![[dr. bob]](/dr-bob-sm.gif)
Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 16 of 16. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by ultra on May 4, 2008, at 1:23:15
My boyfriend is Schizophrenic. Not in therapy, no meds. He wont go. Ive been with him over a year and he finally told me the diagnosis they gave him at the pshych ward a while back. His symptoms come and go. When there is a NON STRESSFUL environment, he can be pleasant. Doctors have let him go because his symptoms subside. I read all about his diagnosis online and he truly exhibits every characteristic. There are exceptions, though, as in any disorder. It comes in spells and is like a switch. I think it is combined with many other disorders. I have so much to say, but dont know where to start. I need a support group or something. I am so worn out from his latest episodes.
Posted by med_empowered on May 4, 2008, at 5:16:50
In reply to dealing with someone who is Schizophrenic HELP!, posted by ultra on May 4, 2008, at 1:23:15
I'm just putting that out there since a) his symptoms come and go and b) with bipolar and schizoaffective, you can sometimes stabilize people on anticonvulsants and/or lithium, which a lot of people prefer to the antipsychotics.
That said: when you're dealing with Severe Mental Illness, you need a combo of things...meds are almost always used, at least for a while...therapy is a good thing, sometimes...and depending on his employment situation, vocational rehab and/or training might be useful.
Some schizophrenic people also benefit from social skills training; that may or may not be something your boyfriend could use.I don't know what to tell you to do if he's not taking meds or doing therapy. Do you know **WHY** he won't take meds? If its side-effects (and often thats a big f*cking deal, even w/ the new meds), that needs to be addressed somehow. He might respond well to lower doses or need add-on meds like a minor tranquilizer (ativan, valium, klonopin, etc.) or a beta blocker (propranolol) or an anticholinergic to make the med(s) bearable.
If he has schizophrenia with a "moody" aspect, a mood stabilizer like Lamictal, Depakote, Lithium, etc. might be worth a try, with or without an antipsychotic.
As for getting him to go onto meds...I don't know what to say. Some people with psychotic illness learn to self-regulate; they learn to control stressors and only take meds either in low doses or even just when-needed to control acute symptoms. If your boyfriend is capable of that level of insight and self-control, that might be a good option to at least take the edge off of his condition.I'm sorry about your situation. Could you keep us here posted on what's going on?
Posted by ultra on May 4, 2008, at 11:10:35
In reply to maybe bipolar or schizoaffective?, posted by med_empowered on May 4, 2008, at 5:16:50
Over the last year of dating him, I thought he definitely was bipolar. He agreed, and it is probably in addition to the schizophrenia. He was in cognitive therapy, but quit because his family was paying for it. He does not want to depend on them for anything and has no health insurance. He cannot afford treatment without their help. I used to call them and ask for their help, but unfortunately I do not get along with them anymore. They have a strained relationship because of his behavioral issues. He tried to hang himself in my back yard, so I called his mother. His father called him that night. He explained his way out of it by saying that he was merely trying to get women to listen to him. As he gets older they have lost the ability to take care of him. His family and I do not speak anymore (long story). He is self employed and lacks ambition to work most of the time. He will blame everyone around him for his problems and it seems completely rational in his mind. At one point he was homeless and refused to stay with them. I cannot get him help. If he loses a game (poker, board game or his basketball team losing) he will believe it is due to the will of others not having faith in him. Sometimes cutting or burning himself for losingor threaten suicide because he is a loser and does not deserve to live. This is a fraction of his symptoms. I could write a novel of episodes. I am so tired and frustrated.
Posted by ultra on May 4, 2008, at 11:19:42
In reply to So many symptoms...he is very ill, posted by ultra on May 4, 2008, at 11:10:35
Yesterday, he said his stomach was hurting. He said that it must be me "willing it" to hurt. He became angry and hostile. Of course, I have no control over his stomach hurting. His eyes were shifting around and very wide.
Also...He will make a scene in public. He will bother my neighbors by becoming loud or walking up to them asking for advice regarding our relationship. It is a burden on them and they get very tired of it.
