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Being sent home from hospital too early.

JoSenior Contributor14 May 2017, 7:38 am AEST

Being sent home from hospital too early.

My son is in hospital and there is talk of sending him home very soon. When I say 'my son', I mean the complete strager I visit every day in hospital who now speaks with a very Royal British English accent 24/7, is still wearing exactly the same suit, white shirt and tie that he was wearing when he was admitted ten days ago (he normally never even wears a suit) and won't wear his normal clothes that I have taken in to the hospital because he claims they are not his clohes - that they belong to 'Norman Percy'. When I asked who Norman Percy was, he answered 'a normal person'. Instead of showing any signs of improvement since being admitted to the hospital, he has actually become worse and the British accent even more pronounced. He was admitted May 4th. Today is May 14th. Every single day I have asked to speak to a doctor but every time been told there was no doctor available. When I eventually spoke to a nurse, he was amazed to discover that the person who used to be my son is Australian, not English. Yesterday another nurse told me my son could be releasd from hospital next week.This would be a disaster as he lives alone and I live in a small one bedroom unit in a retirement village so he wouldn't be able to live with me.His diagnosis is bi-polar disorder which he has lived with for many years but what is happening now has never happened before, He has turned into another person completely and I am very worried.
My question is this. Can anyone advise me of someone I could see re getting help in keeping my son in hospital until he is 'himself' again, before being sent home? Is there a Body or Society I can report the hospital to if he is released prematurely?

151 replies

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In response to: Being sent home from hospital too early.

Grasshopper3Senior Contributor20 May 2017, 8:51 am AEST

Re: Being sent home from hospital too early.

@Jo. Thank you for letting us read your story. I wish you could enjoy your retirement unit, and enjoy cups of tea with your friends on a sunny day.
Your son has your priority once again, and eventhough he has moved out, he still needs your care, attention and love. I am with @Former-Member, @Former-Member.

Mohill suggests to let him be in his suit and British Accent. If he feels the need to be 'someone else' to survive this crisis, let it be. For your own sake too.
I would buy him something really English, to show you accept him just the way he is. If you resist things, or try to control something you have no control over, it becomes a bigger problem.
We urge you to keep looking after yourself, break your day up with doing something for yourself for at least an hour a day... Your spirit & mind will thank you for it. (says me who drank wine last night lol)
Take care and hope to hear from you soon
Thanks again
Xx
🌷

In response to: Being sent home from hospital too early.

Unknown userMember20 May 2017, 11:43 am AEST

Re: Being sent home from hospital too early.

Got the tag @Jo, one thing for sure is you will know when things improve. I teetotal in sympathy as Mr Darcy's meds+grog=no good.
Take care
Darcy

In response to: Being sent home from hospital too early.

Unknown userMember21 May 2017, 5:53 pm AEST

Re: Being sent home from hospital too early.

Hey @Jo
Checking in, hope you are holding up OK.
Darcy

In response to: Re: Being sent home from hospital too early.

JoSenior Contributor22 May 2017, 6:58 am AEST

Re: Being sent home from hospital too early.

@Former-Member Still waiting for signs of improvement Darcy. Thanks so much for thinking of me. XX

In response to: Being sent home from hospital too early.

Unknown userMember22 May 2017, 7:16 am AEST

Re: Being sent home from hospital too early.

Hang in there @Jo perhaps live a bit dangerously and have strawberry creams instead of marshmallows today.
Darcy

In response to: Being sent home from hospital too early.

Unknown userMember23 May 2017, 7:53 am AEST

Re: Being sent home from hospital too early.

Hi @Jo
Keeping you and the Brit in thoughts and prayers. Hoping you will soon see a sign there might be at least dual citizenship.
Darcy

In response to: Re: Being sent home from hospital too early.

JoSenior Contributor23 May 2017, 9:11 am AEST

Re: Being sent home from hospital too early.

Hi @Former-Member Am going into the hospital now. The accent has gone from Royal Family to Sir Winston Churchill to yesterday, more of an ordinary English aristocrat. Same suit being worn though (since May 4) and same text book tucked under arm 24/7. Thanks for your kind thoughts. X

In response to: Being sent home from hospital too early.

Unknown userMember23 May 2017, 9:22 am AEST

Re: Being sent home from hospital too early.

Slow steps @Jo but happy for you a little improvement noticed.

In response to: Being sent home from hospital too early.

Grasshopper3Senior Contributor23 May 2017, 9:24 am AEST

Re: Being sent home from hospital too early.

@Jo@Darcy@patientpatient@lapses@Shaz51
Have you had any meetings with his mental health team?
It must be such a worrying time for you. If he gets out of hospital, is he going back to his own place? If he is, he will have a Recovery worker checking up on him, and you could visit him there again, cutting out all the driving you have been doing.
Hand in there dear @Jo, it will get better, this stage will pass, also.
Xx

In response to: Re: Being sent home from hospital too early.

Unknown userMember23 May 2017, 11:01 am AEST

Re: Being sent home from hospital too early.

Hello @Jo

Sounds as though the medication is slowly kicking in. Winston Churchill, a very intelligent mind to portray. Does your son seem agitated at all?

How do you feel about the change in voice?

Have you been up to reading any of the research on schizophrenia. It is a hard, first step to take.

I found for myself, having a bit more knowledge of what might be going on inside their heads, helped me to step back and think about how I respond to delusional behaviour and talk.

Also changing my mindset, from this will go away to wanting to see him more relaxed in himself.

My situation now is so very different as I do not have face to face contact my son lives interstate.

My contact is purely text messaging mostly, sometimes mobile phone call when he needs something urgently. Last night his internet was down and he needed to transfer money from one of his accounts to the other to get access. He gave me his info to do for him. This has reinforced that he trusts me still. So very important for both of us moving forward.

Have you had any discussions with your son's treating psychiatrist yet? If so how do you feel about what you were told?

You would be so drained now, just going through the motions of day to day and falling into bed feeling totally helpless I imagine. If this is the case I want you to know you can get past that on some days once he is released. Whilst he is in hospital everything is on hold, suspended, the waiting game. This period of time is important for him, his safety and path ahead.

Back to you. I am not going to ask the dreaded question that we all know the correct answer to but sometimes just can't deal with.

How is your supply of marshmallows? I used to like them toasted when I was younger but now find that they are too sweet for me. I have more of a preference for savoury, unhealthy food, dare I say, cheese shapes.

Take care, keep writing, know that you are in our thoughts.

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