Hubby has been doing great since weaning off the mania/psychosis intervention meds in June. He’s the man I met, fell in love with and would like to keep around. Dang, that motorcycle accident. Mental health … just as fragile as physical health that everyone talks about … mental health, not so much.
We met Hubby’s potential new doctor today … Dr G. So, allllll the past has been stirred up and slapped in our faces. Hubby has been dissected, questioned, embarrassed and sent home to let everything settle back down.
New doc is young though experienced; talkative, interactive between Hubby, DS2 and me; will work with current meds though they are old school; lots more explicit with directions; wants wellness visits 4x a year so we see each other outside of episodes which I have wanted from the beginning. AND Hubby was comfortable with him.
He is NOT a phone call away in a crisis like I have had for the last 10 years. Believes there should be NO crisis if Hubby will follow the HALT rule. Never get too:
Agitated
Lonely
Tired
AND intervene earlier than later with higher dosages of meds than current Dr J prescribes … a 1/2mg WHAT??? Hmmm??? And taper off sooner than later like Dr J has us do. Hmmm … hmmm. He said manic episodes run about 30 days with no intervention … so with early intervention we should “suffer” less.
Dr G feels there is a lot that can be done BEFORE we find ourselves going down the rabbit hole with self-care. Hubby listened.
Next appointment is already set for October 20th. Hubby initiated it. So, fingers and toes crossed.
It’s been an emotional day … I’m gonna do some self-care. I was listening to Dr G, too.
Oh my dear friend…what an enormous load on your shoulders.
ReplyDeleteI sure hope the new doc/meds/ refine works out and your man continues to be on board and cooperate and do his darned best.
I know what you mean about him being the same man that you have loved all these years, even though he’s so different now in many ways.
I bet he would take care of you as well as you are taking care of him.
Take care of yourself, please
❤️
Sounds as though you're off to a good start with the new Doc. And you're listening, so taking care of YOU. Got my fingers crossed for you!
ReplyDeleteI’m liking what I hear about this new doc. ❤️
ReplyDeleteI’m also liking what I hear about your own self care. Super important!
You’re very right, mental illness is still treated with a lot of stigma in our society, and it should not be like that.
Fresh perspectives. I like that!
ReplyDeleteAgreed! It is distressing that mental health doesn’t get it’s proper ‘respect’ because . . . you can’t see it. Only the affects. **SIGH**
ReplyDeleteMost important thing . . . . Glad that DH is comfortable w/the new Dr. That’s A#1. Hope his strategies work. AND good that DH initiated the October follow-up visit!
HUGS and blessings. You’ve been through a lot alongside your DH.
New doctor sounds promising as described here. Yes, it is so important to take care of you,
ReplyDelete