Parents of Bipolar Children Support Group

I'm new here... I have a 9 year old daughter who is bipolar (and probably transgender - isn't that the icing on the cake?) and is actually pretty stable on her meds right now. However... about 2 months ago she completely fell apart. She had a 36 hour tantrum with verbal abuse, threatening harm, etc. This had never been so severe for so long (she tends to be a rapid cycler) and I considered hospitalization. In hindsight, I should have taken her. BUT, I really didn't know where. I am in the somewhat unique position of having too many options of places to take her. I could take her <2 hours away to NYC or Philly, both of which have pre-adolescent bipolar programs OR I could take her 20 minutes away to a psych ER (which is in a very low-income part of the state). Since she is just 9, I am terrified to take her somewhere where she will be in group with a 16 year old arsonist. BUT, I also don't want to subject her to a 2 hour car trip if she is so unstable.

Any advice? ideas? anything?

Thanks in advance,

BethysMom

PS The contributor who is so anti-pharma and anti-mental illness -- please leave this thread alone. Please.

Im like you have several choices within 30 mins to an hour away.

From our expierence here and Im sure all are different but we started week before daughters 13th Bday and she was 19 last week but here all the hospitals/facilities weve done have a 12 and under unit and 13-under 18 unit then adult unit.Hard when she was 13 few days after being admitted but on 12 and under floor and hard on us that when she was 17 and was with 13 year olds now shes on adult side and all ages so its ok.

For us its always been better for her to be in a Facility thats for her issues(Behaviorial Health facility) we also have few hospitals in town has a phsyc floor but they were more short term and for stabilizing instead of the various longer term treatments and structured setting for the specific reasons of being admitted.

I was always like you I didnt want her in place older kids to teach her bad things we'd kept her from.I have learned over years they do have appropriate age groups in most places.Also learned the facilty for just dealing with these issues instead medical hospital has more resources and is better.Since most places only have certain visiting days and times the travel wouldnt be as bad.

Where mine is right now is 30 mins away and we can see 4 days week 1 hour but other place weve used for longer treatment few times is only 1 day week visitation.

Can you call the options and ask how each place operates??I no at times weve had to go wherever they had a bed when in crisis but if if managed to where we could plan and make calls that day we used the one we liked best and where her pDr practices at.

Good Luck

Lisa

Who do you suggest I ask for when I call to talk to each place? I tried to call two of the close places and got "admittance" people who really didn't say much that was truly helpful. Both close places have wards for 5-18 - they don't break it down beyond that. They also seem to be for duration between 3 days and 2-3 weeks.

How long do most BP kids stay? Anything in particular I should stay away from?

BethysMom

The length time totaly depends on the person and how they respond to treatment mine is always their longer.

Until now that shes accepted and older and learned the ropes she never co operated the first week never partcipated in groups so it just added to how long she was their.

MOST is 2-3 weeks Ive seen some come in where she was few days as after they were evaluated the Drs felt they didnt need to be their most of the time takes 2 weeks or so to get them on meds and adjust doses and stabelize.Again it depnds on treatment plan and the childs issues.Ours has done 30 day programs that taught coping skills,triggers and things like this.Several times she was in for meds and few times was their for suicide attempts once out of ICU I think 9 days after a suicide attempt has been her shortest stay and 32 days was one of long ones.This time if she gets to come home Wed it will be 10 days theyve added new meds and depending on bloodwork Tues we will no about Wed.

Lisa

Edited to add also depends on how long to become stable

Post edited by: xceldanes, at: 06/03/2012 07:56 PM