Oh my! We were at main Pdoc yesterday and that is what he recommended and I heard others mention Benadryl before.
He pretty much said that as long as he was taking the shot, he doesn’t have to come back unless there was a change. I don’t see any side affects but some days you wouldn’t even think he was on medicine. Like just now after two cups of coffee.
I hope your son improves soon. Big hugs!
I know my mother-in-law’s still living sister who had the son and two sisters with mental illness, was often embarrassed by the behavior of the three family members. She thought all 3 had addiction/alcohol issues. I know families today that would prefer that people think their adult children were addicts than admit to mental illness.
I look at how accepting many of the people in their twenties are today. I think the stigma is improving for the better. Any positive movement off of zero, is good news for our loved ones and us.
I refill the regular coffee containers with Decaff now.
I remember that your son was similar to mine in that aspect. You and someone else on the board were the first other people whose family member’s voices presented like that.
I feel bad about keeping my kids away from my mother-in-law when they were growing up. The things she would say I had said, caused so many problems for me with my husband’s family.
She died from vascular dementia in her mid 70’s. I was the one that oversaw her care in a nursing home and visited her several times a week the last 18 months of her life. Even having done that, I still wish I had known what was going on earlier in her life.
At support group they have been using the new term “brain disorder”. I do feel like I am being honest when I say brain damage. Just not entirely honest.
Thank you for the heartfelt reminder Doctor. I just read this to my husband. It is so true.
I need to share what I see happening after my son drinks coffee with him who ultimately is controlled by his rampages.
Well. So much for patience and being understanding. We broke up. And I’m done with this life and everything in it. I’m killing myself. He’s gonna be fine. Life will move on. Sometimes it is what it is. Caffeine is bad. I have zero connection to humanity, he was my last string. I’m done feeling. I’m done caring. There’s no reason for me to.
No wait a minute here. You matter to a lot of people on this forum and elsewhere and you just got that job! So come on life is not Bleak. It just sucks at the present time. chat more later I’ve got to feed my neighbors dogs.
You guys are young, and he’s probably just mad. Under the circumstances, he may break up with you, then quickly get back together, over & over & over again.
Give him a few hours to calm down about whatever is going on and see if things settle down.
When I was with my husband early on, we must have threatened to leave each other in the heat of the moment a million times. 30 years later, we’re still together.
I agree with Slw. In fact, our first few years together we’re so stressful I don’t know how we made it. We are now a team and I’ve seen you be as well. Just give it some time and stay tuned.
You are stronger than you think but if you do go to the place of wanting to harm yourself, call the hotline and talk. Your life cannot be replaced. There is only one YOU❤️
I just found out they have him on 3X/day Risperdal PLUS a mood stabilizer PLUS trazadone for sleep.
That’s 5 pills a day. 7 if he’s still taking Congentin twice a day.
I don’t have a chance in h*ll of him complying. He called to say they think he’ll be out on Monday (that’s 7 1/2 days), I mentioned he should take his meds so he doesn’t have to go back, I got some immediate attitude and he wanted off the phone right away. He didn’t raise his voice, but the message was clear.
Maybe I’ll have to do the trading cigarettes for med compliance thing.
So, I’m predicting he’ll be back within 45 days from Monday.
Today, I’ve went down a rabbit-hole that started with the BEAM thing someone posted.
Here’s where I landed:
Cushing’s Disease involves releasing too much cortisol in your body.
I’ll check off the symptoms my son might have, but now I’m not sure whether to talk to the people at the hospital or his case worker & risk sounding crazy myself, or let our GP handle the testing. I’m thinking our GP.
Symptoms -
central adiposity - this is gaining weight in his lower abdomen. He’s lost the AP weight from the zyprexa, but still has that very lower belly fat/apron thing. Not like a beer belly - just there. Iffy, but there.
proximal myopathy - weakness of arms or legs - he is a little weak, but he doesn’t get the exercise he needs. He used to be really strong without working out. He could climb that rope in gym class & do lots of other things before he got sick. Iffy, but there.
thin skin - yes
purple striae on the trunk - he’s got lots of stretch marks and this was before he got ill & had weight fluctuations. the doctors said it must of been from growth spurts, but he still gets stretch marks easier than anyone I’ve ever seen and neither me or his dad do.
scalp hair loss - he’s getting thin on the top - i have incredibly thick hair, his father doesn’t have any thinning on the top - no one in our families do until they get really old.
fatigue - he gets tired easy, but who with SZ doesn’t?
hypertension - no, glucose intolerance - no, acne - no
hisutism and menstrual irregularities - don’t apply
He might have a little fat on the sides of his face like they talk about.
I don’t think he has the elephant hump of fat on his back unless it’s really minor.
It’s probably not the answer, but I can’t help but keep looking for anything that might add up to why the AP’s don’t always work for him. No stone unturned, right?
When your son is well enough, hopefully you can find a doctor to go through all the tests for differential diagnosis.
I can’t even figure out how to find a doctor who will do the tests…
Indeed. That BEAM was interesting. I read every page on the site. I am going to keep looking, especially since our sons are non-compliant with pills.
We have a very good relationship with our family doctor & she’s been very worried about our son, so I’m going to start there.
We also have a teaching hospital here with a big psychiatric unit that includes some doctors who specialize in schizophrenia - and some of the ladies in the support group I go to seem to be very knowledgeable. They have special speakers come in once a month & sometimes they’re from the teaching hospital. I’m going to ask them too.
I’m sure it will take awhile because just keeping my son on his meds will be my biggest job, but if I find anything, I’ll be sure to let everyone know.
I read some of it, then went to the doctor’s site who does BEAM - then started searching for other stuff to find out any other research/info about adrenaline.
Doctor we all care about you here on the forum. I enjoy your comments and knowledge that you have shared with us. We love and need you here with us please.
I hope Doctor is OK - has anyone seen her post on any threads? I haven’t, but sometimes I miss posts/threads.
Is anyone else surprised that there aren’t more visitors at the hospital? I go every visit unless my son asks me not to. That’s 3X a week at the hospital he was in previously & every night at his current one. Most of the time, I’m the only one there. That’s kind of sad. I know a lot of people don’t live locally, but a lot of people do.
Yes, I’ve noticed that also. I hope Doctor lets us know that she is okay too! I just shared her previous post with my husband and thanked her for sharing. I’m going to reach out privately as well.
Ditto, Doctor is the best, has been there for me on several occasions. We’re here for you now Doctor.
Ditto, agree with the visiting thing, we too seem to among the few who visit hospital regularly. It’s a 30 mile round trip for us, in the UK.
New med cocktail –
Probably keeping him on the Invega shot, but might go to 234 mg.
From the hospital,
2mg Risperdal, twice a day
1 mg Congentin, twice a day
150 mg Triliptal, twice a day
So far, he’s saying he’ll take it, so we’ll see.
He’s still very delusional, but much calmer without being sedated, if that makes sense.
It does seem like the Triliptal is mellowing his mania, so once again I’m hopeful - and once again waiting for my hopes to be smashed to bits.
EDIT: He took it - no arguments or anything!