Schizophrenia ? What a mess :(

[MEG&MINNIE]

Just stay steadfast and remember that you are doing what is best for your grandma!!!

Ditto

 

[themarquis]

dusty, please don't feel guilty. Not only did you do anything wrong, but you did what's BEST for your grandma. Just imagine what would have happened if you weren't around -- she could have gotten very sick with the UTI and electrolyte imbalace, and she could have also become more and more delsional. She is so lucky to have you. I know it is hard seeing her medicated and in the hospital, but this is where she has to be right now, for her own and others' safety.

Just a question -- since they did find out she was also physically ill, do they think its possible her delusions will improve once she's physically healthy & the UTI and all that are taken care of?

 

[babytrees]

I got a call last night at 9:00 pm, she started acting out. Threatening that if they did not let her leave she was going to hit them or throw things at them. She was standing in the hallway with her bag, all the bag had in it was unerpants and depends pads. She had no shoes or clothes, it was 49 degrees out last nioght and she was tetermined she was going to walk home.

When they called me I had no other option but to tell them it was ok with me to re-backer act and that they should do what ever they see fit at this point.

She was given a sedative and restrained to her bed, they will be sending her to the geriatric pschc. ward within the next day or two.

I have been reading along.......

You are so strong for doing this, I hope things will eventually level out.

 

[dustysky]

Just a question -- since they did find out she was also physically ill, do they think its possible her delusions will improve once she's physically healthy & the UTI and all that are taken care of?

This was my hope as well but its not going to happen. They told me even with meds she will always have the paranoia.
There hope was to get her back to "normal" which was never actually normal but functional.

 

[dustysky]

Well they moved her to the psych hospital today around 5:00.
She knows where she is.
I do not even have the energy to tell yall the new story she came up with tonight its a doozy.

 

[The Mystery Machine]

I am so sorry...I cannot even imagine what you must be going through....

Continued hugs and prayers sent your way...

 

[PrincessKitty1]

Hugs to you and your grandmother.

 

[dmslush]

Well they moved her to the psych hospital today around 5:00.
She knows where she is.
I do not even have the energy to tell yall the new story she came up with tonight its a doozy.

Just remember that she is safe and warm and taken care of!!

 

[dustysky]

I just wanted to post a short (ok maybe not we'll see when I finish typing) update.

She was transferred to the psychiatric hospital on Wednesday, so far she is calm and cooperative. I was made the Guardian Advocate yesterday after the Dr. talked to her.

She does not eat very much but she does not like very much so that's not odd for her.
She knows where she is, however the meds have not yet made her understand that she is the only one who hears these voices and sees the "things".
There hope is that after treatment she will eventually understand this.

Here is the part that has me having panic attacks right now, I have decided that she will come live with us. The hospital does not feel she should be alone. She only has Medicare and you get very limited help because of that. The choices are nursing home or go back to her home alone.

As a human being I can not put a functional woman who can cook, clean, shop, etc. etc. in a full blown nursing home. I THINK I know in the back of my head that this is just not going to work out but I am not sure I would be able to live withmyself if I didn't at least try it.

You guys have really been very helpful, it is more comfort then I can explain to be able to talk to people about this.Thank you

 

[magicmato]

I just wanted to post a short (ok maybe not we'll see when I finish typing) update.

She was transferred to the psychiatric hospital on Wednesday, so far she is calm and cooperative. I was made the Guardian Advocate yesterday after the Dr. talked to her.

She does not eat very much but she does not like very much so that's not odd for her.
She knows where she is, however the meds have not yet made her understand that she is the only one who hears these voices and sees the "things".
There hope is that after treatment she will eventually understand this.

Here is the part that has me having panic attacks right now, I have decided that she will come live with us. The hospital does not feel she should be alone. She only has Medicare and you get very limited help because of that. The choices are nursing home or go back to her home alone.

