Urgent prayer request

[Mrs. Luther073082]

And I haven't even fully read all the rest of that page but it looks like there are some other pretty serious problems that can arise from taking it, too.... good grief. I think if it were me, I would much rather just keep throwing up.

 

[Inkachu]

I wholeheartedly agree, Melissa. I'm becoming more and more of the mindset that I'm not going to take any drug unless my life seriously depends on it. Especially when supposedly "serious conditions" (not comparing your brother's, just saying things like high bp, cholesterol, etc) can be helped and even completely eliminated with lifestyle changes. People don't want to put down the cheeseburgers and beer, so they get on Lipitor...it's stupid and crazy, and you don't hear about the damaging side effects till someone dies, then suddenly you see lawsuit commercials everywhere.

/rant

 

[white dove]

I just looked up one of the medications Matt was taking (for nausea) and it says insomnia and psychosis are side effects.

"Psychosis" is highlighted in turquoise under psychiatric side effects...

Reglan Side Effects | Drugs.com

Just thought I would pass that along.

It makes me really mad that there are so many drugs out there with side effects that are tons worse than the condition you're actually taking them for.

This is exactly why I read all the information that comes with any prescription drug I'm given. I learned the hard way and now Matt has, too.

This scares the crap out of me... and thank you for posting that. This entire thing makes me want to suddenly become Stravnsk's best friend.

But, how is your family doing?

 

[Mrs. Luther073082]

They seem to be OK. They should be visiting him right now.

 

[Chaplain.Walt]

You will be in our prayers.

 

[ceh85]

Sorry to hear this Melissa, still praying. I definitely agree we need to take care, the human body can react in very different ways from person to person.

At least if you found that in the instructions they will hopefully be able to resolve this by changing his medication and it might not signal there's a psychiatric issue.

 

[Mrs. Luther073082]

Thanks for continued prayers. I am waiting to hear if they get to talk to his doctor today and what the plan of action will be. They talked to the "weekend doctor" yesterday and did not like him at all because he kept interupting them when they were talking and wouldn't listen to them. He didn't care about anything they said and just wanted to look at the paperwork. He hadn't even met Matt until he walked in the door and yet he was already ready to jump to his own conclusions and throw pills at the problem. My parents said no to that and made it clear they wanted to talk with Matt's original doctor who had seen him in the other hospital before he was transferred. I've had to deal with doctors like that before and can't stand them -- and FTR, a doctor like that is one who put me on the medicine that *I* reacted to 5 years ago because he thought I had ADD (anyone who knows me and knows anything about ADD will know how stupid that is). But I digress... I'll switch topics before I go into a rant.

All that being said, while my parents don't think Matt should be put on anything, I am not sure. I don't know how they treat a psychosis from sleep deprivation and whether or not they don't use drugs/wait for it to go away. The thing is, if that nausea medication changed his brain chemistry, then he probably DOES need a temporary prescription to undo those changes. I told my parents that might be a possibility and gave them some recommendations on what drugs NOT to put him on if that's the case. Antipsychotics have different side effects... some cause weight gain and blood sugar changes and others are more likely to cause things like involuntary muscle movements. I said that weight gain and blood sugar issues can be dealt with and treated while the involuntary muscle movements can become permanent and are very uncomfortable, so IMO they should avoid drugs that cause that effect.

Anyway, this morning at 7:30 my brother called my cellphone and left a message that didn't make any sense. I called my parents (who he apparently had called several times) and they said the nurse told them he did not sleep any last night. They had given him something to make him sleepy but it did not work. So right now I don't think he is doing much better. Mom and Dad say he does temporarily seem to improve after he's slept.

BTW, I can't help but be slightly amused at the thought of them just allowing their psychotic patients to use the phone whenever they want to. I can just imagine some person dialing random numbers and rambling nonsense when people answer.

 

[Inkachu]

Poor guy...how old is your brother? I'll keep him in my prayers

 

[Mrs. Luther073082]

He will be 19 this Wednesday.

 

[Edwards1984]

Geez, sounds like there's some madness in the hospital staff.

 

[traingosorry]

Anyway, this morning at 7:30 my brother called my cellphone and left a message that didn't make any sense.

BTW, I can't help but be slightly amused at the thought of them just allowing their psychotic patients to use the phone whenever they want to. I can just imagine some person dialing random numbers and rambling nonsense when people answer.

