James-g
01-17-2004, 03:06 PM
I have a friend that is bipolar who after having the flu at Christmas did not recover. He has been exhausted with no energy and in a state of depression. In his desperation he took a small amount of street Ritalin and this has helped him. I had coffee with him last night and I told him that I was very worried that he did that. He told me that he was desperate and that he told his doctor about his taking the Ritalin. There was an improvement with the Ritalin and I asked him what his doctor said about that. He said his doctor was concerned also and has booked him into the hospital on Sunday. He is considering electric shock treatments for him. I asked him if he had asked about Ritalin and bipolar on the internet. He said that he has tried and was unable to find a site that he considered supportive. My friend is an intelligent man with a fanatic sense of humour. He has the love and support of his wife who is at wits end with worry about him. I have dystonia and spinal problems and he knows how much the BB’s have helped me. I am not asking for advice about Ritalin or bipolar. He is capable of doing this on his own. I am asking that you offer him and his wife some encouragement. Let them know that they are not alone and there are caring people who can be supportive on this BB. I will take the responses to this post to him and his wife. His name is Gerry.
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wobbly
01-17-2004, 03:21 PM
Your friend is definitely not alone. There are plenty of people on this board who have been at their wits' end, hospitalized, and feeling despondent. I've been there myself, and yet, 6 months later, having found the right meds and with some therapy, I am pretty close to being myself again.
Gerry, don't give up--there will come a day when you will feel so much better and all the hell you've gone thru will be just a memory. I know when you're down in hell it seems like nothing will help and you're never going to get better, but nothing is permanent with this disease and there is good help available. Ride with it. Go to the hospital, take your meds, do your therapy, find a support group. Don't get discouraged, just take it one day at a time. Things will be brighter down the road.
Gerry, don't give up--there will come a day when you will feel so much better and all the hell you've gone thru will be just a memory. I know when you're down in hell it seems like nothing will help and you're never going to get better, but nothing is permanent with this disease and there is good help available. Ride with it. Go to the hospital, take your meds, do your therapy, find a support group. Don't get discouraged, just take it one day at a time. Things will be brighter down the road.
James-g
01-17-2004, 04:53 PM
Hi wobbly
That you for responding. If I don’t see him this evening I will take your post to him in the hospital tomorrow. I don’t think after reading your post that I would be wrong in encouraging him to introduce himself to the people on this BB when he gets out of the hospital in about three weeks time. Would you have any advice for me when I visit him that may make his stay in the hospital less stressful for him and his wife? All the best
James
That you for responding. If I don’t see him this evening I will take your post to him in the hospital tomorrow. I don’t think after reading your post that I would be wrong in encouraging him to introduce himself to the people on this BB when he gets out of the hospital in about three weeks time. Would you have any advice for me when I visit him that may make his stay in the hospital less stressful for him and his wife? All the best
James
wobbly
01-17-2004, 05:11 PM
Well, I asked my husband about tips for visitors and he and I both agree that the best thing is to let the person know they're cared about and offer them your support. I was in the hospital for 9 days and my family came to visit every day, and it was very helpful having them there. I'm not saying you need to visit Gerry every day for 3 weeks, but you can always ask him what he feels up to and play it like that. As far as for his wife, I think it depends on how close of friends you are. She might appreciate grabbing a bite to eat with you--she probably won't be feeling much like cooking and might also be feeling lonely and upset about what's going on. I think the big thing for both of them is to let them know you're there for them.
I hope Gerry does come on the board when he gets out of the hospital, because there are a lot of really great people here, and it's a relief to find out that you're not the only one who's going thru this stuff.
Hope this helps.
PS: You didn't say, but I'm just curious: Are you in the UK?
I hope Gerry does come on the board when he gets out of the hospital, because there are a lot of really great people here, and it's a relief to find out that you're not the only one who's going thru this stuff.
Hope this helps.
PS: You didn't say, but I'm just curious: Are you in the UK?
James-g
01-17-2004, 05:56 PM
Hi wobbly
I wish I was in the UK. I am freezing my butt off in Saskatchewan, Canada.
