(no subject)
Wow, what an update I have!
I'm exhausted, angry, excited, fulfilled, frustrated, and pissed. Which way is up?!
May 11 - Alexis meets with Diane, a Psychiatric Nurse Practioner and is diagnosed with OCD and Anxiety Disorder.
May 16 - Brent and I begin to give Alexis Zoloft in a liquid concentrate. The concentrate is 20 mg / ml and we are instructed to give her 2.5 mls = 50 mg.
June 6 - Alexis' follow up with Diane. Diane instructs me to double the dose and writes a new Rx. I fill it and begin to give Alexis 5 mls of 20 mg / ml = 100 mg.
July 8 - refill Alexis' prescription and continue the 5 mls of 20 mg / ml = 100 mg.
August 4 - submit a request to refill Alexis' prescription.
August 5 - stop by pharmacy to pick up. The tech tells me the prescription was pulled, thus I can't have it. I ask for Pharmacist. Pharmacist (Annette) tells me she thinks the dose is wrong. She has a call into Diane for correction.
August 7 - I pick up a refill of the 100 mg solution because Annette has not heard back from Diane and I need Alexis on the medication because she starts school the next day.
August 12 - I pick up the new prescription of 20 mg / ml with a dose of .25 ml = 5 mg. Annette received a call from a nurse that works for Diane.
August 13 - 15 - Alexis is having some weird symptoms including headaches, dizziness, upset stomach, irratibility, agression, lack of coping, etc.
August 16 - Alexis throws up two times in the morning. After the second time, she is able to keep down her breakfast of oatmeal and goes to school. She does fine all day. At 5:30 p.m., Brent and the kids park outside my work to pick me up. I walk outside to see Alexis throwing up again. I clean her up and we get back in the car. Alexis begs us to still take her to "church school" (this is the first night of the school year) so she can see Grandma (my mom works at the church). We get to the church and my Mom tries to say "hi" to Alexis at the car's window. Alexis acts shy and covers her eyes, so my Mom says "bye" and leaves. Alexis proceeds to have a melt down that lasts for about 15 - 20 minutes during the drive home. She makes comments like how she's such a "bad kid" and her brother "is a better kid". Then she starts to roll her window down and says she's going to jump out. A few minutes later, she is finally calm. Then I hear Jayce scream, turn around to find out Alexis randomly reached over and dug her nails into his arm.
As soon as we get home, I take Alexis into her room where she just lays her head down on her desk (not like her) exhausted from the rage. I get the phone and call children's hospital Diane works for. I get a call back from the Pyschiatrist on-call for the night and explain everything to him. He instructs me to take Alexis to ER for evaluation for over-dose and withdrawal symptoms.
I take her to ER where every nurse and doctor that asks me what happened freaks out when I tell them she's been on 100 mg of Zoloft for two months then was brought down to 5 mg. A Social Worker stops in to assess the situation (since it's "mental health" related). She tells me her recommendation is to admit Alexis to St. Luke's hospital because they have a mental health ward where Alexis can be seen and monitored by a Pyschiatrist. I agree.
We end up spending the night in ER where Alexis has her blood drawn and an EKG done. Finally at 11 a.m. the next day, she is transported by ambulance to St. Lukes. Alexis and I wait six more hours while being interviewed about three times where I am asked the exact same questions. Finally, we're almost done and about to be "admitted" when I am asked for payment. I inquire about an ATM. The lady says, "Oh, don't worry. Just bring cash when you come to visit tomorrow." My reaction was, "What do you mean 'visit'?" I find out that Alexis will be admitted into an actual mental health facility where she will LIVE without ME or BRENT for multiple days up to a WEEK. Like, with other mentally handicap and troubled kids.
I call Brent crying. He drops Jayce off at his parent's and drives out to the hospital. We meet with the nurses again and tell them we were not aware of the arrangement. The nurses talk us in to staying.
Finally, we're walking Alexis down to the unit to be admitted. We walk in to mostly boys, probably ages 9 - 12, running around crazy in a large room. We are taken to a small room that has a main wall of all windows, so we can watch the madness. We see a girl, probably 11 or 12, severly mentally handicap, going crazy. I start crying again.
A nurse comes in and tells me that I have to take Alexis to a bathroom, undress her, give them her clothes so they can search them. When that is done I redress her and go back to the room. I ask for a Supervisor and explain we don't feel certain and want to ask questions. She tells us to complete the paperwork first. The first paper I read asks if Alexis has ever been restrained in a mental facility before and requires I sign to give them permission to restrain her...in leather restraints if needed.