I'm sorry there's not been any answers yet. I thought about that too how they've let him hang on to his phone. But I like that it's you he's reaching out to - even in all the chaos he thinks of you, his big sister.

 

[Mrs. Luther073082]

No, he doesn't have his phone -- he is using the hospital phone.

BTW, he was put on medication yesterday and my family was really mad because they put him on exactly what my family specifically asked he NOT be put on. He was sick all day yesterday. From what little I have heard this morning it sounds like he is better in that regard today, but still just as nutty.

My mom contacted his professor for a summer class he is taking and the professor doesn't sound willing to give him an incomplete, even though he is doing just fine in the class. Really ticks me off.

 

[white dove]

No, he doesn't have his phone -- he is using the hospital phone.

BTW, he was put on medication yesterday and my family was really mad because they put him on exactly what my family specifically asked he NOT be put on. He was sick all day yesterday. From what little I have heard this morning it sounds like he is better in that regard today, but still just as nutty.

My mom contacted his professor for a summer class he is taking and the professor doesn't sound willing to give him an incomplete, even though he is doing just fine in the class. Really ticks me off.

WOW. Is your family going to demand he be taken off of it and placed on something else?

And can't your brother's medical situation be categorized under "medical emergency" or something where he could be granted an "I" or giving him an extension to finish his studies at a later time? That's unbelievable to me. It makes no sense at all. I would be on the phones with the Dean for sure.

 

[Mrs. Luther073082]

The Dean is his teacher.

 

[Mrs. Luther073082]

And apparently my family can't do anything about what medication he is on if the doctors don't want to listen. There's some laws involved that I don't know anything about because I never took that psych law class I wanted to take, and some jerk nurse told my mother he was "surprised your daughter doesn't know about those laws". I feel better, though, because said jerk nurse has been cleaning up my brother's vomit after he told us he thought the drug we didn't like was fine. I hate that my brother is sick but it gives me pleasure that cocky little nurse gets to clean it up off the floor after not listening to us about how it would make my brother sick.

Of course, when I was in the hospital (a different hospital) the doctors actually listened to my parents' preferences.

ETA: Whatever law or laws he was referring to was not the Baker Act -- I know what that is. This was something else.

 

[white dove]

How about going over his/her head and going to the President of the school instead then? Sorry, but I wouldn't let that go. That's ridiculous to say the least.


Would your family be willing to try to get him released to that other hospital, under the care of a different doctor (or at least the one he had before)? Is that even possible? There's nothing worse than having your wishes disrespected like that.

 

[Mrs. Luther073082]

I'm not sure if it is possible.

 

[FaithPrevails]

They can sign papers saying they discharged against doctor's orders. That's what my dad/grandpa had to threaten with my grandma not that long ago when the hospital dr would not discharge her (her PCP does not have priviliges at the hospital she was at).

My grandma has been going through a similar scenario, except we know exactly what sparked her episode - Abilify.

It took two different hospital stays and a nightmare-ish stint at a Rehab facility before things have finally started to stabilize for my grandma (after a total of 2 months).

I would think your parents would have every right to refuse certain medications. Have they tried to contact a patient advocate? Also, they can call 211 here in FL to find a patient advocate or find out what rights they have concerning your brother's care.

Still praying for all of you.

 

[Mrs. Luther073082]

They can sign papers saying they discharged against doctor's orders. That's what my dad/grandpa had to threaten with my grandma not that long ago when the hospital dr would not discharge her (her PCP does not have priviliges at the hospital she was at).

My grandma has been going through a similar scenario, except we know exactly what sparked her episode - Abilify.

It took two different hospital stays and a nightmare-ish stint at a Rehab facility before things have finally started to stabilize for my grandma (after a total of 2 months).

I would think your parents would have every right to refuse certain medications. Have they tried to contact a patient advocate? Also, they can call 211 here in FL to find a patient advocate or find out what rights they have concerning your brother's care.

Still praying for all of you.

Thank you so much for posting this -- I just let my Mom know.

 

[FaithPrevails]

Thank you so much for posting this -- I just let my Mom know.

I hope she gets the info she needs. I also found this - #4 (b. 4) under section (b) stands out in your brother's situation.

4. A patient has the right to refuse any treatment based on information required by this paragraph, except as otherwise provided by law. The responsible provider shall document any such refusal.