I have been to England 3 times in the early 70’s and stayed in Swindon, Wilts for three months once. My friends were hinting for two months for me to leave but I was having such a good time that I pretended to not understand them. Thank you for your advice. I was best man at his wedding and think the world of his wife. I am going to have a read of the other posts and educate myself about this illness. He has been bipolar for years and we have been friends for over 22 years. I am ashamed to say that I know nothing about his illness. All the best
James
I wish I was in the UK. I am freezing my butt off in Saskatchewan, Canada.
I have been to England 3 times in the early 70’s and stayed in Swindon, Wilts for three months once. My friends were hinting for two months for me to leave but I was having such a good time that I pretended to not understand them. Thank you for your advice. I was best man at his wedding and think the world of his wife. I am going to have a read of the other posts and educate myself about this illness. He has been bipolar for years and we have been friends for over 22 years. I am ashamed to say that I know nothing about his illness. All the best
James
weasel
01-18-2004, 12:58 PM
ask them what you can do for them. then you don thave to figure it out. also, i am prescribed ritalin, to offset the sedating affects of my mood stabilizer. it works wonders....
James-g
01-18-2004, 07:35 PM
ask them what you can do for them. then you don thave to figure it out. also, i am prescribed ritalin, to offset the sedating affects of my mood stabilizer. it works wonders....
Hi weasel
Your advice is very wise thank you. I will ask what I can do for them. I have seen my friend in a black hole of hell that I know nothing about and I wish I could take that away from him. I believe in his desperation he read about Ritalin on the internet and bought some and tried it. The fact that his doctor did not help him and he had to resort to doing this I find disturbing. I am very worried about him getting electric shock treatments. I worry that he will not be the same after the treatments. My worry is the direct result of my ignorance. His doctor just dismissed Ritalin after he told the doctor that it helped him. I am hoping that as he is in the hospital that they will at least listen to him and try a medication change before electric shock treatments. There could not be a safer time to try this than while he is in the hospital. Do people who are bipolar resort to self medication because of a lack of support from doctors, family and friends? In my friends case his wife has been his foundation by herself. She is stuck between a rock and a black hole. I am going to twist his arm and suggest that he join this site when he gets out of the hospital. Knowledge is powerful only when the knowledge comes from someone who has been there. Thanks again. All the best
James
Hi weasel
Your advice is very wise thank you. I will ask what I can do for them. I have seen my friend in a black hole of hell that I know nothing about and I wish I could take that away from him. I believe in his desperation he read about Ritalin on the internet and bought some and tried it. The fact that his doctor did not help him and he had to resort to doing this I find disturbing. I am very worried about him getting electric shock treatments. I worry that he will not be the same after the treatments. My worry is the direct result of my ignorance. His doctor just dismissed Ritalin after he told the doctor that it helped him. I am hoping that as he is in the hospital that they will at least listen to him and try a medication change before electric shock treatments. There could not be a safer time to try this than while he is in the hospital. Do people who are bipolar resort to self medication because of a lack of support from doctors, family and friends? In my friends case his wife has been his foundation by herself. She is stuck between a rock and a black hole. I am going to twist his arm and suggest that he join this site when he gets out of the hospital. Knowledge is powerful only when the knowledge comes from someone who has been there. Thanks again. All the best
James
thickman
01-19-2004, 12:38 PM
You tell your friend to come here...
Leave the rest to us :D
We are supportive, Understanding, and some people around here know ALOT about medications...
Leave the rest to us :D
We are supportive, Understanding, and some people around here know ALOT about medications...
James-g
01-19-2004, 01:42 PM
You tell your friend to come here...
Leave the rest to us :D
We are supportive, Understanding, and some people around here know ALOT about medications...
Hi to all
I will be seeing him in the hospital this afternoon. I have printed out the responses to this post for him. I have also printed out some of the other posts re: need to vent, medications, self medication, Ritalin etc. I do not think I am going to have to twist his arm that hard to encourage him to join this BB after he reads the posts. Thank you thickman. I am a little thick too but not in the same way. He is going to see that he has a choice, a thick headed friend like me, or supportive understanding, knowledgeable people who are in the same boat with him. All the best
James
Leave the rest to us :D
We are supportive, Understanding, and some people around here know ALOT about medications...
Hi to all
I will be seeing him in the hospital this afternoon. I have printed out the responses to this post for him. I have also printed out some of the other posts re: need to vent, medications, self medication, Ritalin etc. I do not think I am going to have to twist his arm that hard to encourage him to join this BB after he reads the posts. Thank you thickman. I am a little thick too but not in the same way. He is going to see that he has a choice, a thick headed friend like me, or supportive understanding, knowledgeable people who are in the same boat with him. All the best
James
thickman
01-19-2004, 02:03 PM
Great...
