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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 15 of 15. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by ghost on May 11, 2004, at 10:42:48
I don't have long, but I was able to get hospital privleges and get online for a few moments. I just wanted to thank fallsfall, daisy, lonelygirl, speaker... and everyone who talked to me last friday night in open and convinced me to go to the hospital. i'll write more when i can, but i wanted to let you know that i made it, and i should be out very soon, and if it hadn't been for you all, nothing would have changed and things could very well be worse right now. i feel better. i'm back on meds, too.
thank you. much love to all of you. i can't thank you enough.
((((((babble))))))
Posted by fallsfall on May 11, 2004, at 11:03:04
In reply to hello from the hospital, posted by ghost on May 11, 2004, at 10:42:48
I'm so glad to see this message from you, Ghost! I'm glad you got there OK, and I'm glad that you are feeling better. Meds are wonderful when you need them, aren't they?
I'm super impressed that you have internet access from the hospital! You are the first I have heard of to be able to go online while in the hospital.
I'll look forward to you posting more when you get out.
I'm proud of you for taking the huge step to go to the Emergency Room. You did a great job.
Falls.
Posted by B2chica on May 11, 2004, at 12:14:25
In reply to hello from the hospital, posted by ghost on May 11, 2004, at 10:42:48
Ghost!
I am suprised but VERY GLAD to see you are OK, and safe in the Hospital! I've never heard of internet privilages before...that's positive.
I'm sorry i wasn't on when you were in open, but i'm so glad you came here, these babbilians are fantastic. I don't know what i would do without you on this site, Please keep in touch as often as you are allowed while you are there. and post as soon as you can when you're out!
How are the Nurses there? you know the jello molds weren't really that bad for me, how bout you?... :)
please take all the time you need, don't rush yourself out- This is the time to focus on JUST YOU.
Miss you and take care.
All my love,
B2c.
Posted by lonelygirl on May 11, 2004, at 12:57:48
In reply to hello from the hospital, posted by ghost on May 11, 2004, at 10:42:48
Thanks for posting, ghost! I'm glad you're ok and getting the help you need. I know it was hard for you to take that step of going to the hospital, so I'm glad that you're seeing the benefit of your decision. I hope to see you in chat again when you return!
Posted by Dinah on May 11, 2004, at 16:32:18
In reply to hello from the hospital, posted by ghost on May 11, 2004, at 10:42:48
I'm glad that it's been a positive thing for you. Thank heavens for those Babblers in Open!
Take care, and I'm glad you're feeling better.
Posted by Speaker on May 11, 2004, at 20:19:07
In reply to Re: hello from the hospital » ghost, posted by Dinah on May 11, 2004, at 16:32:18
Ghost,
You have been on my mind and I am so glad to hear from you. I'm glad there are people to take care of us when we need it...don't leave the hospital too soon! We will be here for you when you get out.
Posted by crushedout on May 11, 2004, at 21:19:59
In reply to Re: Ghost!!!!???, posted by B2chica on May 11, 2004, at 12:14:25
Posted by Fallen4MyT on May 11, 2004, at 21:56:17
In reply to hello from the hospital, posted by ghost on May 11, 2004, at 10:42:48
I am so glad you went and are safe on the road to some peace
HUGS AND THANKS FOR UPDATING US :)
Posted by ghost on May 12, 2004, at 17:18:19
In reply to hello from the hospital, posted by ghost on May 11, 2004, at 10:42:48
well, it's wednesday, and i was discharged after lunch today. that puts my stay in the affective disorders unit at almost exactly 5.5 days. i still can't thank everyone enough for their support. the hardest thing i have ever done in my life was to walk into that ER and admit that i needed help. (i never really said "i need help," incidentally. i just kept mumbling "i called earlier" over and over again, but they got the picture that i was obviously a psych case and treated me very nicely and promptly.)
the only somewhat negative part of my stay was that i admitted myself on a weekend, when there are less intense group sessions and fewer social workers visiting. however, that made my first two days a little lighter and it was nice to catch up on some of the rest i had been lacking for a very long time. (my roommate was ready to kill me because of my snoring-- but thankfully the pdoc told her i couldn't help it! nyah nyah!)
they put me right back on the abilify that i had taken in the past, and on a lower dose than what the previous pdoc had last prescribed so as not to over-medicate me. he also agreed to see me through a practice that has a sliding-fee scale after my discharge, as well as set me up with a T (also on a sliding fee) so i can get as much help as possible between now and whenever i move (i'm likely to be relocating for a job in the future).
the nurses, for the most part, were really wonderful. there's always a couple of mushy grapes in the bunch, but as a whole, i was treated with respect and dignity and lots of love. it was such a supportive environment i actually felt comfortable calling up my parents (1600 miles away) and telling them everything that's been going on (they didn't even know i'd been diagnosed with anything or had been taking psychotropic drugs, let alone that i'd been feeling depressed enough to think about harming myself).
Falls: meds *are* great when you need them. plus it was nice to be reassured that i *was* being overmedicated previously as i had suspected, and the pdoc on call was perfectly okay with keeping me as his patient instead of calling the jerk i used to see on campus.
