The Chaos that has became my life

[milos_mommy]

Psych wards range in quality from comparable to a war prison to not-so-bad. They're never fun, but if you end up in one where the biggest complaint is witchy nurses and strict curfew hours, be glad there's hot water, private showers, and no gang fights.

They're disgustingly bureaucratic, but I guess when they're dealing with acute emergency care, they do their best. You might make some lifelong friends, too (but be careful who you give info to, let into your house, etc...until you get to know them a little better).

Hostels are a good idea, and some of them in NYC have sort of private little rooms. The walls don't go all the way to the ceilings, so you can hear everyone (or wear earplugs) and the rooms are TINY, but it's dirt cheap and you get some privacy.

ETA: also here, there are agencies that will rent out rooms for very, very cheap. You can find stuff on craigslist or whatever, too, but if you can find a room rental agency for a very small fee you get roommates with a background check and a room for like $400-$500 a month (which is way below average here).

[Renee750il]

Originally Posted by MafiaPrincess

Technology makes ppl lazy.

This keeps giving me a giggle. I like how you made your point

[Dogdragoness]

Yeah but they have come a long way from the early days where folks like me with ADHD were committed :/

[milos_mommy]

Originally Posted by Dogdragoness

Yeah but they have come a long way from the early days where folks like me with ADHD were committed :/

I pity anyone who was admitted to a psych ward before the turn of the century.

[Renee750il]

Originally Posted by milos_mommy

I pity anyone who was admitted to a psych ward before the turn of the century.

Surely.

The LAST one.

[StephyMei1112]

From where I left off....


*9:00 PM: I am told that a bed in the ward is avalible and that I am to be escorted there presently. I am wheelchaired there (I asked to walk and was denied the 'priviledge') through a cavernous, squalid looking tunnel. I was officially checked into the "Brief intervention unit". I am welcomed by a portly nurse named *Jenny who took my blood pressure manually (! I didn't know those pumps still existed). She was kind, comforting, maternal, and had the supportive air of a older therapy Lab. She asked me what had happened and I recanted the hellish events of the past days to her as well as my worries of Katalin. I was offered a sad looking double-layered sandwich wrapped in saran and was asked if I liked cheese.

"....Not that kind of cheese." I said.

"This is the real cheese, not the phony cheese." She said.

Velveeta on hospital grade mayo and white bread. Nuff said.

I can't sleep all night - I get a piercing stomach ache at about 4 AM and spend some time in the bathroom. *Jenny checks in on me and asks if I'm ok or if I needed ginger ale. It took me aback somewhat since I've crapped unaccompanied since I was about 3 but I thanked her and said I would manage.

*November 8th - 12th

I am restless, uneasy, anxious, and stressed. I am allowed to be out on my own for 15 minute increments per hour - cell phone access is limited to those increments or under nurse supervision on the ward.

My friend shows up near the weekend and has Katalin safe and sound from the animal control shelter in her car. I step outside for the first time since my admission; I relish the cool air, street lights, and the whole "outside" world in general. I kiss and hug Katalin and go into abit of a crying fit before she left to be dropped off at Xandra's.

I am asked on a regular basis if I have any thoughts of violence or self harm - I understand the logic to that but it just gets really tedious.

*Dr Fischer, my case doctor gives me a primary assessment - she says she wishes to determine if I'm suffering from some sort of paranoid/schizo disorder (I had blamed the entire situation on the creditors acting unlawfully, the bailiffs, my mom and brother, possibly other members of my mom's family, and the civil dispute/police systems). She asks to contact others to gather facts - I say by all means but that I do not want anything about my condition, status, or the fact that I am even at a Psych ward to be revealed and that they should be aware that what alot of parties will say will not be in my favor. She acknowledges this and obtains numbers - I speak to the social worker as well (useless hag, I'm sorry but she really was for me) - then scurry off to read.

Magazines and books are old and ratty - the most recent editions being scarce and at least 6 months behind - the oldest was a Macleans from 1985. I gather up all the New Yorker's for the fiction and lengthy articles.

To be continued.....

I am being discharged this afternoon at around 3 - 4 PM. Wish me luck....

[Baxter'smybaby]

Originally Posted by MafiaPrincess

As a paramedic.. NIBP machines are notoriously inaccurate. To the point where many regions do not have them on ambulances as manual is more accurate. Places that do have them usually have rules that you have to do a manual pressure first, then may go NIBP, and if your pressures do not match.. Manual all the way while taking care of your patient.

The ER will take my manual pressure over NIBP any day due to their inaccuracy.. and those in Afib often get an error reading. Sadly technology isn't the be all.

yes, yes and yes!

[Romy]

You're in our thoughts and prayers. Sorry that the hospital wasn't more restful, but glad that it's overall okay and that you're safe. Kat is having fun with her zoi friends, but she's definitely anxious to get back to you.

She has incredibly good dog manners for an only dog. I'm really impressed. She takes correction from other dogs really well and is very respectful of them and their boundaries. My guys will be sprawled all over the place asleep, and she very carefully tiptoes around them. It's miles better than some dogs I've babysat, who just jump over them or step on them. She's good with the chinchillas and our cats too, and likes kids. She's much more comfortable around babies now too. I think she'd do really well in a multi dog household at this point, or with small animals if you found a roommate that has cats or something.

[Renee750il]

I'm dying to see pics of Kat and the Zois

And of her reunion with Stephy <3

[Romy]

If it ever stops raining here I can get some of them romping outside. I'm afraid to take the camera out.