Psycho-Babble Medication Thread 9225

Shown: posts 1 to 7 of 7. This is the beginning of the thread.

 

valium during pregnancy

Posted by Jean on July 26, 1999, at 13:24:27

Hi! My husband and I adopted a little girl when she was 6 mts. old. She is now 18 yo and showing many emotional problems. 9 psychiatric admissions, 8 group homes, 3 private schools. Currently in jail for major theft. Beautiful girl. High IQ. Artistic and talented in many areas. Her current diagnosis is borderline personality disorder. I recently learned that her bio. mom attempted suicide during pregnancy with an overdose of valium. I'm wondering if that overdose could have harmed her brain chemistry in a way that is now surfacing as emotional problems. I love this young lady very much. Any help to understand her problems would be greatly appreciated.
Thanks much. Jean

 

Re: valium during pregnancy

Posted by saintjames on July 26, 1999, at 16:56:59

In reply to valium during pregnancy, posted by Jean on July 26, 1999, at 13:24:27

> Hi! My husband and I adopted a little girl when she was 6 mts. old. She is now 18 yo and showing many emotional problems. 9 psychiatric admissions, 8 group homes, 3 private schools. Currently in jail for major theft. Beautiful girl. High IQ. Artistic and talented in many areas. Her current diagnosis is borderline personality disorder. I recently learned that her bio. mom attempted suicide during pregnancy with an overdose of valium. I'm wondering if that overdose could have harmed her brain chemistry in a way that is now surfacing as emotional problems. I love this young lady very much. Any help to understand her problems would be greatly appreciated.
> Thanks much. Jean

James here....

I would be conserned about what illness the mom had and if there is a genetic componant to this girls problems or if this unstable mom had care of this child for the first 6 mo. of her life and what, if anything, negative happened.

j

 

Re: valium during pregnancy

Posted by Jean on July 26, 1999, at 21:31:07

In reply to Re: valium during pregnancy, posted by saintjames on July 26, 1999, at 16:56:59

Chrissy's mom was diagnosed with Huntington's Chorea during her pregnancy. I realize this may be genetically transferred--50% chance. Chrissy shows no cognitive impairment. Her major problems are impulsivity, poor judgement and decisions, some self-destructive tendencies, problems with identity / empty feelings. She was placed immediately after birth with a caring foster family. I understand that there is a test to determine if the Huntington's gene is present. I just don't know if she is stable enough right now to handle that kind of information if it would be positive for H.C. How do I sort out what may be Valium overdose effects, or the beginning of H.C. or Borderline Personality Disorder? Or, is it even necessary that I try to? I want so very much to help her. Thanks for whatever info./thoughts you can share. Jean

 

Re: valium during pregnancy

Posted by saintjames on July 26, 1999, at 22:48:43

In reply to Re: valium during pregnancy, posted by Jean on July 26, 1999, at 21:31:07

> Chrissy's mom was diagnosed with Huntington's Chorea during her pregnancy.

James here...

When I mentioned genetics i was thinking more along the line that you daughter inheriated a mental illness from mom. I am sorry to hear that you are having to deal with the possibility of HC.
This is the problem with genetic tests...we can prove you will get (or might)something but in the case of HC there is no treatment to stop the progression.

What are the docs saying and are any meds working to help your daughter ? Do they think the valium
or early HC to be a possibility ? I looking on the net for any studies or documentation on valium
and pregnancy.

You could go crazy trying to nail down the cause of this persons problem, so don't. There may not be a clear answer. Deal with the here and now, what happened in the past or was inherited is beyond you control. Do you have a good doc ? If you don't, let the list know and we can point you
to resources where you can find a good one.

james

 

Re: valium during pregnancy

Posted by Levi on July 26, 1999, at 23:35:49

In reply to Re: valium during pregnancy, posted by saintjames on July 26, 1999, at 22:48:43

