General Posting As A Carer And Sufferer - Healing My Son

[Kathy]

Oh dear. That certainly is odd that they are giving him medications against your will Bec, as he is a minor. All final decisions should be yours, as his mother and custodian. Even should he truly have ADD and not anxiety or trauma, they still have no right to force medication. Medications are generally only forced by court order and/or when admission is involuntary and the patient is a danger to themselves or others. Even so, Evie for example has been an involuntary patient more than once. She was never medicated, as we requested she not be, and we had power of attorney, which is basically the same as guardianship. In any event, good luck today. I am sorry this has not worked out, as initially it seemed it might be a positive experience for Matt.

 

[pandora]

Just to let you know......I am thinking about you......sending you a hug today. I hope things work out today. I am sorry that you guys are going though this.

 

[becvan]

I have spoken to the SW that deals with the family. Turns out heads are rolling over forcing Matt to take meds. However, that does not change the fact that he was forced three times in a row to do so. I haven't spoke to Matt yet today. My anger needs to get in check first, so I don't know if he was forced again. Seems the nurses in there have no regard for the rules, as that is who is breaking them.

The SW is speaking to the head cheese and will be calling me back in a short while. He still needs an MRI, which if done in the next day or two, I will allow him to stay there. Other than that, I laid it out for what I think of all this and how ****ing appalled and furious I am. I want him home. I can take him; however, it is in his best interest to ensure they have wrapped up. Basically I have let them know that I don't feel they are doing anything for him, that Matt is desperate to come home, that I don't feel he is safe there and I want him to come home, so they had better have some concrete answers today or he's gone.

God, what a ****ing mess.
bec

 

[becvan]

Okay the official diagnosis is Agoraphobia due to PTSD and mild ADD (they just refuse to let that one go) although the ADD could be due to the PTSD. They want to treat him with Zoloft. They have asked to keep him to next Friday (over a week from now) to monitor the meds and also to bring him to school. School has become a major agoraphobia issue. They will assign him a worker who will take him to class, stay with him and then bring him back as the school will not pay for transportation and I can't afford it.

Damn it, he's not coming home. They have me on the school issue.

So I have a four hour pass with him to discuss taking these meds and calm him down about staying there. I get him tomorrow night, overnight and then the weekend overnight.

I need sleep and no stress. Now I have to go be positive and talk him into this. UGH.

 

[Kathy]

Zoloft is a better choice obviously with PTSD, however I would be vigilant to make certain they are not giving him too much. As you say he is skinny so I am assuming does not weigh much. That needs to be considered with dosage; due to low weight he may require an even lower dosage than the average boy his age. I would hope they would realize that fact, however considering how you have been treated in other respects, who knows? I would certainly double check to be sure.

In any event do take care Bec and best of luck to both you and Matt. I do feel badly for Matt as he is likely quite homesick by now.

 

[becvan]

He's very homesick. Poor guy. I feel just as sick as him. Ryan helped me talk him into staying until end of next week and taking the new meds. The dosage will be 25mg. They are leery of upping it because of me (I have seizures on that stuff) so They will be watching him very closely. Yeah I think Matt weights 90lbs or so and he's the same height as me and I'm 112lbs. I stressed the fact about my reactions to meds and I won't be surprised if they change their mind about what to put him on. The SW looked horrified at my reactions to meds. LOL

I have no plans of just sitting back. They now know that I'm a pit bull when it comes to Matt and I'm not letting it just slide.

bec

 

[Kathy]

Well to be perfectly honest I don't think he should be on anything at all, however some schools require that students with "problems" are medicated, and I am not certain of your situation. And the no medication aspect is simply my personal opinion. I have never been a fan of medicating children unless absolutely necessary. It does do wonders for some however, I will admit that.

Good on you Bec for fighting this! Matt is fortunate to have such a caring mum!

 

[becvan]

Yeah I'm not thrilled about the meds either. Unfortunately, until his therapy has a chance to get rolling, they need to stop him from passing out. Which is what the meds are for. I guess they haven't seen agoraphobia quite this severe in children too often and the meds is to try to cut out the passing out, since he does it at school too. So if it kills that aspect it's done it's job. He won't be on them long. I am looking at this as temporary and will be making sure it is.

Thanks Kathy!

 

[pandora]

Wow Bec...what a day you are having. I really don't know what to say......just....stay srtong and try to keep positive. Take Care.
Pand

 

[Jen]

Yes Bec your are having a rough time at the moment hopefully there is a light at the end of this long tunnel for you and your boy!:hello:
Jen

 

[kers]

bec, you're doing a great job as Matt's mom. It's really nice to see someone so ferociously protective of her kid.

I hope he does okay on the Zoloft. That's what I take and it really made a difference in my agitation and panic, brought it down to manageable levels.

I hope things look up soon for Matt.

 

[Kathy]

How are things now Bec? I have been away for a couple of days. I do hope you are simply busy with Thanksgiving and not having a difficult time at present.