Brent and I exchanged a look and both knew there was NO way this was happening. The Nurse Manager, Sergio, comes in. We talk for about 15 minutes before I finally tell him that if we can't see a Psychiatrist now and we are not allowed to stay in a private hospital room with her, then it's a waste of time and breath to continue the conversation. Sergio has me sign a paper saying we are refusing the recommended treatment, then we leave.
Brent dropped Alexis and me at home before he leaves to pick up Jayce. I go straight to the phone and call the children's hospital again requesting to speak to the Psychiatrist on-call. I receive a call from a doctor other than the one I spoke to the night previous. She talks to me for about 30 minutes and lets me explain the entire siutation. This Psychiatrist was willing to call in a new prescription to treat Alexis' OCD (considering this was only her second week of school). I instruct her to speak with Annette, since Annette knows the entire situation.
I receive a call about an hour later from the Psychiatrist. Her and Annette spoke for at least 30 minutes discussing the pros and cons of Zoloft vs. Celexa and liquid vs. pills. Turns out the liquid concentrate has a high alcohol content so the Psychiatrist tells me she thinks Alexis was not only withdrawing from the Zoloft, but the alcohol as well. Swell.
She ended up calling in a prescription of Zoloft 25 mg in pill form for Alexis. Annette stays late to fill it immediately so we can give Alexis a pill before bed.
It has now been 10 days since Alexis was given the 5 mg dose of Zoloft. The withdrawl symptoms have ended. Some of her OCD symptoms are present, but nothing too bad. I am lucky enough to get an appointment with a new Psychiatrist in about five weeks.
Brent and I are contacting law firms to see what our options are.
That was truly the worst 24 hours I have ever been through.
But Alexis is doing great. :)
Then today I get the call Brent and I have been waiting for. And an e-mail as well. :) Our close of escrow date is set for September 20th. We will have a walk-through inspection at 9 a.m. and signing at noon. I. Am. Beyond. Excited.
Our Loan Officer called and told me he would be e-mailing me a list of documents to supply him so he can begin working on our loan. I go to check my e-mail and see his e-mail as well as one from the builder. Without speaking to each other, the builder just happened to e-mail me the same afternoon my Lender did! The builder's e-mail had the date and time of closing as well as the official closing letter.
I can't believe this is FINALLY happening. In a month from today, Brent and I could be living in our first HOUSE with our kids.
Please keep us in your thoughts and prayers. 1 - for the pending lawsuit; 2 - Alexis' health; 3 - that the closing goes as planned and we get our house.
:)
I'm exhausted, angry, excited, fulfilled, frustrated, and pissed. Which way is up?!
May 11 - Alexis meets with Diane, a Psychiatric Nurse Practioner and is diagnosed with OCD and Anxiety Disorder.
May 16 - Brent and I begin to give Alexis Zoloft in a liquid concentrate. The concentrate is 20 mg / ml and we are instructed to give her 2.5 mls = 50 mg.
June 6 - Alexis' follow up with Diane. Diane instructs me to double the dose and writes a new Rx. I fill it and begin to give Alexis 5 mls of 20 mg / ml = 100 mg.
July 8 - refill Alexis' prescription and continue the 5 mls of 20 mg / ml = 100 mg.
August 4 - submit a request to refill Alexis' prescription.
August 5 - stop by pharmacy to pick up. The tech tells me the prescription was pulled, thus I can't have it. I ask for Pharmacist. Pharmacist (Annette) tells me she thinks the dose is wrong. She has a call into Diane for correction.
August 7 - I pick up a refill of the 100 mg solution because Annette has not heard back from Diane and I need Alexis on the medication because she starts school the next day.
August 12 - I pick up the new prescription of 20 mg / ml with a dose of .25 ml = 5 mg. Annette received a call from a nurse that works for Diane.
August 13 - 15 - Alexis is having some weird symptoms including headaches, dizziness, upset stomach, irratibility, agression, lack of coping, etc.
August 16 - Alexis throws up two times in the morning. After the second time, she is able to keep down her breakfast of oatmeal and goes to school. She does fine all day. At 5:30 p.m., Brent and the kids park outside my work to pick me up. I walk outside to see Alexis throwing up again. I clean her up and we get back in the car. Alexis begs us to still take her to "church school" (this is the first night of the school year) so she can see Grandma (my mom works at the church). We get to the church and my Mom tries to say "hi" to Alexis at the car's window. Alexis acts shy and covers her eyes, so my Mom says "bye" and leaves. Alexis proceeds to have a melt down that lasts for about 15 - 20 minutes during the drive home. She makes comments like how she's such a "bad kid" and her brother "is a better kid". Then she starts to roll her window down and says she's going to jump out. A few minutes later, she is finally calm. Then I hear Jayce scream, turn around to find out Alexis randomly reached over and dug her nails into his arm.