B2C: the jello molds were actually kinda good. hehe. it was nice getting three good meals a day-- far better than i'd been doing for the previous two weeks. i think that alone did wonders for my health. plus they had some great vegetarian options! and snacks in the afternoon and evening! i found it slightly amusing (but understood why) they didn't trust us with regular plates and glasses but wondered why we got real silverware. and i think i'll die a happy girl if i never see canned bing cherries ever again for as long as i live.
also, i think the net privledges were part of my "recovery" because i mentioned that i had my father check my job-hunting email address for me and i'd gotten some really positive news from pfizer (my employer of choice) that they probably want to hire me, and i was concerned i wouldn't be home in time to return the email to let them know i was still interested. so my wonderful day nurse, Rusti, hooked me up with the visitors center so that i could use their computer instead of going outside for 15 minutes. so, not only did i get some needed counselling, medication, and rest, but i got some good news on my job front, as well. (LG, if you need a hookup with a chemE job, maybe i'll be able to help you out soon!)
i had posted awhile ago about the technical details of being admitted, and i was pretty surprised about how they *didnt* strip search me like i expected. maybe because i was in of my own free will. they did take away my cell phone and pretty much everything in my pockets but they let me keep my cane (i have a broken foot bone). it was annoying that i couldn't keep my own meds on me, even the ones i couldn't overdose on (birth control pills and asthma meds), but they were good about getting them to me when i had to have them. they even gave me a new notebook to use as a journal since i was starting to fill up the journal i'd brought with me.
i met a lot of great people (other patients), too. it was invaluable to be able to connect with so many different people of different ages, ethnicities, backgrounds, and life experiences on such a similar level. it was unlike anything i ever experienced, and i think that was another major contributor to my healing process. i hope i keep in touch with some of them. i also learned that people *do* care about me-- when i finally let a few people know where i was and how they could call me, i was surprised that i actually got some concerned phone calls and my friend jessica visited me and was far more supportive than i ever imagined. and, like i said, all of you for your wonderful support when i needed it most of all.
lots of love and thankfulness,
ghost
Posted by Speaker on May 12, 2004, at 17:43:28
In reply to hospital/discharge follow-up: to everyone (long), posted by ghost on May 12, 2004, at 17:18:19
Ghost,
You sound so good and that is such a blessing. I have thought of you eeryday and wondered how you were. I'm glad everyone treated you with dignity...that is what I always think about. It's good to know it went well. Keep us posted and know we are here even if you have those tough times again.
Posted by Dinah on May 12, 2004, at 19:43:39
In reply to hospital/discharge follow-up: to everyone (long), posted by ghost on May 12, 2004, at 17:18:19
It sounds like a really positive experience. I think it's especially great that they are going to follow up with a pdoc and therapy, rather than just releasing you.
Congratulations on the job!
Posted by DaisyM on May 13, 2004, at 1:00:09
In reply to Re: hospital/discharge follow-up: to everyone (long) » ghost, posted by Dinah on May 12, 2004, at 19:43:39
I'm glad it worked out and you are feeling better. Remember that we all take turns here, sometimes we give support, sometimes we get it. That's what is so great about Babble!
Keep up the good work!
Posted by fallsfall on May 13, 2004, at 10:34:28
In reply to hospital/discharge follow-up: to everyone (long), posted by ghost on May 12, 2004, at 17:18:19
Ghost,
Welcome home. Sounds like both the hospital and YOU did a really good job. I'm glad that things went so well for you.
Both meds and therapy are important to my recovery. Please don't stop taking your meds without talking to your doctor about it first! Therapy can be very difficult, but it is important to ride out the difficult stretches and try to be as open and honest as possible (particularly when it feels difficult).
You did really well! I'm proud of you, and I hope you are proud of you, too.
Posted by B2chica on May 13, 2004, at 11:07:25
In reply to hospital/discharge follow-up: to everyone (long), posted by ghost on May 12, 2004, at 17:18:19
Ghost! i am so glad to hear your "voice". i was Really worried there...
You sound Great, i'm glad you didn't rush the discharge. You better feel proud of yourself, that is the toughest decision to check yourself in, and you did it! and Congrats of the news on a job, best of luck there! yeah, & wondered about the silverware myself...Look at all the accomplishments you made:
-managed to keep on top of job concerns without them tipping the scale -so to speak.
-calling parents! (BIG ONE)
-eating good food (despite the cherries)
-allowed self to rest
-journaled
-resolved drug issues (Major Important)
-got new pdoc
-made friends
-felt accepted
-talked with old friend openly
-(selfish part)let us know what happened!
-leaving in a totally different emotional state.
It sounds like this did you a WORLD of good! i'm so happy. keep it up.
love,
B2c.
Posted by gardenergirl on May 13, 2004, at 13:19:54
In reply to Re: hospital/discharge » ghost, posted by B2chica on May 13, 2004, at 11:07:25
This is the end of the thread.
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