Other Complicated health issues and ptsd dog?

[Haven]

So I'm finally in a place where I am safe and can heal. It's taken a while, but I found proof for myself that it all really occurred and I can't stay in denial any longer. It's sad but also relieving. I mostly have two questions concerning health problems related to PTSD.

While informing two people concerning what happened to me, I started shaking. I know its normal for PTSD, but it makes me nervous. I have seizures caused by neurocardiogenic syncope from a bunch of crazy neurological stuff, mixed in with cardiological stuff. Basically if my blood pressure or heart rate drops, or increases significantly in a short amount of time I can have seizures that can be quite dangerous. Mostly because my seizures are keeping me alive because I'm not getting blood to my heart. If they are small enough they eventually go away, if they're too big I have to go to a hospital and get fluids pumped into me so I don't die.

Anyway, I digress. I'm concerned when I have triggers, because my heart does wacky things and I don't want to end up in the hospital. I'm doing a lot better since I'm no longer being traumatized, which made my seizures a million times worse, because I can't calm down when I'm in the middle of a full blown PTSD melt down, and they got mixed with psychogenic seizures which were just plain weird and scary.

PTSD and neurocardiogenic syncope (plus related health problems) is a bad mix. Not fun. My question is, during my trauma and I was in and out of the hospital, and facing tons of health issues, I'm wondering if having a PTSD dog might have been helpful? My PTSD back then was very severe, and I don't remember most of it because I was disassociating really badly. I'm concerned that now I'm actually seeing it, and not in denial any longer, if getting a dog who is trained might be helpful? Or should I just get a normal dog for emotional support? I'm mostly concerned because if my PTSD triggers a seizure, I need to get pulled out right away, so I can help doctors help me instead of screaming bloody murder.

Seizures also make my PTSD and vice versa really bad, because my trauma dealt with someone blocking my blood flow in my neck, and there might be some unseen damage to it. Not being able to move, and having no control makes the flash back so much more real and worse. Plus not being able to see or feel, plus the extreme contortion is just torture.

What do you guys think? I've had seizures in the most bizarre places. It mostly comes from when I change sitting positions, or standing up after laying down. PTSD adds a whole new mix. But I haven't had a seizure in at least 9 months with my new medication, which is a record! I think EMDR really helped, though with shaking and having a startle response etc. I'm concerned I may have one eventually. Is getting a service dog worth it? Have any of you had one? Would they be able to handle it?

 

[Justmehere]

I'm a little unclear. What does your doctor indicate to be the primary cause of the seizures? Cardiac or psychogenic? Or do I understand right that you have both?

Have you exhausted all treatment modalities for the primary cause of the seizures?

Does your doctor or therapist support obtaining a service dog to intervene with symptoms?

If you are seeking to have a service dog to intervene and mitigate a single symptom (seizures) that have not happened for 9 months with new medication, then I don't see enough cause for obtaining a service dog at this time. You could never have another seizure, and then what task would you hope that the dog could perform? Do you see what I mean?

I have a PTSD service dog. It has helped my recovery. But, having trained service dogs and used one myself, I would only recommend a PTSD service dog if the following criteria have been met:

1.) a treating doctor or therapist recommends it and is willing to provide the legally required documentation
2.) further recovery without use of a service dog is not expected
3.) all other treatment modalities have been exhausted
4.) Someone can list the specific ways a service dog will help a person increase functioning on a DAILY basis
4.) a plan for obtaining a trained service dog or training a service dog (usually a $6,000-8,000 cost and 2-5 year process if done well) is detailed in advance
5.) there are resources to pay for the expenses of a service dog, vet expenses, food costs, re-training expenses, and proper boarding if an inpatient stay or other situations ever occurs.
6.) one is prepared for a total lifestyle adjustment in every way of life with a service dog
7.) one is prepared for the social and public access issues service dog owners have to deal with on a daily basis. (One has to be comfortable with issuing boundaries with random and sometimes rude members of the public on a regular basis.)

I'm most concerned / hesitant to recommend a service dog for your current situation because you describe that explaining your condition leads to your hands shaking. The questions people ask all the time about why someone has a service dog (happens almost daily for me) could be very triggering for you in the same way. Such a trigger would fill up your stress cup and lead to more symptoms... and around the cycle would go. If you think you can become very good and navigating such questions about what your condition is, and are ready to set boundaries well, then maybe this would work out totally ok though.

A seizure alert dog might be able to be trained to also mitigate ptsd symptoms as well, and that might be worth it. You and your medical and mental health treatment team are the best judge of it. This isn't meant to discourage those who use and need service dogs, but to take it seriously-and do your homework (and you are doing.)

