Son (22) with schizophrenia

You take care of you too my friend @Grasshopper3

I am okish , and how are you going xoxo

My son and I are meeting up with a psychiatrist, who has taken over from our last one.

WE both had a restless night. He doesn't like changes and he's not sure how much he will tell the new one. He says the others have written it all down, so he shouldnt have to say anything.

I myself don't like going to the Doctor even, let alone the see someone who specialises in how the mind works... I empathise with him and I realise these changeovers, can cause a relapse if not dealt with correctly.

I told him that eventhough the last one was very good, they need to see other patients from different areas for training purposes, the more experience, the better they can be of help.

So, in the past my son moved around and had to make appointments with mental health in his area, now he is stable living with me and now the psychs move around and every so often he gets introduced to another one.

I said a new one could help him in different ways, and has a new outlook on things.

I'm glad he is still compliant, and I will take time of work to take him there.,. He could take the train (2 stops) but keeps saying he thinks he'll get lost walking up from the traino to the centre.

Ah well, anything to keep our lives peaceful and balanced and my boss never lets me down taking time out for caring for my son.

So... fingers crossed, and hope for the best, hopefully we sleep better tonight.

Grasshopper3

@Former-Member

This new psych had a lot of questions, and my son answered them as good as he could. Sometimes he scribbled things down, but kept good eye contact and gave him full attention. He said he was only going to be at this centre for 6 months. He looks very young, maybe same age as my son.

Afterwards my son said the meeting had been very confronting. He says he didn't know some answers, and wasn't too sure if he could trust him with some of the information he has. it is sad my son has very strong views and morals about social and humantarian issues but no one he can trust to talk to who shares his thoughts. (I also met his mental health worker this week, he spends 3 hours a week with my son when I am at work, and he was such a nice guy with a lot of experience I could tell).

I think it's so important someone listens to him, and he accepts his views are not necessarily mine.

I am very thankful he always wants me to be there when he meets his psychs.

The plan is to wean him off the wafers again, but take some with us during our trips coming up, when he needs it. We tried this before but it will be very hard for him to get to sleep. Sometimes it takes few hours, and it has happened he'll fall asleep when I go to work at 7AM....

So last night was his first night without the wafers. I don't know when he got to sleep.

There has been mentioning of anti-depressants as his imsonia could be because of anxiety.

My son doesn't want to try them, he has been on those before (2012) and he felt quite ill, with headaches, heartpalpatations etc.

He has his mind set to going into hospital after we come back in May to change over to the last resort medication there is for Sz. He needs to go to hospital as he needs regular blood tests. This medication has a lot of side effects and he needs to be monitored for at least 2 weeks in hospital.

sigh. Going for walkies now...

Lots of love,

Grasshopper 3

@Former-Member @patientpatient @Former-Member @Faith-and-Hope @Shaz51

Hello possums!

I hope you are doing ok, specially my special penfriend Mohill who is I believe in recovery after an operation

My son has been off his wafers one week, and has trouble sleeping again. We saw his psych again this morning where he explained his head is spinning and he can't relax, hasnt slept for 24 hours.

The psych doesnt like giving him the depot and wafers, it is double the drugs he would require. He is promoting for my son not to concentrate about when he falls asleep rather then when he is required to wake up. (like 9AM on a regular basis). I had a feeling he tried to tell my son to take responsibility and not to overmedicate, which makes sense to me. He said to change his body clock it takes time, wont happen overnight.

My son however, explained to him he has had imsonia his whole life. He has tried so many things, wind down at night, no coffees, no internet, he recently got a weighted blanket which weighs 7.5 kg!, he has an infuser making his room smell nice, listens to soothing music, lays on his sides, belly, back turns head to toe etc. etc. but still sees the sun come up. He said he has nothing to wake up for. If he wakes up at 9AM he has a long day ahead of him doing nothing.

He stopped talking and looked at the psych and said, where is my quality of life.... there must be something?

The psych asked me a few questions about when he was younger, and said the only thing he could try is meds against anxiety. It will be a very low dose, but enough to help him to fall asleep. My son is prepared to try it.

I asked the medication my son is going to change over to in May/June this year starting in hospital, would take care of his sleeping problem? The psych said most people on it ,will feel very drowsy even during the day.... My son looked at me and shook his head. I could hear him think, the other Psych said it would be his last option....

Now he doesnt like this new psych much but he still made another appointment for in 4 weeks time.

I'm so hopefull this anxiety drug is going to be successful. In a few days we are flying to the other side of Australia to see his sister getting engaged. He will also still be on his depot due next week.

Fingers x He has just fallen asleep on couch after 26 hours being awake - we talked about if anything stressful would happen after being awake for so long, could result in a lot of stress and anxiety and delusions and if not treated well, a psychotic episode. He said he is fully aware of it.

Bless his heart.

I took a day off today after being awake too much last night, feeling not well enough to go to work. I might go for litte nanna nap myself. I promised to wake him up soon, otherwise he wont sleep tonight again.

Take care of you' all and thanks for reading my longish post x

Grasshopper3

Hello @Grasshopper3 and sending you hugs my friend , thank you for sharing