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Post by Michael on Feb 3, 2006 22:03:17 GMT
Hello all, My name is Michael and I'm first cousins with someone who has been suffering from PNI for a while now. I'm presently in the US and I just learned recently that my cousin has been suffering from PNI since the birth her child. There are no help for her. I'm told she now walks the streets talking to herself. I know also that her condition did not have to be this terrible. She lives in Sierra Leone where the stigma associated with depression or any mental condition could be worse than the condition itself. I need help for her. I don't know where to turn and I'm desperate. I know that the only reason her life could be considered a waste now is because she lives in Sierra Leone. That simple reason hurts and is painful to accpet. When I Googled the search phrase this site was the first to come up. If you're reading this and can imagine how Nora could be helped, please, please, please write to: noraneedspndhelp@yahoo.com. This is an E-mail that I opened for her today to get information from anyone wishing to help. I will keep reading the pages on this site as well. I have not seen Nora for at least 12 years now and have not talked to her that long.
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Post by cheshire on Feb 3, 2006 22:34:13 GMT
Hi Michael
That is so lovely that you posted for your cousin...
How long has she been like this? She sounds like she is having a really hard time, to say the least. ...
I would of course e-mail her, but I think I will take advice from our lovely administrator, Veritee, as I think with Veritee's experience, Nora will get a better response (hope this is ok Veritee).
Thank you so much for posting, I really hope that this will help Nora in some way
Hopeful Nora, if you read this, you can say anything here, just postxxx
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Post by Jeni on Jul 26, 2006 12:47:08 GMT
???I'm worried sick about a friend. She has a very young baby and won't answer any of my calls. I've tried to encourage her to get out of the house but she won't respond. Even her husband doesn't know what is wrong. We were good friends when the baby arrived but since the (difficult!) birth she has become withdrawn, avoiding not only myself but apparently all her friends and most of her family. I had a baby last year and had PNI myself but I tried to talk to people, but she won't! I'm certain it's PNI in her case but how can I help? Any advice would be welcome!
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Post by yoyo on Jul 26, 2006 18:07:04 GMT
Hi Jeni
It's such a hard situation for you - esp if you have a gut feeling you know it's PNI and having been there yourself you know how hard things can be.
The important thing is that your friend realises she needs help - maybe you could write her a letter if she won't respond to a call or visit? Maybe you could tell her how worried you are about her, or offer to baby site so she can have a breather, or if she's feeling ill that you could talk with her, does she know you've been ill with PNI before?
Just reassure her that you're there for her no matter what - she doesn't even have to get dressed up, be good company ( I felt I was awful company when I was at my worst so would shut off from everyone ) x
Hope this helps a little - point her in the direction of this site if you can too - she may find it reassuring x
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Post by helpneeded on Nov 7, 2006 22:50:02 GMT
My daughter is currently receiving Electrocompulsive Therapy (ECT) as treatment for severe post natal depression. She is experiencing short-term memory loss, as she was told she would do, as a result of this treatment. I am concerned that, although she may recover from the post natal depression, she may continue to suffer in the future from memory difficulties. I would welcome any comments/feedback/advice regarding this from relatives of women who have been in similar circumstances, or, indeed from the mother themselves. Thankyou.
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Post by Veritee on Nov 8, 2006 18:30:00 GMT
Hi helpneeded I nearly missed you in this section - the only information i can give you about ECT is what I wrote here: veritee.proboards7.com/index.cgi?board=meds&action=display&n=1&thread=4416&page=1It is certain that short term memory loss is a side effect of ECT but this is also thought to be part of the reason ECT works and it is rare that any memory difficulties continue for more than a few months after ECT. ECT is not a permanent solution to the illness as the effects for most wear off after about three months , but in effect one of the reasons it may work is that you 'forget' that you are ill, or at least your mind/brain is shaken out of its 'ill' patterns of thought - others would say that ECT disturbs the chemical make up of the brain and hence the neurotransmitters that are known to go haywire in depression or the brain does not produce enough of them - one main neurotransmitter is seratonum But the fact is no one actually knows exactly why ECT works - but it does in many cases And in that in the 3 months or so that a course of ECT is effective to alleviate symptoms there would have been enough relief of symptoms to give therapy, counseling and medication a chance to work..... and sometimes just the rest from the symptoms is all that is needed to push the sufferer to wards recovery and as the effects of the ECT wears off, so does the memory loss.I have never had ECT but I did have a therapy that also causes memory loss ( deep sleep treatment) and this is thought to work for the same reason. However Seep Sleep treatment is now thought to be dangerous , while there is no evidence that ECT is. I think while the idea of an electric current passing through someones brain seems barbaric, this does not mean it does not work -and it is more the thought that is the most distressing than the actual experience as it is done theses days.As a mother of a young women myself I can understand how concerned you are that your daughter is having this therapy But with severe illness that can not seemed to be treated any other way - it does seem to work. However as I said I have not had ECT - others have who have used this forum have but they may not want to talk about it now or come on to see your post. As ECT as a treatment for PNI is quite rare and only for the severest symptoms. However our patron Elaine Hanzak who wrote a book about her own experience which included ECT 'Eyes without Sparkle - a journey through postnatal illness' (Radcliffe 2005) '' will probably be willing to talk to you about how ECT was for her - see her web site here: www.elainehanzak.co.uk/Do you want to email her through her site or shall I ask her to reply to you on here? All I can say is that to be faced with ECT or severe PNI is between the rock and the deep blue sea...... But knowing what I know from starting this forum , and supporting many women with PNI - if every other treatment has been tried and the PNI is severe, the sufferer can not lead a fairly 'normal ' life and especially if she has to be hospitalized .... then ECT can be worth a try under strict and skilled medical advice What unit is your daughter in? Veritee
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Post by veritee on Nov 14, 2006 21:08:39 GMT
To Veritee from helpneeded, many, many thanks for your response, November 8th, 2006. What you said, was spot on and, following your advice, Kelly's mum e-mailed Elaine Hanzak on 13th November. Elaine, herself phone that evening and spoke for about an hour. After months of worry, that I might "lose" my daughter, I now feel reassured that she will be her normal self again, in the future, even if that takes years rather than months. Now, I'm confident all will be well in the end. Once again, many, many thanks. Ray Worthington, Bebington, Wirral. P.S - Kelly should be discharged from Wythenshaw very shortly, after nine courses of ECT treatment.
