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mom2michelle 
3:52pm, September 22, 2009
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About Me
mom2michelle
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About Me
Married with two grown stepchildren. My daughter Michelle was born at 24 wks. in August 2004 and died when she was a week old of complications of extreme prematurity. We miss and love her so much.
Married with two grown stepchildren. My daughter Michelle was born at 24 wks. in August 2004 and died when she was a week old of complications of extreme prematurity. We miss and love her so much.
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Interests
Computers (just about anything to do with them LOL), crafts, music, family, my cat, support for fellow parents who have lost children. I am the leader of my local chapter of The Compassionate Friends.
Computers (just about anything to do with them LOL), crafts, music, family, my cat, support for fellow
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Journal
This entry is private
This entry is private
This entry is private
This entry is private
This entry is private
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Photos
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Support Groups
Close Bereavement
Type: Loss of a ChildIn August 2004 I was 5 months pregnant with my first child when I developed high blood pressure, which eventually morphed into preeclampsia and HELLP syndrome. My daughter Michelle Elizabeth was born at 24 weeks on 8/25/04. We lost her to complications of extreme prematurity on 9/1/04 when she was 7 days old.
Treatments
- Crying Working / Worked
- Just getting the pain out can be really helpful.
- Helping Others Working / Worked
- I try to lend support wherever I can and I am the leader of my local Compassionate Friends chapter.
- Keeping Busy Somewhat Helpful
- I do part time work (not as emotionally or physically taxing) and I like to do things for other angel mommies.
- Music Somewhat Helpful
- Music always helps me...especially upbeat songs and ones I loved when I was younger.
- Pets Working / Worked
- My cat brings a lot of joy to my life!
- Psychotherapy Somewhat Helpful
- I went to a counselor for a while after my loss and it was good to have someone to talk to who was neutral but supportive.
- Reading Somewhat Helpful
- Reading books about pregnancy and infant loss helped in the early days.
- Remembering Working / Worked
- I love to do things in memory of Michelle!
- Support from Friends & Family Somewhat Helpful
- Family is supportive but they don't talk much about Michelle.
- Support Groups Working / Worked
- SHARE and The Compassionate Friends have been lifelines.
- Talking Working / Worked
- Just talking to other bereaved parents makes a big difference...we know we are not alone, or crazy.
- Time Somewhat Helpful
- It has been several years and the pain has eased, though it will never be gone.
Close Bipolar Disorder
I have suffered from anxiety almost all my life and depression since about age 10. Recently my doctors and I agreed that I might actually be bipolar type 2. I am looking to find out more information about it since it still seems so huge to me.
Treatments
- Cymbalta Somewhat Helpful
- No longer taking it due to trying to go off some meds to possibly try to conceive a baby.
- Klonopin Somewhat Helpful
- Went off it for a while, and am now taking Clonazepam but that is not working -- doc wants me to take the brand name so I will be doing that as soon as the insurance company (grrrr) will let me get it again.
- Lamictal Working / Worked
- Went off it in preparation for possibly trying to conceive but it seemed to be working better than the antidepressants alone.
- Trazodone Working / Worked
- I think it helped a lot but might have been part of the reason for my very vivid, strange dreams. I am no longer taking it.
- Wellbutrin Somewhat Helpful
- I took Wellbutrin XL for about a year and a half but went off of it it thinking it could be related to sleep problems. I am now not really sure how helpful it was...I was taking so many different ADs.
Open Depression
Type: Clinical (Major) DepressionI have been treated for Bipolar II in the past but depression has always been the defining factor. I am not on meds right now and I am having a hard time.
Treatments
- Cognitive Behavioral Therapy Considering
- My therapist supposedly works with a CBT "model" as taught to her in school, but so far all we've been doing is talking -- I'm going to see if she can help me more with exercises and I have to make a commitment to follow through.
- Cymbalta Somewhat Helpful
- It helped at 30mg...I tried 60mg but it was too much for me. No longer taking it as of spring 2009.
- Lexapro Somewhat Helpful
- Was on it for a while but eventually I felt the need to try something else.
- Paxil Not Working
- Made me too shaky!
- Prozac Too Soon to Tell
- Just started taking it on 8/25/09.
- Psychotherapy Somewhat Helpful
- I think I need more than talk therapy now, though talking has been better than nothing.
- Support from Friends & Family Working / Worked
- Trazodone Working / Worked
- Helped me fall asleep for a while. No longer taking it.
- Wellbutrin Somewhat Helpful
- Seemed to help for a while. No longer taking it.
Open Anxiety
I have suffered from anxiety almost all my life and right now I have it almost constantly. Trying desperately to find solutions that are not necessarily medications.
Treatments
- Breathing Exercises Somewhat Helpful
- It's hard for me to concentrate long enough to do it!
- Klonopin Working / Worked
- I have been taking the Clonazepam generic but it's not working. My psychiatrist just put me back on the brand Klonopin but the insurance co. won't fill it for another week since I just got the generic refilled about 2 weeks ago...sigh.
- Positive Thinking Somewhat Helpful
- I try really hard to do this...but I guess trying isn't good enough, I have to DO it.
- Xanax Working / Worked
- It works, but I haven't had an Rx for it in a long time -- don't want to become dependent.
Open Agoraphobia & Social Anxiety
I was "shy" as a child and feel I've suffered from some degree of SA ever since. I am better at some things now, but the same or worse at others. Working is hard for me because of office politics.
Open Trying To Conceive
I am off birth control since March...in 2004 I lost my first child when she was born at 24 weeks due to my preeclampsia and HELLP syndrome, and I've been so scared to try again. I'm still scared but I am 41 now and don't want to miss my last chance. I've wanted to be the mom to living children all my life.
Open DailyStrength Members Community
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