Posts by crimsonfox5

I have a brother who was diagnosed with schizophrenia about ten years ago. In the beginning, his doctor struggled quite a bit to find the right treatment plan. For the last seven years, he’s been getting a Risperdal Consta injection every two weeks, but for the past three months, he’s switched to a monthly injection—I can't recall the exact name—plus Diazepam 10mg as needed. Despite all these medications, he still experiences occasional episodes. He tells me he feels fine, yet these episodes keep happening, especially when the weather changes or when he's under significant stress. His doctor claims this is fairly standard for patients in his situation and suggests we should just be grateful he's functional enough to handle some self-care. I guess I don't really see it that way; living in this constant state of uncertainty is difficult. I suppose I'm wondering what your thoughts or experiences are regarding how these types of medications actually work and their effectiveness?

Henry Garcia9 said:I don't get what kind of behavioral change we're supposed to be feeling. Look, people living with schizophrenia aren't all plugged into some invisible hive mind where they all feel the same thing at once...

I didn't mean that literally, but just as an example: if my brother starts acting the way described, I might hear similar things from my friends. I suppose seasonal changes might influence behavior somewhat. We already have our notification system 🙂, so we try to avoid starting arguments with them and steer clear of any possible conflict

Has anyone noticed any shifts in behavior today? I have a brother struggling with schizophrenia, and he’s acting out quite a bit right now—making silly jokes, talking to himself, and I can see there's a risk of him becoming physically aggressive... I've also heard from a few friends that their siblings dealing with the same condition seem to be behaving differently lately, much like my brother.

I suppose my question belongs here, but if not, no big deal.
I have some upcoming travel planned to: Amsterdam and Dubai
I take several medications that fall under controlled substance lists, such as Xanax and Zoloft...
I was wondering who provides certified translations of medical documentation to ensure I can pass through customs without any issues. I think I might need at least an English and Arabic translation, just in case I run into someone who isn't fluent in English. Thanks.

Maybe the issue isn't actually what I think it is:
Whenever there's an emergency—like an accident, a sudden illness, or some kind of natural disaster—where you really need to keep a cool head, I seem to handle it perfectly. But once the "crisis" is over, things start falling apart. I deal with sweating, shaky knees, tremors, and sometimes just unexplained crying... It usually starts anywhere from an hour to maybe 24 hours after the stressful situation ends. How do you all manage this?

vividsailor7 said:There might be some respiratory insufficiency as well. Honestly, the broken hip is likely the worst part. It seems unlikely things will take a turn for the better.

Some new issues have come up.😛She’s having trouble swallowing and is refusing her medication—unless it’s through an IV, since she can't really control that—because she feels like "they want to poison her" or are performing some kind of dark magic on her. I guess they aren't quite sure what to do anymore; her mental state is declining alongside her physical health. She probably needs to be in a facility that combines psychiatric care with internal medicine. Does a specialized center like that exist here in the States?

Unfortunately, I ended up in this group 😢. My mother is in the hospital, and her condition is just devastating. She’s on oxygen through a nasal cannula and receiving a glucose infusion with other medications mixed in. Her skin feels strange, almost tacky, and the color looks several shades darker than the hospital sheets. She is refusing all forms of assistance. Yesterday morning, she pulled everything off herself—the oxygen, the IV, the needles... they actually had to restrain her limbs, so now she's getting her IV through a vein in her leg. Her diagnoses include COPD, heart failure, a broken hip, and she struggles with suicidal ideation. I'm not sure what to do; maybe there isn't much I can do? Just wait for the end? The hardest part is that she rejects any help at all.

Jeffrey Sanchez7 said:Does anyone know where I can find some solid studies on the success rates of psychotropic medications? A close friend of mine actually managed to pull himself back from the brink after spending a few months at a psychiatric facility; he decided to check himself in because he realized he just couldn't handle things on his own anymore. To be honest, I was pretty skeptical about the whole thing at first, but seeing him recover like that really changed my perspective. It made me realize that this isn't just some fringe pseudoscience, so I want to try being a bit more objective about it. If anyone has any links to actual statistical data or clinical research, I’d really appreciate it.

