tamara29
07-12-2006, 01:06 PM
How could you tell when you were stable? Was it a slow, gradual process or did you just wake up one morning and you were stable? How did others notice the difference? My husband's pdoc said that the Seroquel would take about a week or two to work, and I was just wondering how my husband and I would be able to tell if it is working or not.
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Pyewoman
07-12-2006, 04:25 PM
Seroquel is brilliant but make sure that he doesnt miss any days as there can be moody side effects. I think you will be able to tell after about 2-3 weeks, he should be alot calmer.
Good Luck
Good Luck
gotitbad
07-12-2006, 09:04 PM
Good question. Seroquel 200mg helped me a lot in just a week (I started at 25mg and worked up to 200mg) after months of struggling. I felt calmer, less anxious, much less suicial thoughts, slept much more soundly, more happy in general, able to think more rationally and logically and basically just back to "normal". I guess you could say like I was years ago before my diagnosis, or like my doctor likes to say, "all the good and none of the bad" in me came out. I'm also taking Lithium 600mg, Lorazepam .5mg, Topamax 150mg, Zoloft 200mg and Adderall (for Adhd) 25mg. The Seroquel was the last medication added and really brought me the most stability.
goody2shuz
07-12-2006, 10:10 PM
I have been wondering the same. My daughter is on Risperdal...she started on .5mg on 6/24....she was increased to 1mg on 7/5. We haven't seen any real improvement....her thoughts are still illogical and irrational. And she had been crying more often up until yesterday....today she was speaking somewhat illogically.
When we spoke by phone (she is in a long term adolescent psych center to be stabilized) she told me that there were only 49 days until September. (They anticipate her being there for the summer;) ) And then she rambled off another number of days she calculated.....when I asked what the significance of that was she said that would be when she turned 18 and could get some tatoos and body piercings. When I told her that this would still have to be okayed despite her age while living with us she told me that she would be out living in her own apartment by then so it wouldn't matter.
In my opinion we are not stabilized......what are others who are stabilized thoughts on this??? It has been 3 weeks on the med...although we are still increasing it. I guess I was expecting more of a difference by now.
Would love to hear other opinions on this.
Tamara ~ great post......for those of us looking to get our loved ones stabilized it is frustrating. My feling is that I do not want my daughter on a med if it isn't working.....she says that she is not depressed and is feeling better but with the increased crying I am not too sure about that.
Bottom line.....this stabilization process really sucks!! But I am hoping to see what Gotitbad described....to see my daughter behaving like she was before all this happened....to see her happy, smiling, and feeling good about herself and life. I bet you are hoping to see the same in your husband!! And we will ceelbrate that glorious day....in fact I will declare it my daughter's 2nd Birthday!!!:D
(((HUGS))) and prayers until our loved ones are stabilized ~ Goody:angel:
When we spoke by phone (she is in a long term adolescent psych center to be stabilized) she told me that there were only 49 days until September. (They anticipate her being there for the summer;) ) And then she rambled off another number of days she calculated.....when I asked what the significance of that was she said that would be when she turned 18 and could get some tatoos and body piercings. When I told her that this would still have to be okayed despite her age while living with us she told me that she would be out living in her own apartment by then so it wouldn't matter.
In my opinion we are not stabilized......what are others who are stabilized thoughts on this??? It has been 3 weeks on the med...although we are still increasing it. I guess I was expecting more of a difference by now.
Would love to hear other opinions on this.
Tamara ~ great post......for those of us looking to get our loved ones stabilized it is frustrating. My feling is that I do not want my daughter on a med if it isn't working.....she says that she is not depressed and is feeling better but with the increased crying I am not too sure about that.
Bottom line.....this stabilization process really sucks!! But I am hoping to see what Gotitbad described....to see my daughter behaving like she was before all this happened....to see her happy, smiling, and feeling good about herself and life. I bet you are hoping to see the same in your husband!! And we will ceelbrate that glorious day....in fact I will declare it my daughter's 2nd Birthday!!!:D
(((HUGS))) and prayers until our loved ones are stabilized ~ Goody:angel:
MillaRose
07-13-2006, 12:19 AM
Hi :)
*Please excuse the grammar and run on sentences. I had a Looong day at work (But may be getting a promotion :) )
A few thoughts on the posts.
Becoming stable is definetly gradual. I find when I'm totally comfortable in public dealing with people then I know I'm ok. Pretty much when my thoughts allow me to interact well with others.
