Sufferer New On Here

[Ghostmedic]

so I thought I'd come here and introduce myself as it seems like a good place to start. I was diagnosed today with PTSD and was started on Zoloft by my doctor. I work as a medic for an EMS system that fairly busy. This past year has been fairly difficult on me. I worked an mass casualty incident involving a school bus in Augusta of last year, then 8 days before Christmas I worked a wreck where a drunk driver hit a family and my 5 year old patient died while I was transferring him to the ER staff and I had to help with CPR for the first 10 minutes and didn't leave for the 35 additional minutes the ER staff worked on him before the doctor called time of death. Then about 4 months ago I worked a 2 month old cardiac arrest that did not survive. I have a 4 year old daughter that there was concerns about her safety prior to birth as my wife had to be induced early. I thought I was doing ok until i realized I had stopped going to the gym and eating right. The 40lbs i had lost came back plus 20 more. And i was getting back on track until I had to do a deposition for the drunk driving wreck because the guy pled not guilty up until it was 12 hours before his trial. Then again I stopped going to the gym and ended up gaining all that weight back. I just feel like I'm a mess but I feel like I have to always be at work because I feel "normal" there.

Sorry this is so long. I felt I needed to get it out more.

 

[Enaila]

Welcome to the site. I know there are other first responders as members on this site. I wish I had known about this supportive site years ago as it has helped me immensely to chat with people who understand what I am going through.

Thank you for caring so much about others. It takes strong people to do the job you do and, as I have learned, it is okay to ask for help when needed. Continue reaching out to others.

Take some time to read through the forums as there is a lot of information, ideas, and places to post questions.

 

[Deleted member 37720]

Hey welcome to the forums! Your job was surely a difficult one. My brother in law was the driver of an ambulance and had to see some pretty hard things as well. Seeing someone die is extremely hard especially is they were young or it was a tragic passing. Being the one helping them makes it even harder. I hope the treatment you are receiving from your doctor helps and that our community will be at help.

 

[gealach]

Hi and welcome to the forum, you'll find lots of support here Ghostmedic. I'm also EMS, there are lots of us on here ... we're all family. Reach out anytime :)

 

[lymphomamama]

Greetings and welcome from a retired nurse. Hope you'll find the release and the peace you need here.

 

[EveHarrington]

:hug: Welcome to the forum!

 

[pixel]

Welcome aboard @Ghostmedic

You will benefit from the support and compassion here.

We also have a section for PTSD supporters, just pointing this out as a reference for your wife/family.

See you around :cool:

 

[Joecool]

Welcome - I am new as well. I am a nurse - so I am in the medical field too.

 

[Mytime]

Welcome to the forum. I'm the wife of a first responder. Please read about the stress cup. I just finished reading a good book called, On the other side of Broken , by Brain Knowler. He's a cop, but I think it's good for all first responders, It would also be good for your wife to read.
I also agree about reading in the supporters forums. PTSD is hard on relationship and if you can work together it can help with the stress cup and recovery. Sending support:)

 

[Deleted member 37579]

Welcome. There is a lot of useful information on this site.

 

[Ka-9]

Welcome ... If it's any motivation, the one thing I have been able to do is work out/train. Everything else kinda went to shit, but its doable even with the condition and such, so keep at it.