Of course you wouldn't tell people at work that he is there because of an overdose, would you? <worried> I don't think that legally you are allowed to divulge that information.
I'm sorry there is so much trauma for your friend. It sounds like you were there for him like a rock. It hurts to be so sensitive and in tune to other people's pain - they are drawn to you for nurturing, but that means that you are exposed to and absorb much suffering. Remember to find someone to hug you a LOT! and to let go of what you cannot change...
gentle hugs

Hi,
If his boyfriend called me, I'm not responsible for keeping the info secret. I have no legal obligation either way but I do feel a need to protect him.

My work girl friend and I got to see him from a second from the corridor. Then his grand neice went out in the waiting room to talk to us. He's out of the coma but still not able to do all his breathing on his own. He has tried to communicate but they can't understand him and they can't read his handwriting.

Apparently, the docs are not saying for sure that he did this on purpose. According to them, it could have been accidental because of the pain pills he was taking for his back.

Anyway, we are going to tell work that he is getting better and that is it.

They won't believe us anyway. He's looked very sick for a long time because of his weight loss and general depressed/anxious demeanor -- even before he went out on disabilty.

People at work have been imagining all kinds of wild weird things wrong with him. They are stupid (and maybe afraid a little).

We lost two colleague this month.
They think that students couldn't handle losing another teacher. I think that students are strong.

mari

thanks for the update. Pain pills can do AWFUL things to people when they are mixed with other meds, or when doses are accidentally forgotten, or mis-measured. I've been to the hospital with a friend of mine on lots of different meds because of dosing accidents, and it's quite a nightmare. I'm glad your friend is out of the coma.
How are you keeping stable through this? I went quite bonkers when my friend went to the emergency room. I held it together in the hospital,but after I got back to my house, I shivered for days...

Hi, Molly,
Thanks for asking. I don't feel good but I am also trying to put in some distance.
I've been visiting the ICU alot more than I wish in the past couple years. I'm learning that what is going on with the other person is not about me.
But it is still hard. This evening I was noticing the anxiety growing in my chest. It feels ok now.

But it turns out I wasted the day in terms of getting any work done for school tomorrow.
Maybe I should at least make sure that I get to bed early tonight.

Mari

I know that was hard for you and
I am hoping that you were able to sleep last night.
Please take care of yourself....
don't want you getting run down and end up getting sick....
bizi

Hi,
I took off a day of work to stay home today.
I was getting irritated and grouchy around hubby. Plus I need some rest.
Mari

I hope you get some good rest Mari. Sleep is so very important for feeling well.