Schizoaffective Disorder

Schizoaffective disorder may be the best diagnosis we have to date. We believe this is a temporary problem but when people say schizophrenia or paranoid schizophrenia it seems like a life long thing.

This year, there's been two incidents. Before the haldol injection there was an incident at school of rocking and crying believing that a friend had committed suicide (they hadn't). Later in the day we had the typical yelling at us, misunderstanding simple statements, talking incoherently really fast, and pacing (an inability to stay still.)

The haldol just wasn't a match for us. He slept 19 hours a day and on the day for a new injection there was a major breakdown. He could not sleep running into the night, returning, leaving, returning...until running in school traffic and laying down in the school parking lot. At this point he was very excited, seeing things that were not there, etc... I took him straight to the hospital where he was given an injection of invega. This episode took about 5 days to run its course.

Invega brought speech problems, involuntary movements, and cotton mouth. Cogentin was given to counteract the side effects. It's 3 weeks later and he's still taking the cogentin 3 times a day as well as buspirone for anxiety.

We don't have a good plan for anti-psychotic medicine. I would love to hear from anyone that can relate, or has encouraging words.

The days ahead-transition and wildflowers

It is so pretty this time of year. We've had weather in the 70's and 80's in the last week and enough rain that the wildflowers are abundant. I haven't seen many indian paintbrushes but the variety of yellow, and purple flowers along with the bluebonnets are georgeous.

We are in transition now and feel our feet are more on the ground than in past years. Jacob is in the hospital but should be discharged in the next couple of days. He will transition back to school, I will transition back to work and Paul will transition to a different work opportunity. It is transition time.

While this has me anxious, I now have a list of scriptures that have me grounded.

Psalm 139:13-18: You took care of me.

II Chronicles 16:9: For the eyes of the Lord range throughout the earth to strengthen those whose hearts are fully committed to Him.

Psalm 32:5: You forgave the guilt.

Psalm 20: May the Lord answer you when you are in distress.

Psalm 34:4: I sought the Lord and He answered me.

I Corinthians 8:6: One God through whom all things come.

Phil. 4:7: The peace of God will guard your heart and mind in Christ Jesus.