My son is doing better and REW's advice was right!

I just wanted to give everyone an update on my son's situation. If you want to read the original topic, it's here: http://www.dailystrength.org/groups/families-of-sex-offenders/discussions/messages/21638597

The turning point was when everyone started sending up prayers for my son. This forum isn't the only place I asked for help. I had friends and family praying, also. The very day I first posted here, I also sent a long message to my friends and family about my son's symptoms and the seeming lack of adequate medical care in the prison. Not long after, my son called and told me that he could feel the prayers. His symptoms stopped on that very day and they haven't come back since then.

Not only that, but I did as REW encouraged me to do and contacted the Director of Clinical and Correctional Services with Colorado DOC. That office forwarded my long email to the Private Prisons Monitoring Unit, because my son is in a private prison. Shortly thereafter, I received a call from the nurse with PPMU who travels to all the private prisons in the state.

At that time, the PPMU nurse wasn't able to discuss my son's case with me, because my son hadn't been able to renew the "release of information" form necessary to allow such. He finally got that done and she did call me again and was very, very nice to tell me everything she could to reassure me they are taking my son's case seriously. She also told me to tell my son to submit a "kite" requesting to meet with her when she next visited his prison, which he did.

The PPMU nurse called me a few days ago, after having met in person with my son, and told me even more helpful information. She said the medical department has put in a request for my son to visit a cardiologist, but the insurance company has to approve it first. So, for now, we're waiting on that.

She told me she had shared with my son that his symptoms fit the description of panic attacks and she told me he rejected that diagnosis. I told her he has had episodes of heart pounding, racing, and arrhythmia for decades, but they have never caused symptoms like he had a few weeks ago. Hence, I can understand him not wanting to get pigeonholed into a diagnosis that will send his medical care down the wrong path.

She said he told her the same thing and she suggested he try using some non-pharmaceutical techniques, if and when he ever has severe symptoms again. There are breathing techniques, she said, and it won't hurt anything, if they don't work. But if they do, then the problem will be solved. My son was willing, but hesitant, because he doesn't want to be ignored if something really serious happens.

She gave me her direct phone number and her email address. She invited me to contact her any time I have any concerns or questions. She also told me she had met with my son for quite a while and they had a very nice talk. She described my son as polite, courteous, healthy-looking, and positive. I told her I was really glad to hear that.

She said she visits each prison 2 to 3 times per month, so she plans to have a follow up meeting with my son next time she's there. She said she is looking forward to it, because it's not often she encounters an inmate with such a positive attitude.

My son called me after their meeting and told me she was a very good listener, not interrupting him at all. She just let him talk and he talked a lot. She told him she will discuss with the prison's health care supervisor about the one nurse's lack of professionalism. Hopefully, that will have a positive effect on the entire situation. We’ll see.

Thanks to everyone for your prayers, words of encouragement, and positive energy. I don’t know where I’d be without the wonderful people on this forum.