Posted by Phillipa on May 4, 2008, at 12:10:17
In reply to BLAMING ME FOR PHYSICAL AILMENTS, posted by ultra on May 4, 2008, at 11:19:42
Hi Ultra welcome to babble see you're new and a great person is already helping you. May I ask what sort of work does your boyfriend do when he works and is there any possibility he could be using illegal drugs. I ask because of wide eyed comment you made and also the episodic nature of his systems. Now when he isn't exhibiting the symtoms whats he like? Does he sleep well? Love Phillipa
Posted by Phillipa on May 4, 2008, at 12:41:51
In reply to Re: BLAMING ME FOR PHYSICAL AILMENTS » ultra, posted by Phillipa on May 4, 2008, at 12:10:17
OOps sorry you are not new. I goofed. Love Phillipa
Posted by ultra on May 4, 2008, at 13:27:25
In reply to Re: BLAMING ME FOR PHYSICAL AILMENTS » ultra, posted by Phillipa on May 4, 2008, at 12:10:17
Thank you so much, this is very complex...
He owns a painting company. He hasn't paid up his insurance because he lacks discipline and basic life skills. He was not on drugs yesterday. We are open about that stuff. I think his eyes being wide is a symptom of schizophrenia. In past "episodes" they also shift around very fast or, on a very bad episode they have sunken into his head with a blank/dead look (accompanied by garbled speech or a monotone voice- this was one time, upon waking, again not on drugs).
He can be very sweet while under no stress. He has a great sense of humor and can be charming. Not lately, though. He hasn't been emotionally healthy for quite a while.
When he has one problem, the schizophrenic/bipolar symptoms begin. As a result, the problems multiply and he gets worse. Usually, he will give up and withdraw from life completely.
For example, his vehicle has not been running. He kept blaming it on his friend for not helping him. I asked him if he wanted me to help. We put in a new battery and it sounded better, but wouldn't start. I suggested we get some gas. Well, it started up and works fine. This has been 3 weeks. Not having his car was an excuse not to work, to complain about and made his problems pile up. He didn't even thank me for helping.
He sleeps well, no complaints. He does often stay up late and sleep in and does basically nothing productive.
With all that is wrong with him, I do in fact love him very much. It is just so hard because I never know how he will act.
Movies/television influence his mood to the point of becoming a character post viewing. He has watched the Soprano's and afterward had an Italian accent and talked about killing people to make his problems go away. He watched a movie with British actors that were singing. He mimicked this behavior, which was not bothersome. It was nice to see him dancing around and singing. Then he watched a violent movie and went crazy yelling at me afterwards. It was loud enough for my neighbors to hear.
Once he called me up crying. I asked what was wrong. He got lovey dovey and then admitted he was watching some love story that made him think about me.
Posted by bleauberry on May 4, 2008, at 14:57:40
In reply to dealing with someone who is Schizophrenic HELP!, posted by ultra on May 4, 2008, at 1:23:15
It's a tough situation because until someone is willing to accept help, there is nothing anyone else can do. In the meantime the one really being hurt is you. He does not realize how his choices to refuse treatment impact the lives of others that love him. He doesn't realize he is not the only one dealing with it, that it affects others deeply as well. And it doesn't need to. It's kind of selfish.
Counseling, any kind of counseling, and medications could help smooth out or totally eliminate the abnormal behavior changes. Even without counseling, something like 5mg to 20mg Zyprexa would probably help his life a great deal and at the same time the lives of everyone in his life. It is so common for the mentally ill to think it is just them suffering, it's all about them, but it isn't. Everyone suffers.
Too bad he wouldn't agree to take a small white pill once a day. It has the potential to change a lot for the better.
I feel for you and I wish the very best for you.
Posted by ultra on May 4, 2008, at 15:06:59
In reply to Re: BLAMING ME FOR PHYSICAL AILMENTS, posted by ultra on May 4, 2008, at 13:27:25
He tried to hang himself this afternoon. While I was on the phone, the cops came and took him away. I'm glad he is going, but how much help could he get for free? I guess it's better than him being dead. One of the people at his apartment complex must have seen him hanging the rope and tipped them off. He will hopefully get on meds. I talked to the cop and said he needs to get on meds and he is schizophrenic. My heart is pounding. At least he is safe. I wonder how long he will be gone. Maybe he'll get minimal help and his family will figure out something.
Posted by med_empowered on May 4, 2008, at 15:46:25
In reply to OFF TO THE PSYCH WARD HE GOES, posted by ultra on May 4, 2008, at 15:06:59
your situation really sucks. My guess is he'll be hospitalized, medicated, and released over the course of 5-7 days, maybe less (rarely more).