I looked HIGH & LOW for a good message board for support...
This place rules :D
I looked HIGH & LOW for a good message board for support...
This place rules :D
weasel
01-19-2004, 03:53 PM
i am not a psychaitrist, not even close. and i dont know your friend, and i dont know you. but i just want to tell you this, not too scare you, but hopefully to help you help your friend. his doctor should not have disregarded anything he said to him. and i think electroshock therapy should be illegal. in my last hospital stay of 4 days, i had a roomate who was recieving these treatments for depression. after each of them, she didnt know who she was, where she was, or what she was doing. she was a vegetable. by the time she started coming around and figureing stuff out, they did it to her again. your freind needs to have some say in what happens to him, especially if he committed himself voluntairily. i find the whole concept extremely disturbing and have never heard of it actually having the desired effect. so, thats just my take on it.
James-g
01-19-2004, 11:44 PM
Hi to all
I saw my friend today and he looked a lot better. He looked rested. I asked him if he talked to his doctor about Ritalin and he said his doctor said no because it would make him worse. The fact that he improved when he took it is of no concern to his doctor. The doctor treating him like he is ten years old makes me wonder if the doctor has the mental capacity to balance a bicycle. He had a shock treatment in the morning and apart from memory loss and being tired he seems to be doing alright. He read the posts I printed out for him and I talked to him about introducing himself to you all on this site. He was very positive about this and made more that one comment about how he could benefit from doing this. It must have been a nightmare for his wife to watch him slowly sink into a hell hole over three weeks and not have any help. She sure does not need some dumb *** like me interfering right now but if it was up to me I would be talking to his doctor and if the doctor did not listen I would get him the hell out of there. There must be some way that she can get help for him before he resorts to street drugs and being hospitalised. I hope that you all do not mind if I ask a dumb question or two but I was wondering if cognitive behaviour therapy would be of any benefit for him? Have any of you given power of attorney to a loved on to insure that your medical wishes are respected when you are not capably of doing so yourself? If the doctor is not willing to listen to him then I am sure that his wife could have gotten the help he needed right away and avoided the nightmare of having to watch until he ended up in the hospital. I believe that if she goes through this again in the future she will be sharing a room with him in the hospital. There must be a better way. Thanks weasel, and please do not worry about upsetting me or anything like that. I appreciate you telling me how you feel and voicing your concerns, this is why he needs to join this site All the best
James
I saw my friend today and he looked a lot better. He looked rested. I asked him if he talked to his doctor about Ritalin and he said his doctor said no because it would make him worse. The fact that he improved when he took it is of no concern to his doctor. The doctor treating him like he is ten years old makes me wonder if the doctor has the mental capacity to balance a bicycle. He had a shock treatment in the morning and apart from memory loss and being tired he seems to be doing alright. He read the posts I printed out for him and I talked to him about introducing himself to you all on this site. He was very positive about this and made more that one comment about how he could benefit from doing this. It must have been a nightmare for his wife to watch him slowly sink into a hell hole over three weeks and not have any help. She sure does not need some dumb *** like me interfering right now but if it was up to me I would be talking to his doctor and if the doctor did not listen I would get him the hell out of there. There must be some way that she can get help for him before he resorts to street drugs and being hospitalised. I hope that you all do not mind if I ask a dumb question or two but I was wondering if cognitive behaviour therapy would be of any benefit for him? Have any of you given power of attorney to a loved on to insure that your medical wishes are respected when you are not capably of doing so yourself? If the doctor is not willing to listen to him then I am sure that his wife could have gotten the help he needed right away and avoided the nightmare of having to watch until he ended up in the hospital. I believe that if she goes through this again in the future she will be sharing a room with him in the hospital. There must be a better way. Thanks weasel, and please do not worry about upsetting me or anything like that. I appreciate you telling me how you feel and voicing your concerns, this is why he needs to join this site All the best
James
pillbug
01-20-2004, 12:23 AM
I have given my husband power of attorney. I also fill out that paper at the dr to let him have access to my medical records. -This may sound silly, but when I am in the hospital I always look forward to my family bringing hard candy. It helps get me through the day some how.