Jude’s Jungle

How are you going @Judi9877 ?

Thankyou for updating us @Judi9877 that is wonderful news to read. Quick reminder to be gentle with yourself upon discharge. Sometimes the transition can feel a little wonky for the first few days.

Thankyou for sharing.

Good morning @BPDSurvivor @maddison @Snowie @FloatingFeather @hanami @Former-Member @tyme @Shaz51 @Former-Member @Former-Member @OscarJones @Appleblossom @Faith-and-Hope @Jacques @Jynx @Eve7 @Oaktree @TAB @MDT and all those joining me in the jungle this Tuesday morning. Thank you and welcome!

Things have been interesting here in the jungle in that I’ve moved to a smaller ward as of last Tuesday and due to transport issues with the hospital and getting me home, I’ll be discharged tomorrow when my housemate comes down for an appointment at an outpatient clinic for her arm which had surgery on it last Thursday for an abscess. The psych ward has trouble getting cab vouchers from the hospital so they’ve agreed to let me stay an extra night so I can be safely escorted home with her to our place tomorrow lunchtime. Mentally I’m feeling a lot better and I have had a slight change in meds so the voices have stopped for the most part and so has the suicidal thinking. I’m now just worried about the side effects of one of the tablets as it does say weight gain is possible unfortunately so I’ll have to watch out for that. I’ll be getting followed up in the community with the continuing care team attached to the mental health section of the local community health service so they can look out for me and see if there are any changes needed. My case manager is away for another 4 weeks so I’m getting a different one next week to speak to who I’m hoping I’ll get along with as my housemate was part of the mental health team recently and struggled to get along with some of the case managers on the team. In the meantime, I’ll just continue to take my meds and hope for the best.

On the ward, I’ve been spending most of my time knitting strips for a blanket for charity with me finishing 4 strips a week ago and now completing 2 by the end of Sunday just gone for a new blanket for charity. I’m currently working on a 3rd strip which I told the ward psychiatrist that I’d have done by tomorrow when I see him for discharge so I’ve got another 45cm to knit today which shouldn’t take too long. I’ve also been using my iPhone to listen to Lee Kernaghan’s ‘Boy from the Bush’ book via audiobook as I’ve been knitting which has been quite interesting yet enjoyable at the sane time. It’s my first time listening to an audiobook so it’s been different compared to listening to music but knitting helps keep me busy so it’s a great distraction as well. I’m thinking of looking into more audio books once I get out of hospital and utilise the library for these as a change to music. See below for the photo of the blanket strips.

The psychiatrist wants me to start exercising which I hate with a passion so to keep him satisfied, I’ve purchased a small exercise bike that I can use whilst watching Tv that can also be used with my hands. It’s small but better than nothing and any movement is better than none so I hope he’s happy. I just have to set it up at home and go from there. Now I’ve just got to set it up and actually use it! It was delivered to my house earlier this morning which my housemate collected so I’ll be able to use it tomorrow night when I get released from hospital.

Okay. Time to go as I’ve got nothing else really to say. Thanks for the kind words and support!

Talk later!

Judi9877☺️🧶🌻

Hi @Judi9877

It's so great to read your update!

I hope you get your little exercise bike set up ok.

Sending hugs and positive wishes to you,

Hanami

Hey @Judi9877

Thanks for another lovely update.

It's really great news to read about how far you have come in your recovery. Thankyou for sharing.

I have not tried listening to audio books. Sometimes I will listen to my meditation app while crocheting. Nice that you have discovered a new interest. I recently started doing an old puzzle book I bought off Amazon a while back. They are called Binary Puzzles. It's a little bit like Sudoku if you remember, or have heard of them.

Anyway, Binary Puzzles are my favourite. I'm hopeless at crosswords & such. It's fun to have new interest.

I have crocheting gloves, trying to perfect the pattern, but am taking a break from crochet for now. I'll see if I have photos in my phone if gloves..... Here they are...

I am with you on the exercise! I'm not very good at it either. Also, it's been too cold - I think perhaps that is a good excuse!!

Maybe you will end up enjoying the exercise bike? Good on you for having a go!

All the best for tomorrow.

Hi @Judi9877,

I was just passing by and what to see how you are getting on? Hope you are doing okay.

Always look forward to your updates @Judi9877.

Best wishes,

FloatingFeather

Good morning @FloatingFeather @maddison @hanami @BPDSurvivor @Snowie @Former-Member @Shaz51 @tyme @Former-Member @Appleblossom @Oaktree @Former-Member @Daisydreamer @Former-Member @Jynx and everyone joining me in the jungle today. Thanks for popping in.

To be honest, I’ve been struggling a little since coming out of hospital last Wednesday with trying to reacquaint myself with the going on of daily life. I’m glad for the freedoms but I’m just having trouble settling back in and being able to go and do things without being checked on and so forth. I’m also still nervous about my car despite it being fixed. Just the usual stuff.

I feel like I’ve let people down by not getting back into things straight away like not going on the forums and not doing a test for a course or picking up my volunteer leads that I’ve been given for a volunteer role. I’m just really struggling to get back into daily living and having to adjust to taking more meds in the morning which I’m not used to. Also, not operating on hospital times of 8am, 12pm, 5pm and then both 7:30pm and 10pm is a little odd and not getting my knitting taken away from me at 10pm yet knowing I’m allowed to knit anywhere has also been tough on me. My birthday is next Tuesday yet I find myself not really wanting to celebrate it either which is hard as my housemate and best friend wants to make the most of it which is also hard.

I’m still working on my knitted blankets which I’m enjoying including spending time doing my 170 stitch blanket and my crochet blanket as well so things are getting done. It’s just taking time.

I’m going to leave this here now and get back to doing some knitting. Talk soon.

Judi9877

Hi @Judi9877,

I think it is very normal that it's taking a bit of time to readjust to your regular life. It sounds like in hospital it was pretty structured and stuck to a familiar schedule and now you have a free timetable.

Please just go easy on yourself and don't put any expectations on yourself - there is no right or wrong regarding where you are supposed to be when it comes to reacquainting yourself with your life. Whatever works for you is the best for you.

Please also don't feel any pressure to be on the forums - whilst we love having you and we are always here for you it's just because we care. Having said that there is no pressure to jump on and chat unless you are up to it.

As for your birthday, why don't you just do a wait and see approach. It's my partner's birthday on the 11th and he doesn't want to celebrate either.

Always nice to `see' you and we look forward to seeing you again when you are up to it.

Best wishes,

FloatingFeather

@Judi9877 so glad to be back in the jungle 🌴

It sounds like it's taking you a few days to settle into a routine which is just yours. Especially after a little while of having very structured time. Sounds like the freedoms you mentioned are a little overwhelming? I wonder if there's a way you can replicate the structure for yourself, but doing activities which you like? Maybe a schedule for yourself?

I'm also sorry that you feel like you've been letting others down. It sounds like you are really driven to get well. Is there anything you've done before which can help with these feelings? Or anywhere on the forum you could post seeking support from other forumites?

Sitting with you,

TuxedoCat

Hello and hugs @Judi9877 , it will take time again to readjust my awesome friend xx

Here for you every step

@FloatingFeather doing something quiet for the partner's birthday sounds great, my husband is the same , only wants the 2 of us