In regards to being hospitalized until stability...Well to be honest I was in Hospital in my teens and twice in my twenties. I cried alot once i was ok and realized I was locked up like a criminal. And i'm sorry but thats what it feels like. You can't leave! 2 out of 3 times in hospital I wasn't even better when i left, just better enough to focus on answering the doctors questions with what they needed to hear in order to let me out .Making sure the nurses don't see me crying , or pretending I was asleep when they'd shine a flashlight in my face at night, and lastly, taking part in activities offered so the Doctor gets a good report.
I wouldn't do this now though , I'm older now and take help when i need it .
The good thing is, if you can focus well enough to show you're okay, you're probably on your way.I hate Psch Hospitals and I really wouldn't wish it on my worst enemy (if i had one) It's a good lesson though. It teaches you to take care of yourself and never have to go back again.:angel:
*Please excuse the grammar and run on sentences. I had a Looong day at work (But may be getting a promotion :) )
A few thoughts on the posts.
Becoming stable is definetly gradual. I find when I'm totally comfortable in public dealing with people then I know I'm ok. Pretty much when my thoughts allow me to interact well with others.
In regards to being hospitalized until stability...Well to be honest I was in Hospital in my teens and twice in my twenties. I cried alot once i was ok and realized I was locked up like a criminal. And i'm sorry but thats what it feels like. You can't leave! 2 out of 3 times in hospital I wasn't even better when i left, just better enough to focus on answering the doctors questions with what they needed to hear in order to let me out .Making sure the nurses don't see me crying , or pretending I was asleep when they'd shine a flashlight in my face at night, and lastly, taking part in activities offered so the Doctor gets a good report.
I wouldn't do this now though , I'm older now and take help when i need it .
The good thing is, if you can focus well enough to show you're okay, you're probably on your way.I hate Psch Hospitals and I really wouldn't wish it on my worst enemy (if i had one) It's a good lesson though. It teaches you to take care of yourself and never have to go back again.:angel:
goody2shuz
07-13-2006, 01:16 AM
Thanks MillaRose for the advice....I HATE the idea of my daughter being in an adolescent psych center. The thing is she shoplifted and was arrested and broke her probationary contract and ended up in JD court. She was mandated by the judge to go for an extensive evaluation and we honestly welcomed it. Over 7 months of various meds, seeing a therapist, , increasing self injury, 2 runaway incidents and 3 suicide attmpts the last one being at school taking aspirin and ibuprofen we felt that there was no other alternative....we needed her to be stabilized and undergo therapy so that she could come back home and us knowing that she was safe.
I am pleased with the therapist and doctor's overall treatment. The facility is scarey since there are alot of sicker kids but the staffing and program seem to be run well and I know that she is safe. She has definite things to work on, they have school each day and activities such as dodgeball, art therapy, table games etc. She meets woith the doctor at least once a week and the therapist 2-3 times for 45 minutes. I feel that she is getting more treatment there than she did as an outpatient and that she definitely needs to be stabilized more so that she is not suicidal or self harming. She knows we love her and we call twice a day and visit as often as possible. Right now it was decided by the doctor and therapist to hold off on visits while they work on some issues that cause conflict between us. We have a family meeting on Friday and will see how that goes.
~ Goody
I am pleased with the therapist and doctor's overall treatment. The facility is scarey since there are alot of sicker kids but the staffing and program seem to be run well and I know that she is safe. She has definite things to work on, they have school each day and activities such as dodgeball, art therapy, table games etc. She meets woith the doctor at least once a week and the therapist 2-3 times for 45 minutes. I feel that she is getting more treatment there than she did as an outpatient and that she definitely needs to be stabilized more so that she is not suicidal or self harming. She knows we love her and we call twice a day and visit as often as possible. Right now it was decided by the doctor and therapist to hold off on visits while they work on some issues that cause conflict between us. We have a family meeting on Friday and will see how that goes.
~ Goody
MillaRose
07-13-2006, 11:48 PM
Hi Goody,
I'm sorry that my entry was harsh. my overall experiece with hospitalization is that I'm well. And thats what its all about. And nobody likes hospital but its necessary. Of course its not pleasant. I guess like if your shoulder is out of socket they gotta pop it back in place, and nobody would enjoy it but its necessary and you feel better and can function again. I wish you could talk to my mom. I think you both would benefit. She doesn't have the internet though and I don't think she ever even used it.