As for meds: if his income is low enough, you might be able to get him some of the newer meds through patient assistance programs. The hospital might prescribe an older, cheap drug. If they do that, the side effects can suck and he might stop taking it kind of quickly.
Do you know what meds he's tried before? If you can figure out why he stops the meds (assuming its side effects), a good doc might be able to help find the right med(s) and dose(s) to control at least some of the symptoms.
Posted by bleauberry on May 4, 2008, at 18:21:26
In reply to OFF TO THE PSYCH WARD HE GOES, posted by ultra on May 4, 2008, at 15:06:59
At least things are going in a new direction and not stuck in the mud. That's a good thing.
The thought of him attempting another suicide was strongly on my mind when I typed the earlier post, but I really didn't want to rock the boat. Last time I avoided rocking the boat a guy's sister came to me in tears the next day saying he was gone, dead, hanged himself last night. I gotta learn to speak up when I get these senses and not be afraid of sounding extreme or over reacting.
He will almost for sure be forced to take medications. In the back of my mind I have my fingers crossed for Zyprexa. If it were my son, brother or friend, that's the one I would want to see them on.
Posted by ultra on May 4, 2008, at 21:25:19
In reply to Re: OFF TO THE PSYCH WARD HE GOES, posted by bleauberry on May 4, 2008, at 18:21:26
He called. I asked him to take medication if it is offered. How can he get free meds when he gets out? He sounds happy. The other people ther ade him realize his life isn't so bad!
Posted by undopaminergic on May 4, 2008, at 22:19:36
In reply to Re: OFF TO THE PSYCH WARD HE GOES, posted by bleauberry on May 4, 2008, at 18:21:26
> Zyprexa. If it were my son, brother or friend, that's the one I would want to see them on.
>Can you expand on that? Most people commenting on Zyprexa complain of its side effects and very rarely praise its benefits.
Posted by med_empowered on May 5, 2008, at 23:01:48
In reply to Re: OFF TO THE PSYCH WARD HE GOES, posted by undopaminergic on May 4, 2008, at 22:19:36
if he gets discharged into the care of a doc, then he and the doc can fill out paperwork to get free/reduced cost meds. some people get generics of the new atypicals from india. Some people do surprisingly well on the older ones, if the drug is carefully chosen and dosed with an eye to avoiding side effects.
If you go for the first option, forms for specific meds should be available through manufacturer, I think.
Posted by yxibow on May 6, 2008, at 1:21:22
In reply to UPDATE, posted by ultra on May 4, 2008, at 21:25:19
> He called. I asked him to take medication if it is offered. How can he get free meds when he gets out? He sounds happy. The other people ther ade him realize his life isn't so bad!
Another thing I hope they are doing which they might not be doing is psychological testing because it really does shed light( but some places don't bother because it takes time and costs more money) on complex disorders and this one sounds much more than pure schizophrenia, I can see things that could be personality disorders and other Axis disorders -- its so hard to say.
Anyhow just a comment.
And yes, I would say Zyprexa, in fact I would say Seroquel -- either really, Zyprexa is stronger in some regards and has different side effects, but Seroquel also has its benefits. They both do cause weight gain but one will for someone and one will not as much for someone else. Or Geodon/Abilify. Risperdal is pretty strong stuff. Anyhow they'll try to assess it. Generic Risperdal is already available I believe. It has higher risks but for someone with pure schizophrenia those aren't as much as those with affective disorders.
Good luck
Posted by B2chica on May 6, 2008, at 13:02:28
In reply to Re: OFF TO THE PSYCH WARD HE GOES, posted by undopaminergic on May 4, 2008, at 22:19:36
zyprexa is my wonder drug.
time and time again it is the one drug that always seems to work for me.
once when i switched docs he took me off it,
next time i took myself off it
another time i got pregnant.
and recently because i still have post prego lbs i want to get rid of i didn't want to stay on zyprexa. but recently had MAJOR depressive episode and had to go back on it. i'm actually normal now. after one week.so those are the reasons i've stopped.
but time and time again everytime i go on it it fixes 100% what is wrong whether it be manic, depressive or psychotic type features.as much as i do hate those nasty lbs.
although the first and third time i was on it i only gained about 5lbs.b2c.
This is the end of the thread.
Psycho-Babble Medication | Extras | FAQ
Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.org
Script revised: February 4, 2008
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/cgi-bin/pb/mget.pl
Copyright 2006-17 Robert Hsiung.
Owned and operated by Dr. Bob LLC and not the University of Chicago.