Thursday, May 31, 2012
Med Wash Complete
The doctor confirmed they were intentionally holding all meds to get his system clean. Today is the completion of that. They will introduce Depakote (sp). He did come out of his room today to watch some Spongebob. Mom and Grandma will be going down tonight as dad is feeling a little under the weather this afternoon. She may do the night update if she is not just worn out when she gets home. Otherwise I will try to remember everything she tells me.
Post Visit Morning Report
I just got off the phone with the charge nurse at the hospital. The night was uneventful with Joshua spending the entire night in the quiet room asleep. He did have an accident and they will have to clean him up. Must have been the 5 cups of water we were able to get him to drink while we were there last night. Still has not eaten any thing other than the Rice Krispie treat he ate while we were there yesterday afternoon. We noticed a drop in his weight. It is not hard to drop weight when you are not eating. This is one thing that does concern me because when you don't eat and are being sedentary like he is the first thing your body goes for is the muscle mass. Your body goes into starvation mode. Reserving fat deposits for later. He has got to start eating something. I will be calling today to talk to the Dr to find out what the course of treatment is going to be today will be the 72 hour mark with no medications. I believe we should have a treatment plan coming together by this point.
Wednesday, May 30, 2012
First Visit At Hospital
Joshua had not eaten much in the past 5 days. He also has not had a real shower. For that matter since he has been in the hospital he has only been in two room his room and the quite room. The staff had not been able to get him to go to the common areas to engage with the other patients.
When we arrived Joshua was laying in his room on his bed. When he saw us he began to cry and shake. Not once making a motion to get off his bed and move in our direction. We were told the visit could not be in the room so Joshua would have to come out of the room to visit with us. So with a little coaxing he did get up and start moving in our direction. When he approached his mom he did so raising hands as though he was going to hit her. She was able to have her hands in place that when brought his hands up they met hers and he did not hit her. This is progress considering the events of the past few weeks.
After some pretty serious hugs he was able to go to the center of the common area where there were three sofas. He sat in the middle of one, I sat to his left and he told me almost immediately that I was too close holding up his hand with palm facing me which is his sign that I should give him a little more space. This is something we have been working on for years and he has retained it pretty well. It works nice when he is able to restrain himself long enough to use this tool. Mom was standing a few feet in front of him and he told her as well. "To close mom". Mom however was prepared. We had known he had not eaten anything and we wanted to kick start his appetite so we had brought some of his favorite snacks. The only ones that made it through security at the front door was Rice Krispies Treats. The other snacks were held at the security desk because they were in ziploc snack bags. I had called ahead and gotten clarification on how to package the snacks to avoid this issue. But still had to have someone from the ward go down to get them. Joshua ate what we had brought in just a few bites and I could tell by the way he ate it that he was hungry. But is not eating because things are so out of the norm for him.
After Joshua had eaten the treat I noticed he needed to get those teeth brushed so his attendant went and got his tooth brush and we had brought his favorite tooth paste. Without going into his room to his bathroom to do this the brush was a little to dry and he gagged on it a little. All of a sudden since Joshua was allowing this to take place we were allowed access to his room and bathroom. Amazing. So we went on to the bathroom and brushed his teeth and he had to use the restroom too. After that he was looking over at the shower and decided he would take a shower while we were there as well. We got him undressed in between glasses of water which he had not been drinking much either while there. He was in the shower for about 20 minutes. This was the first time we have been able to get him in a shower for over two weeks. Now for the bad news this is when he put in for us to take him home. He would not let it go. He wanted to go home cause he was now clean. So this is where our heart tugged. We had spent only 52 minutes of the hour and a half visitation with him and we had to leave. All of the time was spent doing things with him we normally do at home before bed so it was kinda normal. But we really wanted the full hour and a half.
