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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 6 of 6. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by cpallen79 on August 15, 2004, at 18:32:34
Hello All,
I have BP II, OCD, and GAD. I am considering hospitalizing myself because I cannot seem to get reasonably stablized. I'm worried abotu work and my life though. Some stuff has helped but I guess I'm not sure what to do. Does anyone have any insight into voluntary hospitalization and what I can expect? Do I have any say on my treatment at all? Any input would be great.
Thanks
Chris
Posted by crazychickuk on August 16, 2004, at 6:50:13
In reply to thinking of hospitalization- Please help me, posted by cpallen79 on August 15, 2004, at 18:32:34
DO you have to go in? what support have you at home? can you take sick leave from work for a while so you can get stabalized work with the docstor or physc from home... if you were to go in hospital they will control you... you wont have much say at all.. experience with the uk anyways... and if you get bad they can section you and you can also get insane by seeing al those insane people in there.. and when u r in its hard to get back out.. so think about this very seriousley.. i would love to go in and get stable but i am afraid of the above..
Posted by B2chica on August 16, 2004, at 11:19:23
In reply to thinking of hospitalization- Please help me, posted by cpallen79 on August 15, 2004, at 18:32:34
i think everyone may have a little different view on this.
In my experience as long as you "voluntarily" place yourself you can check out. however, if the doc's on board think you are of immediate danger to yourself or others then they can override that and make you stay.
They have a strict regimine and try to pack your day full. meals, therapy groups, timed breaks (if you have "privaleges") and learning time -where you either read or watch videos on specific subjects.(like Bipolor or GAD or whatever you may be dealing with).
I checked myself in because i was very suicidal, i'm very glad i did. There are docs, pdocs, social workers and nurses there everyday to look over you (or hover over you at times), and to talk to if you want/need that.
To me it was the best place to play around with med changes, i had a very severe reaction that i can't even imagine what would have happened to me had i not been in a hospital.
-Not sure how much input, but i think they do take some suggestions into consideration. I think if you have a specific style "treatment" plan in mind you may want to just try setting up an appt. with a pdoc and see what they think. Mostly they do have "their way". but if say you have gender preferences, or alone vs. group you may have to do both but you can choose to talk only in one or the other. etc. so the schedule stays the same but some requests may be considered.I guess, i would look at your reasons for wanting to do a hospitalization. Mostly Hospitalization is used for a temp fix, 2days-1week or so (although i was in there for two weeks...ya i was pretty messed up). if you feel unstable or wanting to do some quick med changes (they can try and a couple days later try different-since their watching you every day-quicker turn around time), then it's a Great idea.
Also, i agree about making sure your home life is covered, work, family(kids and such). But overall your health is most important.
Best wishes.> Hello All,
> I have BP II, OCD, and GAD. I am considering hospitalizing myself because I cannot seem to get reasonably stablized. I'm worried abotu work and my life though. Some stuff has helped but I guess I'm not sure what to do. Does anyone have any insight into voluntary hospitalization and what I can expect? Do I have any say on my treatment at all? Any input would be great.
> Thanks
> Chris
Posted by Ilene on August 17, 2004, at 21:14:30
In reply to thinking of hospitalization- Please help me, posted by cpallen79 on August 15, 2004, at 18:32:34
I think everyone's experience is different. I was very nervous when I went in for a voluntary hospitalization last March. I was there for about 5 days. It was okay, not wonderful, not terrible; mostly it was a break from the pressure I was under. The only medical treatment I got was the addition of lithium to my regular meds, which turned out to be a mistake, but was probably worth the experiment.
The hospital I was in didn't have a lot of activities, which I think is unusual. Some of the other patients complained about it, because they were bored. I brought some reading material with me. I also did a huge jigsaw puzzle, and my family visited me.
I actually wanted to stay longer because I felt protected. I'd probably do it again if I felt under the same stress.
Posted by Racer on August 17, 2004, at 23:49:34
In reply to Re: thinking of hospitalization- Please help me, posted by Ilene on August 17, 2004, at 21:14:30
I've only been hospitalized involuntarily, so I don't know what to say about getting back out, BUT I will say that the last time -- despite being in a modern day snake pit -- was definitely a Good Thing in my life. I mean that sincerely, and think that I couldn't have survived without it.
Mind you, I was not in an ideal facility -- very few activities, nothing that could be called "therapy", inadequate supervision (I didn't eat for most of the time I was there, and only one staff member ever commented on it), etc. If you have access to a decent facility, and you think you need the structure and support, then by all means hie thee to the hospital. How much control you'll have over any treatment there is probably dependant on both your condition when you arrive and the facility itself. Then again, you're not likely to be there long, so you can probably put up with a few of the less interesting groups, right? And, if you have a therapist and/or pdoc on the outside, there's a reasonable chance that they'll be directing your treatment, which should reduce the stress even further.
As Ilene says, just getting that break from the stressors of your life can be lifesaving -- literally, in my case.
Best luck to you.
Posted by karlak13 on August 20, 2004, at 21:45:35
In reply to thinking of hospitalization- Please help me, posted by cpallen79 on August 15, 2004, at 18:32:34
I was very depressed and phycotic and cutting myself and feeling very suicidal. I called my dr and was connected with a pdoc that day I had an apt with him and he addmitted me voluntarily into the phyc ward at a hospital. The food was good, they made sure i took my meds, made me go to therapy classes (cross stitch, latchhook, painting, etc), we had nap time and I think I only saw my dr there once. Pissed me off. They released me a week latter into my husbands authority and made him sign some release papers saying he would keep an eye on me. I saw my pdoc the next week and things went on from there. I would say it was a very possitive experience but I had little to no say over what meds I was being put on, what there side effects were, what other options I had, etc.
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