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fizzgig

(24,146 posts)
Sat Jul 27, 2013, 04:16 PM Jul 2013

just spoke with my uncle and my cousin

she told me she'd called her doc to see how many pills she could take without hurting herself and that set off the chain of events. she told me it was to 'get all the bad stuff out.' when i asked her what that bad stuff was, she said it was all the stuff who makes her feel that way. we talked for about a half hour and it doesn't seem that they're doing much to help her right now, they've got her on the eating disorder floor while she waits for a bed on the mood disorder floor to open up. all she is getting is a couple short group sessions a day where basically someone talks at them, no team building, no coping techniques. the only meds she's getting right now is ativan at night and she said it's making her tired all day and she's been doing a lot of sleeping. she's not going to be able to see a doc about daily meds until monday and she has a hearing on tuesday, presumably to determine if it's appropriate to discharge her, but she's not exactly sure.

my uncle and i had the longest conversation we've ever had and while he said some stupid shit (mostly the fact he told her friends to walk away because they should take care of themselves and shouldn't have to deal with it), but it sounds like they've gone to visit her already, he seems to be a bit more enlightened about it than i'd originally thought he would be. my uncle told me she got pissed when he told her that her mom was coming too, i asked her about it and she told me she thinks her parents are terrible people. i wouldn't go as far as to say that, but they are certainly neurotic and un-understanding in their own way. apparently her mom makes cracks about how she's being so bipolar and tells her not to be that way. i reassured her they love her and want her to be ok, but she said she didn't care.

i shared with her every piece of advice i could. she's allergic to lamictal and stopped the lithium because it made her fuzzy. i don't know what other options exist, but i hope they're able to find a good combo and that she realizes that it will vastly improve her quality of life. but med roulette is so hard and she's young enough that her brain is still undergoing some development.

she sounded so sad, tired and a bit scared. i told her and her dad to call me anytime if they needed to talk.

she's a good girl and i'm going to be her staunchest advocate.

8 replies = new reply since forum marked as read
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just spoke with my uncle and my cousin (Original Post) fizzgig Jul 2013 OP
reminding her that people love her is good. mopinko Jul 2013 #1
mental illness is not something discussed on that side of the family fizzgig Jul 2013 #4
everybody is entitled to their medical privacy. mopinko Jul 2013 #7
Wonderful that she has you, elleng Jul 2013 #2
she asked if i'd told my dad and sister fizzgig Jul 2013 #5
Sounds great! elleng Jul 2013 #8
the best part about you caring is you don't have to care olddots Jul 2013 #3
i feel it's my responsibility to be her elder fizzgig Jul 2013 #6

mopinko

(70,127 posts)
1. reminding her that people love her is good.
Sat Jul 27, 2013, 05:54 PM
Jul 2013

a go between like that can make a big difference. she can't feel it now, so...

sleeping a lot is usually a good thing, imho.

fizzgig

(24,146 posts)
4. mental illness is not something discussed on that side of the family
Sun Jul 28, 2013, 02:58 AM
Jul 2013

i told my uncle today about my diagnosis and my stay in the hospital six years ago and he's the first one on that side to know. i felt it was none of their business, but it has become pertinent to the situation.

i can only hope the sleep brings her peace.

mopinko

(70,127 posts)
7. everybody is entitled to their medical privacy.
Sun Jul 28, 2013, 11:01 AM
Jul 2013

i don't tell every fool i know about everything. you don't have to either. but it is really good of you to help her out by sharing.

fizzgig

(24,146 posts)
5. she asked if i'd told my dad and sister
Sun Jul 28, 2013, 03:00 AM
Jul 2013

and i told her i did because we don't keep secrets. that seemed to relieve her and asked me to ask them to call her.

i want to rally all the support for her i can. my immediate family has gone through this with me and i know they will support her.

elleng

(130,974 posts)
8. Sounds great!
Sun Jul 28, 2013, 01:51 PM
Jul 2013

Everyone on board SO GOOD! Sounds like a big, important first step, THANKS TO YOU, fizz!

 

olddots

(10,237 posts)
3. the best part about you caring is you don't have to care
Sat Jul 27, 2013, 07:21 PM
Jul 2013

and that can be very helpful to her sensing you care because you care .I know that doesn't make much sense but you probably give her more hope than a lot of the people she is around and that's above and beyond wonderful .

fizzgig

(24,146 posts)
6. i feel it's my responsibility to be her elder
Sun Jul 28, 2013, 03:04 AM
Jul 2013

and it's a responsibility i take on whole heartedly. this is something that side of the family has never dealt with and i feel i have to guide all parties through it.

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