Not sure if we will visit tomorrow as we don't want him unstable. When we leave and can't take him with us it really bothers him and us. We called the hospital as soon as we arrived back home to see what happened when we left. He carried on for a bit was upset ended up finally getting dressed but also go a shot of thorazine to help him calm down. They asked him if he wanted to be in his room or the quite room. His choice was the quiet room. So he grabbed his blanket went to the quiet room and fell asleep.
Tomorrow is another day.
When we arrived Joshua was laying in his room on his bed. When he saw us he began to cry and shake. Not once making a motion to get off his bed and move in our direction. We were told the visit could not be in the room so Joshua would have to come out of the room to visit with us. So with a little coaxing he did get up and start moving in our direction. When he approached his mom he did so raising hands as though he was going to hit her. She was able to have her hands in place that when brought his hands up they met hers and he did not hit her. This is progress considering the events of the past few weeks.
After some pretty serious hugs he was able to go to the center of the common area where there were three sofas. He sat in the middle of one, I sat to his left and he told me almost immediately that I was too close holding up his hand with palm facing me which is his sign that I should give him a little more space. This is something we have been working on for years and he has retained it pretty well. It works nice when he is able to restrain himself long enough to use this tool. Mom was standing a few feet in front of him and he told her as well. "To close mom". Mom however was prepared. We had known he had not eaten anything and we wanted to kick start his appetite so we had brought some of his favorite snacks. The only ones that made it through security at the front door was Rice Krispies Treats. The other snacks were held at the security desk because they were in ziploc snack bags. I had called ahead and gotten clarification on how to package the snacks to avoid this issue. But still had to have someone from the ward go down to get them. Joshua ate what we had brought in just a few bites and I could tell by the way he ate it that he was hungry. But is not eating because things are so out of the norm for him.
After Joshua had eaten the treat I noticed he needed to get those teeth brushed so his attendant went and got his tooth brush and we had brought his favorite tooth paste. Without going into his room to his bathroom to do this the brush was a little to dry and he gagged on it a little. All of a sudden since Joshua was allowing this to take place we were allowed access to his room and bathroom. Amazing. So we went on to the bathroom and brushed his teeth and he had to use the restroom too. After that he was looking over at the shower and decided he would take a shower while we were there as well. We got him undressed in between glasses of water which he had not been drinking much either while there. He was in the shower for about 20 minutes. This was the first time we have been able to get him in a shower for over two weeks. Now for the bad news this is when he put in for us to take him home. He would not let it go. He wanted to go home cause he was now clean. So this is where our heart tugged. We had spent only 52 minutes of the hour and a half visitation with him and we had to leave. All of the time was spent doing things with him we normally do at home before bed so it was kinda normal. But we really wanted the full hour and a half.
Not sure if we will visit tomorrow as we don't want him unstable. When we leave and can't take him with us it really bothers him and us. We called the hospital as soon as we arrived back home to see what happened when we left. He carried on for a bit was upset ended up finally getting dressed but also go a shot of thorazine to help him calm down. They asked him if he wanted to be in his room or the quite room. His choice was the quiet room. So he grabbed his blanket went to the quiet room and fell asleep.
Tomorrow is another day.
Tears of Sorrow
My son has been in the hospital now since Sunday 5/27/12. We were in the Emergency room on the 27th and most of the 28th when he was transferred to UT-HCPC. My wife woke me this morning with a simple request. "Will you get up with me?" as she wiped tears from her eyes. She explained that she had dreamed of Joshua in the hospital and all he would do was just lay there would not say or do anything. That she felt so helpless. His personality and expression gone. Thank God it was only a dream. We worry so much about what the future holds for our little guy. Will the doctors every get the right medication to get him on a road stability without him being sedated all the time? Will he keep that sweet personality and wonderful laugh that brings such joy to those around him? We sure hope and pray that they are able to pull him out of this dark place he has gone. We miss our little man.
Pre-Visit Hospital Call
Just called the hospital and talked to the charge nurse about Joshua's frame of mind today. We will be going down this evening for a visit, always a good idea to know what you are walking into.