Most days, I wish I did not have to use a service dog. I'd take a bullet for my dog, love her to bits, but I work hard for the day I won't have to use her as a service dog. I don't enjoy using a service dog. It's like using crutches. Crutches are a great tool when my leg is injured, but I don't enjoy using the crutches. Most people don't understand this unless they actually have experienced life relying on a service dog.

Does that make sense?

If emotional support dog is what you are looking for (and that's a very different kind of role for a dog) and you have all the resources to care for such a dog, then I'd quickly say go for it. With little hesitation. There are no training requirements and much less cost and headaches, and there would be very, very few circumstances of dealing with people asking about your condition and need for the dog.

If the deciding factor is that you are not sure if a PTSD service dog could deal with shaking hands and etc, a properly trained PTSD dog would not be rattled by shaking hands but might try to help by performing a task that would calm the person down. But I think there are other more important concerns to work through before getting a service dog.

 

[Freida]

The questions people ask all the time about why someone has a service dog could probably be triggering in the same way. Such a trigger would fill up your stress cup and lead to more symptoms

@Justmehere is dead on! My trainer told me in the beginning that the one thing I had to agree to (beyond anything else) was that I would be willing to answer minimal questions politely about my service dog because she knew what a huge trigger it was going to be for me. Funny note - she called it long before I realized it! And she was right. I have a pup who looks like a big fur ball and people stop me constantly to ask what he is. Her point was that I didn't have to have a conversation, but I had to be polite when interacting because I needed to remember I was representing the service dog community. We created a list of things I would answer to and things i wouldn't, and how I would respond when someone said things like "well you look fine - what's the dog for". My first response... "none of your F##ing business" was turned into "Hes an alert dog - he keeps me alerted to the state of my health" If they keep going I pointedly change the subject "yes, it is a nice day isn't it?" with a smile on my face. Now that I've done it long enough it's funny to see their brain just cramp.

I won't lie - it was a HUGE adjustment for both me and hubby. When you have a service dog everyone sees you. There is no hiding or being inconspicuous. And people want to talk to you about it...both good and bad comments.

But! Even though it has been hard, he was one of the best things I've ever done. He keeps me on task, distracts me when I start to get worked up, forces me to exercise, brings me back to the present when I get lost and makes me feel safer when I'm out and about. Plus, he makes me interact with people in the world and has helped me to see that there really are nice people out there. So far the good interactions far out number the bad ones.

A service dog is a huge amount of work and responsibility. It's kind of like having a toddler - so you need to be sure you are up to it and have really done your homework before you start the process. If your meds are helping stop the seizures an emotional support dog may be able to help you at home without the hassle of a service dog.

 

[Haven]

Thanks you guys for the help! My seizures are weird. They are a neuro cardiac mix, and I don't have a doctor currently that understands or can treat them. They can happen anytime if my heart rate or blood pressure gets too high suddenly, or drops suddenly. When my PTSD acts up it would cause those issues and I would have several seizures. That's why the ptsd was a bad mix. I started having pseudo seizures along with my normal ones as well which made my normal seizures hard to treat.

My PTSD got a lot better after EMDR, and I'm always susceptible to have seizures again if my PTSD gets bad. (My medication helps with normal seizures because it regulates my heart and blood, but triggers can circumvent that.) I guess that's why I'm asking because when I get triggered I feel the symptoms of pre-seizure start. It's scary for me. Because now my normal seizures are mixed with pseudo seizures. It feels like it's always moments away from happening and I have to catch it so I don't have a seizure. I guess the concern was if I'm somewhere and don't realize what's happening like I often do, that I could have a full blown seizure and it would be too late for me to catch it.

I think though that perhaps an emotional support dog would be enough for me though, because I'm currently living with a dog where I'm at, and it's very cuddly and always grabbing my attention so I'm distracted a lot. I also haven't gone outside much in the last 6 months to a year and have been at home mostly. I'll be living on my own too, so it was concerning to me, because I'll be fending for myself, and working full time around a bunch of people I don't know. I guess I just don't want to cause a scene.

So maybe I'll just get an emotional support animal for now, and if the need arises for a more trained dog then I can look into it. I'll work at getting a neurologist and therapist to help me work through this as well. (I've been moving around a lot for my safety, so I don't have any doctors yet.)

Thanks for the advice!

 

[Justmehere]

So maybe I'll just get an emotional support animal for now, and if the need arises for a more trained dog then I can look into it. I'll work at getting a neurologist and therapist to help me work through this as well.

That's a great plan! I hope things continue to improve.

 

[Freida]

Yep- that's a great way to start!