Hello all

I am seeking any information I can my fiancé was taking prescription medication and had an OD I woke next to her and the nightmare began it has been 8 days and I can't get any information from anyone Her parents have basically kicked me out of the hospital and I am getting very little updates on her condition. Saying all of this makes me sound like a bad person please understand we are not drug addicts or users. She is 21 years old and when I left she was in ICU lifeless I am told she is slowly coming around and is confused about where she is and upset. The information i am seeking is her short term memory loss everyone around her she hasn't seen in years ive read that familiar thing help stimulate her brain. My question is do you think it matters if there were someone there from her more recent past to help jog her memory do things like that help I know its a long road to recovery I am just trying to do anything I can to bring her back to health. Please anyone with any information that might help please respond I have no access to her or her Dr's just the information her parents give me on occasion I am very worried and concerned we were in love I was a huge part of her life that is not being exposed to her at this time does anyone know if it is going to make a difference i hope this doesn't sound idiotic i am trying to do anything i can to bring her back to health

Thank you!!

I am so sorry you are going through this. I wish the parents didn't remove you from the situation. It sounds like they are being very protective of her right now. Hopefully during recovery, she will speak for herself, and ask for you. You do not forget Love. I hope she recovers, so that you can resume a normal life. This may be a bit of a journey with her recovery, but in time, if the love is there, it will return and she will ask for you. It is a very powerful emotion that can help heal. Send a note, and keep in touch the best you can for now. Because this was so scary for the parents, I do understand. They need to figure out what exactly happened, and maybe a why. I will keep the whole family and you in my prayers. Do not lose hope. Keep love alive. ginnie

Hi Jack, welcome.

A few questions may help understand the situation a bit better.

What was the prescription medication, was it prescribed to/for her, and by OD, do you mean she took more than was prescribed, or that she had a bad reaction to the amount that was prescribed?

Is there friction between her family and yourself? Are they against your marriage? Did/do the two of you have a clergy person?

Doc

Dr Smith

No the prescription was not prescribed to her we do not have insurance she has severe spine problems she took methadone and Xanax we made a three hour trip and she was fine the whole time saying she wasn't abusing either med we arrived at her friends house and went to sleep she got up and hung out with her friend while I was sleeping I have not been able to get an answer out of her as to what they did while I wasn't there I cant imagine it was good I don't think my fiancé understood what she had already taken and if whatever she did after the fact reacted with it this part of the story still remains a mystery to me I have pleaded with her father to have her blessed I know the power of god and she could use a miracle right now. I know she stood up yesterday and is very angry and confused as to where she is but I understand she is still has no speech and is still lacking motor skills from what ive read on the lack of short term memory will tings from her more recent past help stimulate that part of her brain I am trying to convince her father not to leave anything out here. And to answer your question her parents and I have never met we have talked on the phone briefly prior to this but as far as he is concerned I am the one to blame I can see his point but we need to concentrate on whats best for his daughter and my fiancé I am so worried about this regardless of the outcome I love her unconditionally I want to be a part of her healing process

Jack,

You did the right thing by getting her immediate medical attention. Beyond that, while I feel for you and your situation, you're behind the eight ball in this matter. In most places, a fiancee has no legal rights or standing whatsoever.

The two medications you mentioned (and whatever else may have been found when they performed a tox-screening at the hospital) do not mix well. Methadone in particular is one of the worst to mess around with due to its long half-life and effect on certain cardiac arrhythmias.
Do Not Forget the Risks of Methadone in Pain Management

I am concerned that beyond immediate medical issues, there could be some legal ramifications for one—or both—of you further down the road. I don't think so, but I don't know for sure. I sincerely hope things do not go that way. I do think there will likely be some counseling/rehab at the very least.

In my experience, when bad things happen to a young person, two things very often happen. Parents go into denial that their child was at fault, and they desperately look for something—or someone—else to blame it on.

Just some things to keep in mind as your fiancee recovers.

For now, I'm not sure what you can do that you haven't. Folks here know what feeling powerless is like.

If you haven't been barred (threatened with arrest) from the hospital, I would just be there for her (as I know you are) every day. Make it known to her family and the hospital that you are. If you have been barred, write to her every day, and send it by (certified if you think you'll need proof) mail.

Until she is discharged, or asks about/for you specifically, I don't know of anything further you can do (though I'm sure we would both welcome any other suggestions).

I wish you both the best and happiness.

Doc