No Regrets! – Episode 74
Posted on: December 6, 2011
Episode 74 features Francine Draper, who hails from Riverside, California. Francine is currently a stay-at-home wife and mom, after a 15-year career in home sales.
Francine and I are both members of the forum/group Stuttering Chat, the largest internet group for people who stutter.
Francine actively contributed to a discussion about using medication for stuttering, a topic that drew a lot of interest.
Listen in as we discuss Francine’s early experiences with stuttering and traditional speech therapy, which didn’t really help her. Francine is gut honest as she discusses the stress she felt in her “in-home sales” job, and the desire to try something else to help her manage her stuttering.
Francine has been taking the medication Saphris for about a year. Saphris is an anti-psychotic drug used to treat bi-polar disorder and schizophrenia in adults.
She talks about the side effects she had at the beginning, working with her doctor to adjust dosing, and whether or not she really wants to take medication for the rest of her life.
I am most grateful that Francine was so open and honest about a very personal decision and shared her experiences with us.
The podcast safe music used in this episode is credited to ccMixter.
Feel free to leave comments or questions. Feedback is a gift.
3 Responses to "No Regrets! – Episode 74"
December 13, 2011 at 10:19 AM
Pam you too were very honest – I especially identified with you digging your pencil into your hand – I pinched my wrists and the flesh around my thumbs until they were bright red before tough speaking situations – the mental and physical abuse we put ourselves through can be quite incredible
January 19, 2012 at 7:35 PM
Both Pam and Francine are pretty mild and both very easy to listen to.
I have seen posts on forums from Francine and she claims she has a 30% reduction in her stutter. As for the side effects, she said once she got the doe4s right, the side effects were minimal.
The conversation was very interesting. The part of the conversation about stuttering holding woman back, it is the same for men. I know many men that didnt finish their education because they stuttered, me included.
Many are poo pooing medication, but Francines speech is fantastic.
She addressed how therapy didnt help her. For me not only didnt it help, I think it took me from a mild to severe stutterer and I have corresponded with others stutterers that have almost my exact story.
Anyway very good conversation.
Make Room For The Stuttering 
December 13, 2011 at 10:19 AM
Francine really was very well informed prior to taking this drug and felt she wanted to try it despite the terrible side effects. I’m wondering did she ever try any herbal remedies – there are lots out there on the market and whether she could use as a stepping stone for coming off the medication as she does not want to stay on it long term – also confidence building exercises such as public speaking in Toastmasters would be good. She is a very strong and honest person and I appreciate her telling her story – good luck to her in the future.