Joshua had an accident today and had to get cleaned up. The were unable to get him into the shower and ended up just using a washcloth as he lay on his bed. The charge nurse said he did pretty well with it and has not shown any aggressiveness today. Good news is he is out staying out of the isolation room.
He still has not eaten and has not been drinking much at all. This makes day 5 without a regular meal. Not like Joshua to skip meals. Normally he wants to eat all the time. I am very worried that he is depressed about this whole situation. Missing being home. I know when we get there he is going to want to come home with us and then we will see how his mood is when we have to leave. This is always one of the toughest parts of him being in the hospital. First the fact that he is not home then him begging us to come home when we go to visit.
They have not given him any medication at all since he has been in the hospital. He was on so many to stop them all so quickly I am sure gives his little body a shock.
Joshua had an accident today and had to get cleaned up. The were unable to get him into the shower and ended up just using a washcloth as he lay on his bed. The charge nurse said he did pretty well with it and has not shown any aggressiveness today. Good news is he is out staying out of the isolation room.
He still has not eaten and has not been drinking much at all. This makes day 5 without a regular meal. Not like Joshua to skip meals. Normally he wants to eat all the time. I am very worried that he is depressed about this whole situation. Missing being home. I know when we get there he is going to want to come home with us and then we will see how his mood is when we have to leave. This is always one of the toughest parts of him being in the hospital. First the fact that he is not home then him begging us to come home when we go to visit.
They have not given him any medication at all since he has been in the hospital. He was on so many to stop them all so quickly I am sure gives his little body a shock.
Introduction - From Inside The Storm
Hello, my name is Bryan. These are the Life and Bipolar Times of my son, Joshua.
Let me warn you right from the start I am not a very good writer. I am sure with time I will get better. The purpose of this blog is to give me an outlet for all the emotions and thoughts that go along with raising a child who is bipolar as his primary diagnosis. From time to time this will be written by me and sometimes my wife or daughter may submit. We are a family of 6 but the oldest two children are up in their life now, 23 year old girl and 20 year old son who is in the Army. My 17 year old is going into her senior year and will be very busy with school. My wife is a special education teacher who works with children with Autism. I am the one who is Joshua's caretaker, ie Stay home Dad. All sounds a bit crazy doesn't it?
My little guy is 12 years old. I call him a little guy but he almost looks me in the eye and is right at 215 lbs. I am able to sit here and write this because right now he is in the hospital going through medication changes. He has been on so many different variations of "cocktails" I won't even begin to list. When his medications are right, Joshua is one of the most loving children you will ever meet. When his dosage is off or he becomes manic, you do not want to be in the same building with him..
This is only a short introduction to who we are. In the days and weeks to come you will get a better understanding of what Joshua and his family go through, from inside the storm.
All comments are welcome.
Let me warn you right from the start I am not a very good writer. I am sure with time I will get better. The purpose of this blog is to give me an outlet for all the emotions and thoughts that go along with raising a child who is bipolar as his primary diagnosis. From time to time this will be written by me and sometimes my wife or daughter may submit. We are a family of 6 but the oldest two children are up in their life now, 23 year old girl and 20 year old son who is in the Army. My 17 year old is going into her senior year and will be very busy with school. My wife is a special education teacher who works with children with Autism. I am the one who is Joshua's caretaker, ie Stay home Dad. All sounds a bit crazy doesn't it?
My little guy is 12 years old. I call him a little guy but he almost looks me in the eye and is right at 215 lbs. I am able to sit here and write this because right now he is in the hospital going through medication changes. He has been on so many different variations of "cocktails" I won't even begin to list. When his medications are right, Joshua is one of the most loving children you will ever meet. When his dosage is off or he becomes manic, you do not want to be in the same building with him..
This is only a short introduction to who we are. In the days and weeks to come you will get a better understanding of what Joshua and his family go through, from inside the storm.
All comments are welcome.
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