Son (22) with schizophrenia

@Former-Member

Might pay to mention pokie win too ... team might need to know about that too ... you might not be aware if it is an addiction or if he budgets for entertainment.

how did the Big Breakfast go @Grasshopper3 xx

Good afternoon, thankyou so much for sharing your story. As Of late we have been privuy to many persons stories and I keep seeing similar threads. My child wishes to work however is unable to cover a fulltime position. I wondering if it's time to go back to the old job share.

Here at MIFANT in our drop in center, open 930 to 1pm weekdays, we are providing activites for people to dhelp with confidence and skils. We are also deliveing living well strategies for carers, to share with their loved ones, so they too feel empowered. The suprise in mental Illness and Mental wellness is no one day is ever tha same. When we are prepared to not be prepared, life feels so much less stressfull.

I hope you continue to share your experiences and the magnificence of your son.

@

Our 'Colgate Ring of Confidence' team

@Former-Member, especially nice to see your likes:)

trust things are going OK for you? Have fun!

@Former-Member

Thanks for sending those links. Specially the IAMAT (Internation Ass. for Mental Assistance for Travellers.

Immediately I sent an email to Qatar, as we will have a stopover there, asking if the medical Certicate from his Psyciatrist will be sufficient. I am hopeful it is but it states on their form: c) Certificate issued by the health authorities of the country of destination.! Does that mean I need a Certificate from the Netherlands, as this will be my destination? The email bounched back tho, undeliverable mail.

GRRR. I can see a problem arising at this airport if we get involved in a stressful waiting situation.

I sent the Dutch Consulate in too, in Canberra, hoping they will reply back to me and write me a certificate to give us a smooth transit, if this is to be true.

I dont know if you heard the news yesterday about this guy arrested on a Melbourne plane who suffers from mental illness? Hundreds of passengers and staff and staff were witnessed him running to the cockpit saying he had a bomb....Lucky no one was hurt and he was captured quickly. It's not the kinda news I want to be listening too though.

Today we picked up sons medication, to take with us for our 3 week overseas trip.

Also a medical certificate, to give to Customs, and a letter he is to give to a Dutch Doctor who will assist him with his next depot. It was a summery of my sons life, what Colgate colours he has (:-)) and what delusions he has told the medical professionals about, and his sleeping patterns and self harm tactics.

Its really full on, and I studied his face whilst reading it when we got home. He studied it and pushed it away from him. I asked him how he was feeling, reading this letter. He said thats pretty f*cked up stuff.

I showed him the Confidential stamp on the envelope, and put it back in there. I was so very very glad he didnt rip the letter up.

I will scan the customs letter to my brother in Holland tho, so he can get this Cert. of his Doctor in case I need this in Doha. (Qatar) - see my prev. post re: Certificate issued by the health authorities of the country of destination.

To be continued

PS @Former-Member how are you, and how is it to meet all your overseas rellies? You havent seen them for many many years, if I remember correctly. Do you have good connections with them?

Have you been able to contact home yet? Do you still feel unsettled? If you do, make sure you keep in a routine, and listen to your heart. Do what you can, if in doubt, cut it out.

Hope to hear from you, but if I dont, hey, no news is good news, it must mean you are enjoying yourself hopefully.

love,

Hi @Grasshopper3,

Here's a link to a .gov.au website page about travel with medicines;

http://travelsecure.infrastructure.gov.au/specific-needs/medicines.aspx

I've done a long flight (Melb-Berlin) with my son, this was pre Sz diagnosis but he was unwell and we were carrying meds. It went OK and the only difficulty I had was waking him up when landing. He did enjoy the meals, I remember that clearly.

These days my son has an ipod and headset, and that's his go-to option if he starts to feel overwhelmed. Does your son have any options if he's feeling "antsy"? Your doctor could also prescribe some just-in-case medication, although I note your son's aversion to meds.

It sounds like you're very well organised. Are you considering buying travel insurance?

@patientpatient

Morning!

Yes we have travel insurance. I also read somewhere in case of emergency the Dutch hospital system is covered by Australian Medicare, travel insurance is a bit iffy about existing 'conditions'.

We have extra waivers, he can double up on them, we have the depot as he is due when we are there, and he has extra sleeping tablets.

He loves sleeping, and wanted to try the sleeping tablet last night. I told him he is the manager of his own body and meds, he can try one if he is curious to see if it works (and they will no doubt, but only given to him for the trip, not for day to day use as addictive).

He decided to safe them for when he really needs it. I praised him for his decision.

We also got Nicobait chewing gum. He tried the patches before in hospital last year but they sting him, he said.

So.... we only went to pick up the letter and meds prescriptions from his Health Care Clinic, then to the chemist. I let him pay for his meds out of his own money. I think it is all part of looking after himself, and with his Newstart allowance he has a healthcare card so he can afford them.

We also popped in at Good Sammys, (I loooove Op Shops) and he choose a backpack and a pouch to keep his meds in. He paid for it himself, I am so proud!

He has a back pack at home but he has been saving his siggy butts in it. He might be aware it is one hell of a smelly bagpack. Thank goodness he keeps it outside where he smokes. Thank goodness he is not taking it with him in the plane lol

I told him, he better keep meds in hand luggage with letters. Suitcases can get lost in transit.

When we got home he had a smoke, then when I asked if he wanted to go around the block he put his shoes back on.

During our walk he said: well its been an eventful day hasnt it? I asked him why? He said well, we been out and about. I sometimes forget what it must be like for him, sitting at home while I'm at work.

I dont rush home in my lunchbreak anymore, but I ring him now.

Anyway we have long weekend coming up and must clip a hedge in the garden.

Keep talking to me so it feels i'm not alone in this...

PS How was Berlin? Germany is such a lovely country.