A few positives…hes eating a lot more and no smoking from more than 2 packs a day down to nicorrette gum. Hoping and praying that the pdocs can get through to him!
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Those socks with rubber on the soles can be pretty warm over a pair of regular socks.
Sounds like he is so ill that stability is not happening yet. I hope it does soon. It’s really hard to see our loved people in these states. It hurts.
There were plenty of times when my son was in the hospital that I would spend most of the visit sitting in the common room alone because he didn’t want to come out of his room. And some visits where I had to leave pretty quickly because he was mad at me and would yell at me.
The day would come when he would call me and say, ‘Are you coming today?’
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I didn’t even know they could refuse meds in the hospital. I’m sure my Sz husband didn’t know that either, or he would have refused.
I hope your fiancé can be persuaded to try them.
My daughter refused meds the first time she was hospitalized. The hospital wanted a proxy to OK her being force medicated. Then, I couldn’t face forcing my daughter onto meds. She was released a few days later.
The illness has progressed. She was psychotic for 2 more years. The next 3 hospitalizations meds were forced by a doctor or a court appointed proxy. She did not do well on 2 different meds and refused visits from me most days. She came off meds after release. The 4th hospitalization she was injected and did well, but had no insight and never saw a doctor. For the year since then she has been acting more weirdly.
This time when Baker Acted, I faxed the hospital asking for the last injection to be repeated. They contacted me and I became her proxy this time. She was injected within two days. One week ago now, the major psychosis broke. She was released 4 days ago.
She is doing 1000% better but didn’t agree to take the next shot. Then, a woman called from her insurance company’s behavioral health division an hour ago to find out if she was happy with her hospitalization and her meds. The woman talked to her on the phone for 1 hour. And she agreed to continue with the injections.
The right medication gave her back a life. Various factors came together to get her to this point. I am humbled as I turned my back on God in the last 3 years, but each failure in the past has added up to a win/win situation now.
I hope that the forces working in life to get your loved one @Laz into the hospital will work to get him medication with a good result.
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Thank you and everyone for all of your encouraging wordd and support. He has been off of his meds for 3 years this Jan. I have never seen him in the state that he was in 9 days ago.
His mood swings are still so drastic and he is so rude to the nurses and me. His family hasn’t been up to see him at all.
He told the psych team not to give me and probably anyone else any information. Now he’s asking me questions that I can’t answer.
Another positive note that during these past 3 years has brought me closer to my faith…and there are many days where it is being tested to the fullest or that is what it feels like. I will keep trying though!!!
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You must have a crystal ball and saw exactly what has been happening to me to the letter. I have been stepping out when he has his outbursts and let some time pass…pop back in and ask if he would like me to leave and the answer has been no soooooo…I stay for a while longer.
He doesn’t like those socks so I brought him some of his very warm heavy socks and he wears 2 pairs. Thank you and everyone for your prayers and support!
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I hope so too. He constantly is telling me and the psych team there is nothing wrong with him. If only he could see.
oldladyblue,
this is good that your daughter is doing well on the injections. do you mind sharing what kind of injection she is taking?
well, one week Is not enough for someone to get stable. he needs to be on meds for at least 2 to 3 months to see progress. keep talking to him about the importance of staying on meds… he may agree at some point.
She was given Haldol. It was different than the meds she was given 2 prior hospitalizations, and the same thing she was given during her hospitalization one year ago that worked well. I know there can be side effects. This was the doctor’s choice.
It will be 10 days admitted and still refusing meds. It seems like I am jumping through hoops trying and getting only the blame. What really get you me is he puts his family so high on the pedestal and not one has bothered to visit or call. After I left…he called me and told me how gullible I was and that when he gets out I’m history…and that i never did anything for him or helped him…but his family has…NOT!!! I’m the only one and I usually dont mind but now this. Dont people with schizophrenia have any concious? I could cry to the cows come home and it has no effect on him not that I expect him to but every now and then he hits a sensitive area of my heart and the waterworks start. I try to hold it in but some days are too much! He called a few of them and they called me to ask me? It would be nice if they took a turn sort of speak.They couldn’t possibly be that busy!
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Can he be persuaded to have an injection . Maybe you could talk to his family about visiting him and persuading him to take medication . Use anyone you can in his family to get him on meds . Don’t focus on anything he’s says it’s the illness . So hard for you …get a team on board with you take care
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Laz,
I understand what you are going through. it would be nice for his family to visit him and care more.
but, focus on him for now and how you can help him. Injection may be a better option for someone who is non-compliant.
do not worry about what he tells you. My son try to manipulate all the times to try make me get him out from the Rehab facility he is in. I keep telling him unless you are med compliant and engage in Group Therapy, I will not help to get out. he has done this too me at least 3 times. He would promise to stay on medicine and broke his promise like 2 weeks after hospital discharge.
stay strong, he needs to stay on treatment to get better eventually. Injections like Invega-sustena or Respiredol can good monthly injections. medical staff should know.
take one day at a time. do not get hurt by what he says to you. he is sick. be patient. your love toward him will help go through this. let his family knows but you cannot do anything if they do not want to be part of his treatment.
May God help you and Bless you during this Holiday Season.
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Haldol is ok. Haldol made my Son aggressive. but we know medication can give a different result for different people. my son get better on Invega shot 156mg. he is little better but he may be the higher dose. will see how it goes he next 2 months.
I think mood stabilizer will also help but he still not taking oral medicine.
Hope your daughter gets better. God bless you during this holiday season.
Sigh, I wonder at a hospital that can keep someone that long and not force medicine. Are they forcing him to stay in the hospital or is he willing to be there?
Yes, that is what makes managing meds so hard. I am glad your son is better on the shot they have him on and I hope the next few months shows more improvement. My daughter will not take oral meds either.
Bless you and your family for the holidays and beyond.
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My son thinks his dad is just the best person ever - however, I am the one here giving him daily support, while his dad is living the life he chooses.
The person closest and most involved is the one most likely to be blamed for things, so when you get blamed, just remember it is because you are the one who is there and involved and trying to help.
I have also spent a lot of time crying. I think it tends to increase tension and agitation, but I get it, sometimes the tears just come. I pretty much now only occasionally cry, and that is in solitude, just from the sadness of the losses because of the illness. But when it is new and raw and life is in turmoil because of the illness, it can be very difficult to remain calm.
I’m guessing your loved one has a court-ordered hold at this point. The doctor may also be able to get a court order for medication. I hope it doesn’t come to that point, but sometimes it does. In that, I was fortunate that my son would always pretty quickly agree to medication when hospitalized.
Often the person I found most helpful was the social worker involved. You might not be able to get around the HIPPAA laws, but if you can, talking with that person could be helpful. You can approach it with the attitude of, I know you can’t tell me anything, but I would like to provide you with background information that might help. Its exhausting though, to try to work around the system, deal with the stress and anxiety you are feeling, and also continue on with your own responsibilities. Try to take some time to de-stress.
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