Panic Attacks

What an interesting day this has been. The girls stayed the night again (two weeks now) and TJei headed off for a couple hours of school. Tomorrow is officially the last day of school for her, yesterday was Mia's last day. TJei had to attend until 11:00 this morning. She would be riding the bus home after school. We took Mia home about 10:00 then Mike and I headed off to Show Low. Breakfast at Denney's. Sounds good. It was good. I had a usual breakfast; scrambled eggs, bacon, and two small pancakes. Mike went for something new, Apple Pie French Toast. Yum, that was good. I had a bite of the apple and another bite of apple with some of the crumble. That was good. I'm glad (sometimes) Mike is a bit more adventurous than me on food choices. :)

We picked up pictures from Walgreen's. I was really looking forward to that! These were pictures from last weekend in the Valley with Zena at Desert Challenge and also celebrating Ashlee's birthday. Lots of smiles and special moments captured in those images. Lots of smiles looking them over.

As we crossed the intersection and started heading into Walmart, my phone rang. It was Shawn, my sister Kim's boyfriend. He was terribly upset and he told me Kim had a stroke this morning and was not doing well. I assured him I would find out what I could and get back in touch with him. It took a little while but eventually I was able to call again and felt secure in assuring him the problems Kim is experiencing are not medical matters. Her CT scan and other tests had come back normal. I think the problem is panic attacks leading to conversion disorders. Millie had experienced stroke symptoms in 2008 and that was the diagnosis they had given her when all the tests came back normal.

Long distance diagnosis yeah but I'm pretty sure there is no medical emergency with Kim at this time. I hope she is able to let go of some of the stress and get healthy again.

Conversion Disorder

Coping mechanisms built into our minds and bodies are complex and provide us with ability to endure or overcome pain, disease, adversity and other circumstances.

Yesterday evening, Millie went for another MRI and while gone for the exam, all the progress made over the past couple days (regaining speech, some movement in arm and leg) went away and she was again fully paralyzed on her right side and unable to talk or communicate. I can't even imagine how frightening that is for her.

Conversion disorder is a condition where the mind and body takes one problem and presents it as another. The disorder can even simulate stroke symptoms such as those Millie has been experiencing. I know it would be bizarre if true, but there is a possibility all this pain, worry, and expense has come about because of a toothache!

Millie had a toothache in the days before this event. Yesterday, she had completed an antibiotic treatment and been taken off that medication a short while before going for the MRI. She had told Zena her tooth was hurting her again during the day yesterday and Zena said her face had gotten puffy and inflamed on that side. The MRIs and other tests have not identified any blockage or vessel impairment (stroke) that would be causing the paralysis.

It'd be bizarre, but sure would be a blessing, if it were just a toothache causing these problems!

National Institute Health article on Conversion Disorder