Just think, I was 16 when diagnosed and our worlds were upside down. But now my Mom is happy and I'm happy and I love her like shes my own child. You and your daughter will have a stronger bond because of this. And even though its hellish right now and I bet not a minute goes by that you don't worry about her. I really think its better that she be diagnosed now to give her time to accept it. And when other girls in the future can't handle the littlest stresses. She'll breeze right through. Because she'll be stronger
You and your family are in my prayers. And my Moms prayers too. And i'm pretty sure she has adirect number for the big guy
Take Care and know people who you'll never even meet care about you and send you good wishes xoxo
:angel:
I'm sorry that my entry was harsh. my overall experiece with hospitalization is that I'm well. And thats what its all about. And nobody likes hospital but its necessary. Of course its not pleasant. I guess like if your shoulder is out of socket they gotta pop it back in place, and nobody would enjoy it but its necessary and you feel better and can function again. I wish you could talk to my mom. I think you both would benefit. She doesn't have the internet though and I don't think she ever even used it.
Just think, I was 16 when diagnosed and our worlds were upside down. But now my Mom is happy and I'm happy and I love her like shes my own child. You and your daughter will have a stronger bond because of this. And even though its hellish right now and I bet not a minute goes by that you don't worry about her. I really think its better that she be diagnosed now to give her time to accept it. And when other girls in the future can't handle the littlest stresses. She'll breeze right through. Because she'll be stronger
You and your family are in my prayers. And my Moms prayers too. And i'm pretty sure she has adirect number for the big guy
Take Care and know people who you'll never even meet care about you and send you good wishes xoxo
:angel:
samandtola
07-14-2006, 12:43 AM
Although they are unpleasant, they are the best option for someone out of control.
goody2shuz
07-14-2006, 01:17 AM
MillaRose ~ you weren't harsh at all and I appreciate your concern.....believe me when I say that we want Erin back with us ASAP, not a minute sooner or a minute later than that!! But after 3 short stay hospitalizations and 4 months of followup with the psychiatrist and therapist I just can't set her up for failure again......as difficult as it is for her & our family she needs to come home when she is ready/stabilized. I want this all behind us and for her to feel that the only thing ahead of her is feeling good and happy again.
The thing I am struggling most with is knowing when that time would be right because Erin hasn't been honest with us....she is so good at manipulating things to be the way that she wants...I guess my sign will be when I see her no longer doing that. Like today she told me that she sent that boy, Victor, a letter through a friend to tell him that she only wanted to be friends. When I asked if the therapist okayed it she said yes. But if that were so then she wouldn't have sent it through a friend and would have sent it directly to him. Tomorrow I plan on confronting the therapist and if I hear otherwise then I will know that she is still not ready to come home. I hate doing this.....but her mind wants what it wants and will find a way to get it even if she has to lie and manipulate her way to it. And when she stops doing that then I will know that she is ready to come home.
Do you have any more ideas of how I will know when she is ready to come home???? My hands are tied.....they have to have an interdisciplinary team in place for after she is discharged and I am told that takes time. Once that is in place then I can see getting her home but until our family has that support I can't see getting her home any sooner than that.
Thanks for the info.....stabilization is going to take time. ~ Goody:angel:
The thing I am struggling most with is knowing when that time would be right because Erin hasn't been honest with us....she is so good at manipulating things to be the way that she wants...I guess my sign will be when I see her no longer doing that. Like today she told me that she sent that boy, Victor, a letter through a friend to tell him that she only wanted to be friends. When I asked if the therapist okayed it she said yes. But if that were so then she wouldn't have sent it through a friend and would have sent it directly to him. Tomorrow I plan on confronting the therapist and if I hear otherwise then I will know that she is still not ready to come home. I hate doing this.....but her mind wants what it wants and will find a way to get it even if she has to lie and manipulate her way to it. And when she stops doing that then I will know that she is ready to come home.
Do you have any more ideas of how I will know when she is ready to come home???? My hands are tied.....they have to have an interdisciplinary team in place for after she is discharged and I am told that takes time. Once that is in place then I can see getting her home but until our family has that support I can't see getting her home any sooner than that.
Thanks for the info.....stabilization is going to take time. ~ Goody:angel:
Tweetyone
07-16-2006, 04:56 PM
i thought i was stable but today i'm not sure. i'm way down and i can't seem to make it go away. i'm on 250 mg of lamictal, been doing great but today it's different. i want to end my life i see no reason to be here but yet something stops me. i wonder what it could be. i want to get out of this depressing state. i wish i knew why i feel this way.
so you see when you think everything is normal whamm it's not!
just my two cents,
justme,
tweetyone
p.s. i see doc on wenesday mayber he shed a good light! i will take my meds as i always do i won't give in!
so you see when you think everything is normal whamm it's not!
just my two cents,
justme,
tweetyone
p.s. i see doc on wenesday mayber he shed a good light! i will take my meds as i always do i won't give in!