As soon as we get home, I take Alexis into her room where she just lays her head down on her desk (not like her) exhausted from the rage. I get the phone and call children's hospital Diane works for. I get a call back from the Pyschiatrist on-call for the night and explain everything to him. He instructs me to take Alexis to ER for evaluation for over-dose and withdrawal symptoms.
I take her to ER where every nurse and doctor that asks me what happened freaks out when I tell them she's been on 100 mg of Zoloft for two months then was brought down to 5 mg. A Social Worker stops in to assess the situation (since it's "mental health" related). She tells me her recommendation is to admit Alexis to St. Luke's hospital because they have a mental health ward where Alexis can be seen and monitored by a Pyschiatrist. I agree.
We end up spending the night in ER where Alexis has her blood drawn and an EKG done. Finally at 11 a.m. the next day, she is transported by ambulance to St. Lukes. Alexis and I wait six more hours while being interviewed about three times where I am asked the exact same questions. Finally, we're almost done and about to be "admitted" when I am asked for payment. I inquire about an ATM. The lady says, "Oh, don't worry. Just bring cash when you come to visit tomorrow." My reaction was, "What do you mean 'visit'?" I find out that Alexis will be admitted into an actual mental health facility where she will LIVE without ME or BRENT for multiple days up to a WEEK. Like, with other mentally handicap and troubled kids.
I call Brent crying. He drops Jayce off at his parent's and drives out to the hospital. We meet with the nurses again and tell them we were not aware of the arrangement. The nurses talk us in to staying.
Finally, we're walking Alexis down to the unit to be admitted. We walk in to mostly boys, probably ages 9 - 12, running around crazy in a large room. We are taken to a small room that has a main wall of all windows, so we can watch the madness. We see a girl, probably 11 or 12, severly mentally handicap, going crazy. I start crying again.
A nurse comes in and tells me that I have to take Alexis to a bathroom, undress her, give them her clothes so they can search them. When that is done I redress her and go back to the room. I ask for a Supervisor and explain we don't feel certain and want to ask questions. She tells us to complete the paperwork first. The first paper I read asks if Alexis has ever been restrained in a mental facility before and requires I sign to give them permission to restrain her...in leather restraints if needed.
Brent and I exchanged a look and both knew there was NO way this was happening. The Nurse Manager, Sergio, comes in. We talk for about 15 minutes before I finally tell him that if we can't see a Psychiatrist now and we are not allowed to stay in a private hospital room with her, then it's a waste of time and breath to continue the conversation. Sergio has me sign a paper saying we are refusing the recommended treatment, then we leave.
Brent dropped Alexis and me at home before he leaves to pick up Jayce. I go straight to the phone and call the children's hospital again requesting to speak to the Psychiatrist on-call. I receive a call from a doctor other than the one I spoke to the night previous. She talks to me for about 30 minutes and lets me explain the entire siutation. This Psychiatrist was willing to call in a new prescription to treat Alexis' OCD (considering this was only her second week of school). I instruct her to speak with Annette, since Annette knows the entire situation.
I receive a call about an hour later from the Psychiatrist. Her and Annette spoke for at least 30 minutes discussing the pros and cons of Zoloft vs. Celexa and liquid vs. pills. Turns out the liquid concentrate has a high alcohol content so the Psychiatrist tells me she thinks Alexis was not only withdrawing from the Zoloft, but the alcohol as well. Swell.
She ended up calling in a prescription of Zoloft 25 mg in pill form for Alexis. Annette stays late to fill it immediately so we can give Alexis a pill before bed.
It has now been 10 days since Alexis was given the 5 mg dose of Zoloft. The withdrawl symptoms have ended. Some of her OCD symptoms are present, but nothing too bad. I am lucky enough to get an appointment with a new Psychiatrist in about five weeks.
Brent and I are contacting law firms to see what our options are.
That was truly the worst 24 hours I have ever been through.
But Alexis is doing great. :)
Then today I get the call Brent and I have been waiting for. And an e-mail as well. :) Our close of escrow date is set for September 20th. We will have a walk-through inspection at 9 a.m. and signing at noon. I. Am. Beyond. Excited.
Our Loan Officer called and told me he would be e-mailing me a list of documents to supply him so he can begin working on our loan. I go to check my e-mail and see his e-mail as well as one from the builder. Without speaking to each other, the builder just happened to e-mail me the same afternoon my Lender did! The builder's e-mail had the date and time of closing as well as the official closing letter.
I can't believe this is FINALLY happening. In a month from today, Brent and I could be living in our first HOUSE with our kids.
Please keep us in your thoughts and prayers. 1 - for the pending lawsuit; 2 - Alexis' health; 3 - that the closing goes as planned and we get our house.
:)