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Post by beverley on Nov 14, 2006 21:24:46 GMT
Dear Ray,
I'm so glad that you have found some help from someone who has been through what your daughter is experiencing. Your story has touched my heart and I hope your daughter begins her road to recovery. She is incredibly lucky to have a parent as supportive as you and I truly wish you all the best and happiness in years to come.
xxx
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Post by Veritee on Nov 16, 2006 9:18:00 GMT
Dear Ray
I am glad that what we said we helpful and that Elaine has reassured you .
I am absolutely sure you will get your daughter back. PNI is usually self limiting except in the more severe sufferers and most do recover from PNI And of course it is rare to experience any long term memory effects from ECT.
It can be very frightening or disturbing to those around you when you do have this memory loss.
I had the same effect after I was given Deep Sleep Treatment and when I woke up I did not recognize my best friend or even my mother and father - this upset them more than me as I did not know who they were to be upset!
But this effect wore off very quickly
So all the best to you and your family
Veritee
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beau
New Member
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Post by beau on Jun 11, 2007 21:51:56 GMT
I have no experience of PNI and have read your site with great interest. The support you offer must be invaluable to many sufferers.
May I ask your advice??..... I think I may have afriend in need of help!
I have small group of 'mummy' friends, we have had some lovely times together with our young children, ranging from new borns to 4 years old.
My best girlfriend has a very long standing friend who has given me cause for concern.
The lady in question has always been alittle strange, in my opinion. She speaks to her husband as if he were a piece of S***! Which has always offended me and for this reason, we have never been close. I tolerate her, because she is my friends, friend!
She is a mother of a two year old and in my opinion has 'split personality'. One minute she is the kindest person you are ever likely to meet the next she is viscious, violent and verbally abusive.
Last week we were at my friends home and my daughter scratched another child, whilst playing rough and tumble with her little friends. the lady in question just flipped.... grabbed by daughter, pulled her away, screamed and shouted at her, swearing and screaming in her face!
I ran to my daughter, but before I got there she was in uncontrollable tears, so I just picked her up and ran home. My husband tryed to calm her down, but she insulted both my daughter and me, so he said his piece and left!
Her own son has been in hospital several times and her husband has had visable signs of being physically abused.
All of us have made excusses for her. And we always seem to rebuild our relationship and trust in her before the next incidence!
Maybe because she has now attacked my family I am being alittle over dramatic, but I just have a feeling there is more to this than a simple personality trait!
Seeing how she behaved with my daughter this week makes me wonder what goes on behind closed doors and if something happened to her son, more serious than already has I wouldn't be able to forgive myself!
What should I do???
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Post by monica on Jun 12, 2007 16:12:39 GMT
Hello and welcome
You have every right to be concerned with the behaviour of this woman. Obviously no one like their child to be hit scrathed by another but they are kids and it is quite normal for them to do this as they cannot control their feelings. But for the woman to scream, swear at your daughter is way out of line. I hope your daughter is ok , now.
Have you talked to yoru other friends? You'llprobably find they are thinking the same. Your firend who is close to this woman, has she talked to her about her her violent outbursts? If she is close, maybe she could suggest seeing her dr as she needs help.
As to whether it is PNI, I'm not mediacally qualified to sayin any way, but I think even a dr would need to check out her medical history, when this started. It sounds like her husand is on the end of her temper, he might be worth approaching and trying him to get help.
Do you have a health visitor? Maybe ask her for advice - what she would recommend you do.
All the best
Monica
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Post by sianyc on Jun 12, 2007 16:20:55 GMT
Hi Beau
Do you have reason to think she has PNI? The actions you describe are clearly concerning but I would not say that this behaviour is indicitive of PNI.
If anything, I would say that PNI sufferers tend to wear a 'mask' for the outside world so that no-one knows they have this illness.
I cannot advise you what to do in this situation as it is definately outside of my experience. Clearly, you are concerned enough to look for guidance and should act on this concern if you feel it is right to do so.
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Post by sare on Jun 13, 2007 11:43:45 GMT
Hi Beau,
I think you are right to have concerns, and the way she treated your daughter was completely unacceptable.
I agree that she needs medical help but how you go about getting this for her I don't know. I agree that speaking to her husband might be a good place to start, he may know what her feelings towards this are and how best to approach the subject
I'm sorry that we can't be any more help to you but we are not medically qualified. Whether this is pni or another mental health issue we cannot say.
I would like to wish you good luck with this and I sincerely hope that this lady can get the help she needs
I also hope that you daughter is ok now?
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