DAY 8 - 15th August
Well I can definitely say today has finally been a calmer day. Keri hasn't tried escaping, she hasn't tried cutting out the bug, and her communication skills are a little better. She was even talking to other patients earlier! Although she still thinks they all are plotting against her. For once she actually sat for 5 minutes in the communal area. She didn't make eye contact and just played on her iPad but at least she wasn't sat in her room!
Keri has had three visits today. The first one was from the Intensive Team. Tash and Bex came to see her (false names of course). Keri knew Tash from previous visits but had never met Bex. She wanted Keri to meet her because Bex has just joined the team and specialises in DID! Finally someone who knows what they're talking about! Bex didn't say much as Tash did a lot of talking trying to answer some of Keri's questions which she'd scrawled on paper. Thankfully they didn't try arguing about her delusions but did say that she was in a catch 22. Either she tell the truth and talk about her delusions such as the bug, or she lies and says they're not there and goes home only to start trying to cut it out again. She's even considered using a power drill! That's how strongly she believes there's a bug in her head! The problem is Keri can't lie, she currently doesn't have the capability. You need logic to lie and currently she's irrational. She wouldn't want to lie anyway as she's so desperate to get this thing out of her.
Her second visit was from one of the OTs (occupational therapist) who took her to the supermarket which is right next to the hospital so she could get some cigarettes, and of course chocolate! The OT tried to make her stay out longer but the longer she stayed out the more paranoid she was getting so it was better to go back to the unit. It got to the point where it was obvious to the OT how paranoid she was without Keri even saying anything, but at least she managed to get some more cigarettes which to her is a priority!
Her final visit was from her outreach worker from the foster agency, who kindly brought along another strawberry milkshake from McDonald's! The outreach worker made a lot of notes as she had to go back to the office and discuss everything with her supervisor as problems have been picked up on which I will now go onto.
During the course of the day Keri was told that she could potentially be discharged home next week. Obviously Keri is very glad about this as she doesn't think she's unwell. However, I don't see the logic. She's still psychotic and delusional, still sectioned, and she's not even allowed off the ward unescorted! Her foster carers can't be put through that, especially if Keri manages to get hold of her foster dad's power drill which would have ghastly consequences. If nothing has changed in the next week then there's no way she can go home, not at least until she gets better and realises there is no bug in her brain.
Until she gets to that point she can't be discharged. That's just my opinion. I agree that patients should only stay in hospital for the minimum amount of time but if someone is so distressed to the point if cutting open their head, thrashing their head against windows or trying to scale an 8 foot fence then there's some serious problems going on. Plus in hospital they can give PRN medication which is currently Lorazepam. She doesn't get that at home. If Keri stays the way she is how are they supposed to keep her safe? And nothing will change until someone gets their backside in gear and changes her anti-psychotic medication!
Apparently changing medication is a long term thing which can be done with people in the community. Long term? Keri won't have long term out of hospital. The first thing she'd do is try and get her bug out again! No one wants that, especially if she starts using bloody power tools!
A better night's sleep last night. Like I said yesterday, I think her body just gave up and she fell asleep from pure exhaustion. Maybe it won't be so good today considering she's been quite calm, if you don't include the almost constant pacing which, to me, is a minimal symptom right now!
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