I don't think those exist because it's all so individual. I spent five months in Boise (if you look at my previous posts), and I'm doing okay now, but I know plenty of people who stayed much longer only to end up right back where they started. I'll go in for a follow-up and half the room is filled with them! When I ask what went wrong, some weren't taking their meds, while others tried to "mix" their prescriptions with weed or alcohol, which is a really dangerous combination, and that's why they're back at square one. I went once, and I don't plan on ever going back. I take grams and 200 milligrams of medication daily and everything is truly fine; I'm a different person now, full of optimism, working, in a relationship...

My apologies if this topic has already been covered, but I just received word about thirty minutes ago
from the hospital in a small town in Indiana that my mother is being transferred to the facility mentioned above. I was wondering if anyone could share what the conditions are like there? What’s the general atmosphere, and how is the staff? Also, does anyone know the easiest way to get there from Washington, D.C. without a car? I'd love to hear about any experiences you've had—I'm just trying to get a feel for everything. I checked their website, but I couldn't find much specific information. Thanks so much in advance.

urbanskipper4 said:Man, this Seroquel just knocks me out. I feel like I could sleep for twenty-four hours straight if I let myself. I’ve been on it for two months now and honestly, the fatigue is just hitting me hard.
And don't even get me started on the weight gain. This stuff makes me crave sugar constantly, damn it.
I mean, I *do* feel better overall, though.
Aside from the current OCD flare-ups, there are still those days where everything just falls apart.
Just look at the message I posted earlier.
Plus, whenever the OCD kicks in, the depression starts dragging me down right along with it.
Zeeeve, I'm heading to bed. Night.
Evenings are always a little easier for me, anyway.

How much are you taking? Maybe the dose is a bit too high for you?
I think I take it too (900mg XR at night and I never felt sleepy),
It really does increase your appetite, which I guess is its biggest downside.

wiredcanyon2 said:If what you're saying is true, then there really isn't much room for negotiation. For someone dealing with chronic issues, your primary care physician is incredibly important. If the partnership there isn't working out, I guess you might need to find a new doctor, or maybe try having one more serious conversation with her...🙂

It really is like that. It’s even worse because they treat me like I don't know anything, which is frustrating since I can organize my own medications without even looking at them.
I also requested a referral for something—I won't say what, but it's serious—and she just told me, "Well, you look healthy!"
If I'm asking for something, it's because I genuinely need it. I don't have the energy to wander
around different hospitals; I'm honestly just fed up with it all.

I've decided to switch my primary care physician (I explained why in the post below), and I was wondering if anyone could recommend a good clinic. I'm looking for a place where they actually listen to their patients, prescribe what's truly necessary, and don't tend to dismiss your concerns.

analogbison13 said:Doesn't the discharge summary usually list the prescribed therapy?

Of course it does. It should be included in every follow-up report from the doctor.

Ever since my discharge, I’ve been having these ongoing disagreements with my doctor and nurse regarding my prescriptions. I take quite a few—about six different types totaling roughly 15 pills a day—but it feels like the clinic is undermining my treatment plan
! For instance, I have one specific medication that requires seven tablets daily; when I get two bottles containing 100 tablets, that should only last about two weeks. When I show up at the clinic and request my refill
, they tell me I shouldn't need it for another month. I try to explain that if they just look at the math of how much I've received versus what I actually need, the discrepancy would be obvious. But their response is always that the computer system says I’m covered for a month. It seems some people end up back in the hospital because they missed doses, whereas I might end up back there simply because they won't release my medication. I suppose I'm not sure what the best way to handle this is.

Fortunately, I’ve never been a patient in a room like that, though I have visited several times—once even being present during
resuscitation (I can still hear the sound of the defibrillator in my head)
. You might walk in to visit someone, only to find that half the room has passed away before the night is over.

My brother deals with this illness, taking medication and getting an injection every two weeks.
Still, despite all that, I sometimes get the feeling he uses his condition as an excuse for other things.
There is a fine line between being sick and just being rude. He actually brags about his "medical pass,"
And for now, he’s still working, mostly because some colleagues tolerate him and just
"go along to get along." But the moment anyone disagrees, it turns into insults, verbal abuse, or even property damage. Unfortunately, unless he spends some
time in one of those mental health facilities, there isn't much help available. He is lucky enough to still have a job, but he has already received two
formal warnings; if he messes up one more time, he'll be out on the street.