Doug's Wife Sheryl - Panic Attacks 2007

2/22/07
Sheryl is doing so much better and is on a road to recovery and better understanding about panic attacks and anxiety. The Christian psychiatrist that Sheryl is seeing is excellent. Thank you so much for your prayers and a very special thanks to Lisa and the Dayton United Methodist Church in Dayton, VA - they set Sheryl a precious prayer shawl - with a note: "The ladies of our church made this, every stitch was prayed over and the entire group passed it around and added more prayers"
... Thank you very much, my wife was deeply touched.

2/19/07
Sheryl's appointment with the psychiatrist went well ... She was very encouraged by it and will begin a series of appointments to get a handle on better processing life. The doctor, herself, deals with alot with patients who have panic attacks. It's amazing to realize how powerful the mind is, and interesting to hear about how many people are affected by panic and/or anxiety. As always, thanks for your prayers - we are believing that we ARE on the 'other side' of this. God is good!

2/15/07
Sheryl's angiogram was normal today (YEAH!) Nothing wrong with her heart .. Next step is to heal from the procedure .. today and tomorrow ... Monday - Christian psychiatrist appointment - Tuesday back to the general doctor. Please pray that the healing from the angiogram goes quickly and that her body can return to 'normal' soon. Thank you very much for your support and prayers.

2/14/07 - Valentine's Night
We had our Valentine appointment with the heart doc today - and tomorrow Sheryl is going to have an angiogram ... It's a one day procedure - with a day to recover. Please pray that it will go well.

2/13/07 - Tuesday night
It was Sheryl's best day yet - yesterday ... Today, not as good - but still way better than it has been. Tomorrow is the appointment with the cardiologist - we are praying for wisdom for the doctor. We also have set up an appointment with a Christian psychiatrist to address the initial diagnosis of a panic attack. As a family we had another great time of prayer - this is really teaching Garic alot about the power of prayer and how we need to trust in Christ, even when we don't have all the answers. - Kim was kidding me about what I would get Sheryl for Valentine's day - but, you know - NOTHING says LOVE like going to a heart doctor with your wife on Valentines Day - Gotta Love it :)

2/12/07 - Monday morning ...
It's a new week and we are praying for new miracles. Spent 5 hours yesterday in the Emergency Room following another 'attack' of rapid heart beat and shortness of breath. Tests run in the ER where fine - however the doctor said there was something abnormal on one part of the stress test that Sheryl did on the very first visit to the ER. (News to us - we were told it was normal)
We have an appointment on Wednesday with the cardiologist to see if another test on her heart is needed. The good news so far - the nausea has gone away for 3 days now, bowels are normal.
- She has a big loss in appetite but is eating and it's staying in. Hope you are enjoying the "Best of" Doug & Kim this week on the radio .. I'm sure Kim will have tons of stories to tell when she returns from the cruise - and prayfully - I'll have some good news soon on my wife - on this blog. Thanks again for your prayers!

2/9/07 - 11:50pm
Just returned from DJing our church's Valentine's Dinner/Dance - My 5th year - but, sadly, no Sheryl by my side. The event went well - everyone had a great time ... During the evening, Sheryl called to say she was having another 'attack', a friend came over to be with her - I prayed with her on the phone .. Man, this is one frustrating situation. Lord, I trust in you and I know you have plans to prosper me and not harm me - but this is a tough one. Lord, please bring peace and healing to my wife. Please Lord give the doctors wisdom - but above all your will be done.

2/8/07
Sheryl had another 'attack' late this morning - it passed with some medication ... (Meds we were hoping she wouldn't have to take anymore). She's keeping food down - YEAH!r - and we continue to pray for her recovery. Again, thank you so much for your prayers and support. We don't know why our family is going through this - but we do know who does. We put our trust in Christ. Today Pastor Anthony and Ahmande from church came by and prayed over Sheryl and annointed her with oil, as found in James 5. Garic was actually the one that did the annointing. I know this episode is a great lesson in faith for him. Please pray for Garic and his understanding if Sheryl is not well enough to go on the station cruise. The whole family has so been looking forward to this - however, we know that God knows what's best. If we don't go, I know he'll be disappointed - we all will ... but I'm praying he'll understand. I'll do my best to keep this updated through out the weekend - and beyond - Please check back. God Bless.
2/7/07 - 8 pm
Sheryl is back home. The CT scan, the brain scan and the 'throat scope' are all - Normal.
The doctor says it's a very rare virus that has to run it's course - and hopefully it's almost out of steam. The 5 old meds are out - 2 new meds are in. Thank you so much for your prayers, and please continue to pray that the next few days with be the best yet. God willing, our family will be going on the "Doug & Kim Cruise" with Casting Crowns, Rebecca St James and more ... The ship leaves - Sunday, Feb 11th. Thank you - Thank you - Thank you! for your prayers.

2/6/07 - 10pm
Sheryl saw the specialist today - and he admitted her to the hospital. He ordered a CT scan, that they did tonight and tomorrow - the 'throat scope'. Please pray for wisdom for the doctor and that the test would show what the problem is - so it may be corrected. Again, thank you so much for your prayers, emails, calls, support and love.

2/6/07
Sheryl is going to see a G-I specialist today, prayerfully he will have insight. Last night, as a family, we had a great time of prayer and claiming God's healing power over my wife. What a great object lession for our 8-year old (Garic "baby-man") ... His prayers - were - precious and price less. Thanks again for all the prayer - We are resting on my favorite verse from Phillipians that says we are not to be anxious about anything - but in everything - with prayer and pettion, we present our requests to God and the peace that passes our understanding will guard our hearts and minds in Christ Jesus.

2/3/07
Here's an update on my wife, Sheryl. First let me say thank you so much for all your prayers, emails and calls. We certainly are touched by such an outpouring of love. Doctors are still not certain about what exactly is wrong with Sheryl. The doctor feels that she had a panic attack but that's very unusual for Sheryl. She's very rarely sick and very stable. (While I know that being married to me would be enough to handle) :) .... On Thursday (1/25) the first call to 911 came from being woken up with the feeling that she was going to throw up - then her heart started racing and pounding out of her chest - She woke me up around midnight and we were off to the ER. Her heart rate was up to 140! She truly thougth that this was "it". She told me in the ER - "I'm scared. I know where I'm going but I don't want to go yet." Thankfully - she didn't. The hospital ran a battery of tests on her heart and they are all good! She's on heart medicine to keep her heart rate normal. The 2nd 911/ER trip (Monday night the 29th) came from another 'attack' - same feelings but the heart was beating normally. The meds we got to handle this turned out not to be strong enough and we took them too late ... Last Friday she had a GI Ultrasound - and today they told us the results are normal. (Again - great news - but very frustrating because we know there is something going on - inside.) All day today she's having problems keeping food in her - just toast and broth and it flows right out. For over a week now she's been battling this nausea ... The sensations and nausea come in waves ... The meds were working ok - but last night and today were tough .. After the doctor's visit today she's got another new med - she's on 5 now ... Sheryl also has "IBS" and the new medicine is connected to helping that ... She's resting ... Please continue to pray that the doctors would find out what's wrong. - Thank you & God Bless