Ups and Downs of Husband`s Mental Illness

[Former-Member]

@Shaz51

You can check the cmi in relation to side effects.

Mr D's memory loss has been attributed to ECT. Significant events have been wiped, today we realised he could not remember my Dad passing away 8 years ago and a number of interstate trips we made (even when reminded he does not have recall).

I used to garden all the time, but since the crisis and more so Mr Darcy's discharge 10 months ago I have not been able to. Still cannot see my way clear to get stuck in, I don't know if it is because I think a move might be inevitable or if it is a part of the grief process for me.

Do you have time to do Mum's garden too?

Darcy

[Maryjune]

hi @Determined and everyone.. sorry for the late reply been busy cleaning the house..it's really a pigsty when I came home..he really plummeted when I left last time..so slowly cleaning up and he is helping too but he slept for almost the whole day probably of his meds. kinda worried too coz he's been having nightmares and he said it's very violent. I wonder if his meds working..shouldn't it make him less restless ??

[Determined]

Morning @Former-Member
Sorry to hear that Mr Darcy is not doing so well at the moment.
Trust you are managing ok? Will be praying for you both.

[Determined]

Hi @Maryjune
Trusting things pick up for you both soon.

[Determined]

Hi @Shaz51
How are you and Mr shaz today?
It must have been hard going back to work after such a big weekend.
Trust the blood tests go ok.

[Former-Member]

Hey @Determined

Hope you have s good week. Do you start with your support person this week?

Thankfully I have good supports in place so most of my stresses are short lived and I bounce back. Have a couple of understanding friends who give me straight answers and offer practical coping solutions.

Have the follow up meeting today with the clinical director. I will go into this meeting praying that if God can shut the lions mouths he can certainly shut mine, however I think there are a couple of things that need to be understood and I need to be able to ask these things in a respectful manner.

Darcy

[Determined]

Hi @Former-Member

Trusting your meeting goes well for you today and you get the results and answers that you need.

I have my first appointment with the support person next week so looking forward to seeing how that goes. This meeting will be to access what service is able to be offered to me, when I spoke to the lady on the phone she expressed concern about me having to travel (its 1hr + drive) so I'm not sure if that translates to a reluctance to provide a service at all?  (There is nothing locally other than dv support service). I don't see the distance as an issue as I have to go down regularly anyway.

Meeting with the uni councillor again this week to discuss balancing time commitments. (Particularly  study load). While things are going well I can manage fine its when things go pair shaped that I struggle to function so getting some strategies in place to manage this. (a case of me getting adequate supports in place so I can manage).

[Former-Member]

Hi @Determined

Meeting went OK thanks. Only really have one sticking point which I don't think we will ever agree on but they are taking my demand of training in carer communication seriously.

On that note things went a bit better with his pdoc who is good on validation but sometimes poor on information. I think I have worked out how to ask her things now.

Sorry, got your support appt mixed up, my experience is that support agencies are aware of the time and expense of travel and do not want to add to carer burden in these matters. I really appreciated that the counseling I got from Carers Aust was over the phone with the exception of the first session which was person to person.

It will be good to have a documented plan in place for uni in case of relapse, something you can control.

Take care Bro

Darcy

[Former-Member]

Hi @Maryjune

All medications in Australia have a CMI. This is a consumer medicine information sheet. Among other information it lists side effects that could occur. If you google the name of the medication followed by cmi you can look this up. The ebs.tga.gov.au website is the official site. You can also ask the chemist to give you a print out. If your partner is on Centrelink, as long as the meds are pbs, he will get them at a low price (I think about $6.50 per script).

It is important to remember that psych medications are not a cure. They provide relief from the debilitating symptoms. Some have a lot of side effects but it is important to remember that without treatment the outcomes for some patients can be very poor especially if they self medicate with drugs and alcohol.

It takes more than medication for a patient to live well in spite of a mental illness.

Supporting someone with a major psychiatric illness takes a lot of resilience and it is almost impossible to do it on your own. In Australia there are free support services for both patients and carers of those with mental health issues and I urge you to access the support these providers give. They can provide you with education and moral support which has shown to lead to better outcomes for the patients.

Darcy

[Former-Member]

PS @Maryjune

The cmi lists serious side effects and will advise if you need to seek urgent medical advice.

Darcy