waves, before I left to visit DH, I re-read your various theories over; I had no idea what I would face when I got to see him again this evening. Happily, I could tell he was better as soon as I saw him. His face looked 'brighter', he actually had a smile on his face. When asked how he felt, he said he felt much better than he did last night. I can only assume that the reduction in his meds is finally paying off in a more alert, closer-to-normal acting hubby! To his credit, when I spoke with the pdoc the other day, he said that I would probably notice a difference in him by the week-end, so I have to believe that his condition will continue to improve. I specifically asked DH what was going on last night and why he was so quiet and 'out of it' during my visit, and he really couldn't tell me. I asked if he was worried about something, or if something had happened, and he had no answer for me. I specifically asked him if he felt at all suicidal, and he quickly said no, not in the least. We counted down the number of days he had left there, and was happy to realize that he will be out of there in six days! Tomorrow night will be another test, as my son will finally be able to go with me to visit, and I just hope my husband reacts well, and is better even than today. I think that my son is still doubtful that his dad is ready to leave the hospital.

waves, I a feeling that this place does not respect the patients privacy and rights. Tonight, he told me that this morning, a woman went into his room and took his slippers that I just bought it a few weeks ago. He didn't even know who the person was, but was afraid to say anything - I think he was afraid of what she would do. I spoke to one of the aides as I was leaving, and she said she saw the woman wearing the slippers, and she would get them back.

BF, you kind of came into the middle of our whole story about our sad history. I will briefly tell you that my DH has been Dxed as bipolar way back in 1984, and has taken meds ever since, and been successful at work with the State of NJ for 32 years. He had one bad depression in 2003, when he actually attempted suicide. He recovered well and went back to work. Then this past January, we had a fire in our house, a raging one, and it took the whole house and apparently took over 90 minutes to get it under control. My DH and I were trapped in a downstairs bedroom; i stayed put, but, early on, he had gone out of the room to see if there was any way to rouse and help rescue my daughter, but it was not to be, ando. he burned his hands in the attempt He had gotten third degree burns on both So, you see, both of us suffered PTSD at the loss of our home and our and, in addition, the loss of our 27 yr old daughter, who was asleep upstairs in her room He then spent two full months hospitalized in the Burn Unit at Temple Hospital. That type of tragedy is what caused his PTSD, and mine as well.

Thanks again, all! I will keep you informed of how things go as the days progress.

such a sad story for you and your family.
am happy that your hubby was better...I like the idea of an out patient therapy...where he goes for therapy during the day ( 8 hours or so)then comes home at night to stay with you. This is often very good transition...ask about this.
bizi

Dear Jacquie

that is great news!!!

it's possible when your hubby was numbed out he had other intruders and clearly this would bother him, but might not have been able to rememeber specific event(s) while doped up - only a lingering sensation of discomfort. Depakote affects cognition and memory.

i too like the idea of outpatient therapy. daily even if not for 8 hours. i don't know what is available.

Hope the visit with your son goes well.

Keeping you all in my thoughts.

~ waves ~

I am so sorry. I didn't know. BF

Dear Jacquie,
. . . . such good news! The reduction in meds seems to be helping. Keep up your strength and your hopes.

M

I am so very grateful for all of the insights you all have shared with me. I may KNOW bipolar, but I do not THINK bipolar , so your input means so much. Ironically, the previous hospital had spoken about a partial day care program, but this place has not mentioned it at all. On Tuesday morning, I plan to be on the phone early with his pdoc, and Princeton House, where he had gone back in 2003. My daughter had gone there, too. He did very well at that program, but, at that time, he was an inpatient at Princeton House, which probably made it easier to transition to the Day Program. Maybe his pdoc could assist in that.

I did try to get more info out of DH at last night's visit, how he is feeling psychologically. He made it perfectly clear that he was in no way suicidal. He also told me something that I believe has been in the back of his mind since the fire. He said that, in a dream, he saw Andrea standing up in Heaven, and she forgave him for not being there, standing next to her. That goes back to 2003, when he attempted suicide and she was the only one home, and she essentially saved his life by doing all the right things, despite her horror and fear. My DH, in the back of his mind, feels guilty that he could not return the favor by saving her from the fire, even though it was a totally different situation and impossible. Hopefully, he will now be able to move on, knowing that there was nothing either one of us could have done and she was probably already unconscious or worse by the time we were rescued. The dense smoke went right up the stairs, there was no door to stop it, as was the case with our bedroom. We had the door closed.

Anyway, I am hopeful that tonight's visit with my son will go well. Due to a recent illness, hurricane Irene, and his crazy work schedule, my son has not been able to see his dad since he was transferred to this new hospital.

Today is a beautiful day, Labor Day Week-end, and we plan to BBQ a chicken under a brick, a la Emeril. I wish DH were here with us now, but we are counting down the days!

Enjoy the rest of the week-end, everyone !!

Jacques

I think the doctor, and the others probably hit it on the nose.

the depakote was way to much and was over medicating him.

I'm personally so glad the new pdoc saw this and reduced him.

I also think this is why he kept him in the hospital to be watched
for a week.


I think you should also count down the days here.

We can always use the celebration too.

Donna

good luck in the days ahead of you.
keep posting here if it helps you.
((((HUGS))))
bizi

Dear Jacquie,
Enjoy your BBQ
I hope that everything continues to get better for your husband.

M

Dear Jacquie,

thanks for the update... things sound very positive.
here's wishing all of you the best and hoping hubby continues to do well.

Happy Labor Day and enjoy the BBQ with the rest of your family.

(((hugs)))

~ waves ~