Ups and Downs of Husband`s Mental Illness

[Anony18]

Hi @Maryjune. Agree with @Former-Member there with looking at cmi to get more information. I know my partner had a change in meds last year and he said the meds made him more drowsy. He needed it to try to help him sleep as he struggled. Like any meds there may be some side effects so research it to understand. By understanding, it will help understanding the impact it has on your partner and therefore the relationship, ie physical intimacy wise. 

[Former-Member]

Hey @Shaz51
Checking in to see how you and Mr Shaz are going.
Darcy

[Shaz51]

Hey @Former-Member xx

How are you and Mr @Former-Member today ??

Blood tests are done , have to make a appointment for next week

Hubby is starting to take himself off the meds , so have to see what happens

I think it will be good to write some things down so we can show the doctor xx

we did some gardening at mum`s yesterday , hubby felt sooo slack

and my darling then slept for 4 hours in the afternoon

today hubby is still feeling slack and a bit anxious about going off the meds

Hello @Anony18, @Determined, @Maryjune, @Appleblossom, @Owlunar, @PeppiPatty, @Faith-and-Hope, @Mazarita, @Former-Member 

[Mazarita]

Hi @Shaz51 and everyone here, hope your day is going well and gets even better. Thinking of you from 'the other side'. 

[Former-Member]

Hey @Shaz51

Very wise to write things down. I do hope that you feel confident in monitoring the changes.

I hope you don't mind but I have written down a few personal thoughts around discontinuation of drugs. These thoughts came to mind as after many years of not knowing and of complete ignorance. It is only in recent times that I looked things up extensively and that I felt I understood enough to really know what I was doing. No reflection on you in any way, shape or form, but these tips might help someone who is going through a similar process.

Knowing why a drug was given in the first place is a good starting point as to what you need to watch for if it is being withdrawn.

Knowing the expected discontinuation symptoms and how they differ from relapse is also important.

A mood chart is a good tool to use for monitoring discontinuation. Even though they are for bipolar patients, the purpose is to monitor depression ratings, the drugs and doses taken as well as how much sleep a patient gets (I note night hours separate to siesta times). That way you have things in black and white. Examples of mood charts are on this website.

http://www.bipolar-lives.com/bipolar-mood-chart.html


Having a plan in place should relapse occur is also important, sometimes it is best written down.

Since his last admission, I have seen Mr Darcy successfully off two drugs, with a possible taper down in a third to happen later in the year . If Mr Darcy relapses, the stakes are high, he is likely to have psychosis and become suicidal again. He knows that if I perceive he is starting to go downhill, it is not negotiable, I will activate our relapse prevention plan. This does not mean he will need to go to hospital, but in the first instance would mean seeing the doc and a tweakage of his meds.

Will be thinking especially of you.

Darcy

[Appleblossom]

@Former-Member @Determined and @Shaz51

Thought you might like

[Former-Member]

@Shaz51 @Determined @Faith-and-Hope
A big wave to @Former-Member too, you have been on my mind.

Ups and downs continue at our place too Shaz.

On the up side today Mr Darcy had his first afternoon of volunteering and I think it went OK as he says he is planning on going again. Hoping it will be beneficial to him.

On the down side Mr Darcy said he might not go into footy tipping comp. This is something he loved doing previously, will see over the next couple of days if he does or not. Finding joy in things is something that has been missing, but I hold onto hope that it will return, seeing glimpses, a few more smiles.

He has just dropped something and has got all upset, hoping he will be able to recover a bit better than before. Hoping for another up...

Darcy

[Determined]

Hi @Former-Member

Trust the volunteering works out for Mr Darcy. It certinally made a big difference to my darling when she was doing a couple hours a week before bub arrived. It must be nice to see some glimpses of some joy and smiles. 

[Determined]

I @Former-Member

Some good advice here that I will have to keep in mind

I have a pdoc appointment for myself next week, at the last app he wanted to start me on a new med that doesn't make sense to me. Just need to think it through and write down some questions and actually have the nerve to ask.  Thinking about seeking a second opinion 🤔

Mood charts seem like a good idea, I should try somthing like that for both my darling and myself. I have a very hard time being consistant is all due to being constantly run down and fatigued 😐

[NikNik]

@Determined I wonder if there's any apps that could make things easier and stay consistent (maybe we have just come up with a multi-million dollar idea)