As a human being I can not put a functional woman who can cook, clean, shop, etc. etc. in a full blown nursing home. I THINK I know in the back of my head that this is just not going to work out but I am not sure I would be able to live withmyself if I didn't at least try it.

You guys have really been very helpful, it is more comfort then I can explain to be able to talk to people about this.Thank you

I know how hard it is. My mother in law went through something similar (minus the mental illness) with my grandmother in law. She wound up bringing her to live in their home and she stayed for 5 years until she no longer was cleaning herself or feeding herself and she became VERY combative with everyone to the point where the visiting nurses could not get her to even take a sponge bath.

For all the heartache and anguish having her at their house caused them, I truly believe it was the best thing for them all, as this way they can honestly tell themselves they did the best they could.

 

[PrincessKitty1]

I just wanted to post a short (ok maybe not we'll see when I finish typing) update.

She was transferred to the psychiatric hospital on Wednesday, so far she is calm and cooperative. I was made the Guardian Advocate yesterday after the Dr. talked to her.

She does not eat very much but she does not like very much so that's not odd for her.
She knows where she is, however the meds have not yet made her understand that she is the only one who hears these voices and sees the "things".
There hope is that after treatment she will eventually understand this.

Here is the part that has me having panic attacks right now, I have decided that she will come live with us. The hospital does not feel she should be alone. She only has Medicare and you get very limited help because of that. The choices are nursing home or go back to her home alone.

As a human being I can not put a functional woman who can cook, clean, shop, etc. etc. in a full blown nursing home. I THINK I know in the back of my head that this is just not going to work out but I am not sure I would be able to live withmyself if I didn't at least try it.

You guys have really been very helpful, it is more comfort then I can explain to be able to talk to people about this.Thank you

Dustysky, the hospital social workers can help you apply for Medicaid for your grandmother, which would pay for nursing home care. Only YOU know what is best for you and your grandmother. If you don't think you're capable of caring for your GM 24/7, let the social worker know. They legally cannot send her home with you if you do not feel you can care for her. (I'm saying this in case you are feeling pressure from the hospital to take her home with you.) You have some really tough decisions to make and I feel for you and your family.

 

[dustysky]

Dustysky, the hospital social workers can help you apply for Medicaid for your grandmother, which would pay for nursing home care. Only YOU know what is best for you and your grandmother. If you don't think you're capable of caring for your GM 24/7, let the social worker know. They legally cannot send her home with you if you do not feel you can care for her. (I'm saying this in case you are feeling pressure from the hospital to take her home with you.) You have some really tough decisions to make and I feel for you and your family.

She does have medidicaid and medicare but without private insurance she is only able to be placed in a nursing home, not an assisted living with her own apartment. Here in Florida they have great places for people who can cook, clean, do laundry and shop, they have there own apartment but it is has a seperate area with a nurse who can be sure meds are being taken as well as make sure she is still doing daily living. My grandmother is not ready for a typical nursing home yet.

 

[dmslush]

She does have medidicaid and medicare but without private insurance she is only able to be placed in a nursing home, not an assisted living with her own apartment. Here in Florida they have great places for people who can cook, clean, do laundry and shop, they have there own apartment but it is has a seperate area with a nurse who can be sure meds are being taken as well as make sure she is still doing daily living. My grandmother is not ready for a typical nursing home yet.

I understand where you are coming from.. I know that you have to at least try to bring her home. And she may do very well when she is home with you, in a safe environment. I would have to do the same thing that you are doing!!!

 

[Rella Bella]

Oh Lori!
I so feel for your situation. I've been dealing with the nearly exact same thing with my mom for the last 5 years. It's no fun. I will tell you though, that the absolute key to the whole thing is a good dr who will work with you to get the meds exactly right -- and then being certain that they take them everyday as prescribed.