Sorry to hear about your difficulties. a number of points that might be helpful; It is obviously a difficult decision to test for huntington's, let alone for someone who is having such difficult emotional times. The fact that your daughter is having emotional problems and not necessarily physical ones does not mean that she does not have HC. Many patients present with purely emotional/psychiatric issues, only to develop the full range of sxmptoms later. while there is at present no cure for the disease, there are treatments that can ameliorate many of the symptoms-i.e mood lability, impulsivity, psychosis.as to the issue of valium and prenatal insult to your daughter, it is certainly a possibility, and the oD attempt by her mother makes me wonder if she was not using valium/alcohol/other substances during her pregnancy. I think that it might not be a bad idea to get an EEG.
Where do you live? I might know a specialist who is well versed in borderline PD to refer you. Good luck, You sound most supportive and caring.

 

Re: valium during pregnancy

Posted by Jean on July 27, 1999, at 7:11:45

In reply to Re: valium during pregnancy, posted by Levi on July 26, 1999, at 23:35:49

saintjames and Levi, thank you for your support and interest through this. It really helps. We just very recently learned about the Valium overdose during pregnancy so haven't had an opportunity to share with a med.or psych. professional. We've mentioned the H.C. but no one has seemed to take it too seriously. Chrissy did have some neuropsychiatric evals. done during a recent hospitalization but because she refused treatment and signed herself out of the hospital, we have not been able to obtain those results. (Frustrating!!) We live in the Pittsburgh area.
May I add that she is in jail because my husband and I were the ones who felt we must file charges against her for theft to our home. She was refusing meds. and to continue psychotherapy. It was the ONLY way we knew to get her off the streets and hopefully, some court-ordered help. Anyone want to discuss "Tough Love"?? She has been on Depakote in the past and I feel it was helpful in controlling the mood swings. She has also been on many, many other drugs but never long enough to be effective, or to have the results accurately evaluated. Until age 13, Chrissy was a promising young violinist, dancer, artist and writer. She has been recommended for a dual-diagnosis treatment facility (drug and alcohol / bpd) but cannot be moved from jail until her sentencing on Sept. 2. Your continuing support, suggestions and insights are most appreciated. Jean

 

Re: valium during pregnancy

Posted by Sean on July 29, 1999, at 19:06:21

In reply to Re: valium during pregnancy, posted by Jean on July 27, 1999, at 7:11:45

> saintjames and Levi, thank you for your support and interest through this. It really helps. We just very recently learned about the Valium overdose during pregnancy so haven't had an opportunity to share with a med.or psych. professional. We've mentioned the H.C. but no one has seemed to take it too seriously. Chrissy did have some neuropsychiatric evals. done during a recent hospitalization but because she refused treatment and signed herself out of the hospital, we have not been able to obtain those results. (Frustrating!!) We live in the Pittsburgh area.
> May I add that she is in jail because my husband and I were the ones who felt we must file charges against her for theft to our home. She was refusing meds. and to continue psychotherapy. It was the ONLY way we knew to get her off the streets and hopefully, some court-ordered help. Anyone want to discuss "Tough Love"?? She has been on Depakote in the past and I feel it was helpful in controlling the mood swings. She has also been on many, many other drugs but never long enough to be effective, or to have the results accurately evaluated. Until age 13, Chrissy was a promising young violinist, dancer, artist and writer. She has been recommended for a dual-diagnosis treatment facility (drug and alcohol / bpd) but cannot be moved from jail until her sentencing on Sept. 2. Your continuing support, suggestions and insights are most appreciated. Jean

Wow; this is really among the tougher posts I've
seen here. I can only say that I was involved
romantically with a person with BPD once, and it
really opened my eyes to how brilliant, talented,
and attractive a person can be, and also how
terribly destructive being close to them can feel.
My friend is now being treated and is doing much
better in the last two years. She even is planning to
get married to her new boyfriend and this to me is
happy ending for all of us. I still worry about
her though.

I wish I could say that drug "x" is gong to work
for your daughter, but you know it isn't that
easy. As in my friends case, it really wasn't
until *she* sought out help that things turned
around. I'm glad this happened before she hurt
herself.

ANyway, good luck and hang in there...

Sean.



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