My 23 years old son was diagnosed with sz about 5 years ago. He had his first psychotic break when he was 11th grade. He had gotten into fights and was smoking weed constantly.
To say we were unprepared is an understatement. My husband and I thought that he was just a rebellious teenager. I cried, unable to come to terms to what has happened to my beautiful son.
He was a gifted pianist, amazing athlete and everything came to a standstill.
We were referred to the early psychosis program. I had to work part time (barely) to accompany him to his appointments. He was started on abilify . but he did not like the side effects (weight gain)
Then he stopped taking his meds and soon decompensated. Several hospitalizations and his psychiatrist prescribed invega sustena. It went well, as long as he was under court ordered treatment. Unfortunately, he refused to get his semestrial injection and decompensated soon after.
He has a younger brother still in middle school. It has been awful for him to live through his older brother psychosis.
As per his AOT order, my son was taken to the ER to receive his monthly injection (he declined to receive it at home, because he wanted to challenge his AOT order). He then decompensated so badly, while in the hospital. He was throwing himself on the floor, hurting his head (due to auditory hallucinations). He had injury to his neck and bleeding to his brain (thankfully he has recovered). He was prescribed several antipsychotics, nothing was working anymore,
He was sent to a psychiatric center and finally prescribed clozapine. He is now receiving 400 mg of clozapine and 200 mg of haldol and depakote. I have asked to have the haldol titrated as he was a veritable zoombie.
He has been stabilized after several months, but his treatment team is suggesting that he goes thru transitional housing.
I am torn, as he has been in the center for over a year (due partly to covid and its effect on housing availability). My son keeps telling me to agree for him to go home. I am aware that his needs are great (he still lack insight of his illness) and he had no been great with medication management. We want him home.
I believe that we will need support, if he returns home. On the other hand, I believe also that transitional hosing (he would spend weekends at home) would help him towards recovery. His psychiatrist is suggesting this scenario in order for my son to work towards his recovery.
My son is asking me to allow him to come home and wait for a housing spot. I am torn, my husband does not believe it is a good idea (he says that our youngest has been scarred by his brother’s illness). He agrees with the psychiatrist and is afraid that we will back to square one.
It is as if I have to choose between my children. One last note, our youngest prayed for his brother to be admitted on a long term basis “to have a chance to recovery”. Now, he is telling me that he would not mind to have his brother at home, as he has “hope” (this is a big shift, as he was leaving me notes asking me to do something about his brother. He was very afraid of him).
So sorry for my long story, this is the first time I found a forum such as this one. Thank you.
The retention hearing is scheduled for tomorrow and my son has been calling me non stop about this. I am so exhausted.