When Mom is correctly medicated she is normal and pleasant to be around, the paranoia, fear and depression completely disappear -- it is really miraculous. As her advocate it is you who will have to be VERY descriptive with her dr about her behavior and any changes in her mood. And if the dr starts cutting back her meds be sure you are in very close contact with dr then. That's where I got in trouble... I thought "well dr knows best... we'll see how it goes" when I already knew she wasn't quite as good as she had been. In the end she spiraled down too far and now where starting over -- well maybe 50% of where she was originally... but no fun.

MOST IMPORTANT!!! Get a journal immediately!! Record every dr visit, every med taken and every med change and make an entry about her behavior at least weekly! This is vital as the dr doesn't live with her and it's surprising how quickly the patient can figure out how to be doing SOooo much better on the dr visit days, you need something concrete to show the dr. You may also need that information for the court down the road in regard to your advocacy.

If I can help or answer any other questions just let me know. Hang on to hope! She will get better -- maybe even much better -- on the meds and then life will be much easier for you.

Sending prayers & pixie dust!

 

[dustysky]

Oh Lori!
I so feel for your situation. I've been dealing with the nearly exact same thing with my mom for the last 5 years. It's no fun. I will tell you though, that the absolute key to the whole thing is a good dr who will work with you to get the meds exactly right -- and then being certain that they take them everyday as prescribed.

When Mom is correctly medicated she is normal and pleasant to be around, the paranoia, fear and depression completely disappear -- it is really miraculous. As her advocate it is you who will have to be VERY descriptive with her dr about her behavior and any changes in her mood. And if the dr starts cutting back her meds be sure you are in very close contact with dr then. That's where I got in trouble... I thought "well dr knows best... we'll see how it goes" when I already knew she wasn't quite as good as she had been. In the end she spiraled down too far and now where starting over -- well maybe 50% of where she was originally... but no fun.

MOST IMPORTANT!!! Get a journal immediately!! Record every dr visit, every med taken and every med change and make an entry about her behavior at least weekly! This is vital as the dr doesn't live with her and it's surprising how quickly the patient can figure out how to be doing SOooo much better on the dr visit days, you need something concrete to show the dr. You may also need that information for the court down the road in regard to your advocacy.

If I can help or answer any other questions just let me know. Hang on to hope! She will get better -- maybe even much better -- on the meds and then life will be much easier for you.

Sending prayers & pixie dust!

The Dr. thing is such a good point and thru this entire thing I have felt like none of them really listen to me or even want to hear what I have to say.
My fear right now is that they will send her home with me BEFORE she is truly better. I need to know the meds are working before she leaves there. So far the one med they have her on for the delusions has yet to help.

 

[Rella Bella]

The Dr. thing is such a good point and thru this entire thing I have felt like none of them really listen to me or even want to hear what I have to say.
My fear right now is that they will send her home with me BEFORE she is truly better. I need to know the meds are working before she leaves there. So far the one med they have her on for the delusions has yet to help.

Unfortunately, they probably will want to send her home as soon as they can. You will have to stand up for yourself and for her -- keep your kids in mind and become that Mama tiger!!

The main thing I regret is not being more vocal about what is needed from the very beginning! The first time they basically dumped mom on me when they sent her home. Then it was MUCH harder to get her help, because when the patient isn't as bad the dr's don't consider it a priority.

If you are a passive person -- like I am -- it may be the hardest thing you've ever done, but it's so important.

 

[dustysky]

Unfortunately, they probably will want to send her home as soon as they can. You will have to stand up for yourself and for her -- keep your kids in mind and become that Mama tiger!!

The main thing I regret is not being more vocal about what is needed from the very beginning! The first time they basically dumped mom on me when they sent her home. Then it was MUCH harder to get her help, because when the patient isn't as bad the dr's don't consider it a priority.

If you are a passive person -- like I am -- it may be the hardest thing you've ever done, but it's so important.

I am not passive, but I do not have the time to spend in there faces (for lack of better words) to show them tht I am going to do what has to be done.
Its going to be hard.