is  mainly with support from Tony. He keeps hugging me and telling me he loves me and I am a good person and we will get through this. 

I saw my psychiatrist Friday and he prescribed Celexa, which has already started to help me feel better. He also upped the doses on 2 other medications.

I think positive and have my affirmations.


If you feel like you are struggling with depression, or stress of any kind you can reach out for support and know there is stress resolution in all forms. Know you can email me and ask for guidance in your particular situation.


God gave me these and many other health issues so I can be there for you and help you recognize you are not alone.


Please remember to listen to my podcast where I interview people about their support in many different modalities. I speak often about my mental illnesses and how I get through my days.


https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/the-celestial-spoon/id1352442447

ALLERGIES AND EPI PEN

Published on by Catherine M Laub

My daughter had a severe reaction to a bee sting last week and my husband posted this to everyone

8/10/2017 MUST READ MY Urgent message to all

This past Sunday afternoon, our oldest daughter Jennifer visited us with her husband John. Jennifer went out to the front yard by the fishpond to have a smoke (wearing flip-flops) and was stung by a tiny yellow jacket on her small toe. Within 2 minutes she was having an EXTREME allergic reaction; pain, dizziness, difficulty breathing, loss of awareness, etc. Thank God Cathy had an Epi-Pen because Jennifer had stopped breathing. John and Cathy read the instructions and gave her the injection which got her breathing again. As the EMT’s arrived several minutes later she once again stopped breathing and the EMT’s gave her another Epi-Pen shot and started administering oxygen with, I believe, an antihistamine mist. The EMTs were obviously seriously worried because during the ambulance trip to the hospital they prepared Jennifer for the electric paddles, just in case. For the first 5-6 hours in the hospital intensive care ER unit Jennifer was totally out of it, shaking like a leaf, trying to rip off the oxygen mask and pull out the IV that the ambulance EMTs put directly into the side of her neck. Note that a number of years ago Jennifer had been stung by bees and bitten by a wasp, you would think that she would not be allergic … WRONG!!

After many hours in the ER and numerous tests including a CAT Scan they released Jennifer Monday with a laundry list of symptoms to be on the lookout for, during the next few days. The discharge nurse also advised that this trauma did damage to her heart comparable to a minor heart attack

A number of these symptoms appeared Tuesday afternoon and John took her to the ER where they again performed various tests including another CAT Scan. Jennifer was released Wednesday with 4 different prescriptions to combat the remaining symptoms.

My message to all HAVE AN EPI-PEN AVAILABLE AT ALL TIMES BECAUSE YOU NEVER KNOW.

Without the Epi-Pen Jennifer would probably not have survived.

Tony

 

I HIGHLY RECOMMEND EVERYONE SHOULD HAVE AN EPI PEN FOR ANY ALLERGIC REACTION. YOU NEVER KNOW!!

I CONTINUALLY THANK GOD THAT I HAD AN EPI PEN WHICH SAVED JENNIFER’S LIFE!!