Lupus Support Group

but I know I need to get back into the swing of things. I want to share my recent experience and hospitalization for 6 days. I woke up one morning and realized I was in the hospital and had been for a day or so. I hadn't recognized my husband or family. Just my daughter. I went to the ER apparently by EMS because of the confusion. I can only explain what I know from others. I guess a medical student took care of me in the ER. He was at first convinced that I had overdosed on medication and the urine tests came back negative so then he assumed withdrawal from meds but thought I was to calm and cooperative. Well with no other ideas he diagnosed me with schizophrenia/conversion disorder/ multiple personality. He wasn't sure but wanted to send me to the psych ward. Which sent my husband into a flip out mode and demanded his attending to come and so we made some progress after that. They did a lumbar puncture, CT scan, MRI but I got really scared inside the machine and apparently pulled myself out. Ugh, so glad I can't remember it all. In the end the attending and my husband went through my med list and I had a new med that I hadn't added to my med list which I am very up to date always with it and I let that slip. It was Risperdal. It was given to me by my GP to help with sleep/anxiety. I see a psychiatrist for that and she handles my anxiety and sleep meds but the GP thought this would give me a better control on things. Well I started taking it for about 8-10 days and everyday I was acting a little more strange. I didn't add the Risperdal to my pill container and I am not even sure why but at some point in the week I stopped all of my other meds and I think I was only taking the risperdal. Its all cloudy and I am not really sure but the doctor reintroduced all of my meds by a few each day and left out the Risperdal and each day I got better. Waking up confused and knowing I couldn't account for a few days was so stressful and has caused so much anxiety and I have been spent the past few weeks just trying to piece it all together. I know we all are sensitive to different meds and have side effects but this just floored me. When they released me from the hospital the doctor told me not to beat myself up about remembering because the med induced a state of mind that isn't going to allow it to make sense. I think he used the word paradigm (??) Anyway, I think this ordeal kind of put me into a flare. I have been so tired since I came home. My pain is back when I have been doing well with the LDN. I am wondering if it will just take my brain a little time to catch up. LOL. So I haven't been posting so much and I wanted everyone to know what was going on. Its tough when you are trying to piece it all together and you want to get back to helping others but you feel like you don't have the right words yet. I am finally feeling more rested and the anxiety has gotten a little better. If anyone wants to PM me I will check them often and it might take me just a little bit to get back to posting frequently. I hope you can all understand and I am thinking of everyone. Hugs.

Thank you so much for letting us know what was going on. I also was misdiagnosed with Schizophrenia when I was in the bouts of Hypothyroidism, and in the Psychiatrist put me on Risperdal. It was hell and made me much worse. I know what you mean about the confusion and nothing making sense and it all just added to the anxiety and panic I was having due to untreated Hypothyroidism. Thank goodness your husband was there for you! If you ever want to talk about this experience, feel free to contact me. I've been not in the same place, but in a similar awful place and it definitely took time to get back to normal and then Lupus showed up. sigh...

I am so glad you are feeling better. When I was very sick I also freaked out in the MRI tube once. Just post when you feel up to it. I certainly know about having a hard time with words. (I have rewritten this several times and still not pleased with it)

Alison

The scary part was that I am a nurse so I understand the medical terms and it was giving me anxiety/panic because I understood parts of what they were saying and the main focus was on my brain and they were talking about CNS Lupus and chemo. My husband told me later that he told them they needed to evaluate and speak to them outside of the room and then they would tell me what they felt I needed to know. Pretty smart thinking of them. It did bring my anxiety down a lot. I think its just scary what we have to go through sometimes. Thank God for family.

April....We all understand, just take your time getting back, we just want you to be feeling better. Thank you for sharing this with all of us this must have been terrifying for you and your family....so glad your home and doing better.

You and your family have a wonderful memorial day weekend.

Love ya gal,

Eva