Drugs - Where's the harm? - 2

After 12 years out of hospital and leading an independent life in the community I went down with post-covid psychosis and had 4 weeks back in.

I have now been out for 4 weeks. Back at home. Phew!

The staff at the Older People's Unit at Torquay Hospital were good, Independence is now better.

Today is my Physical Health Check with the student nurse at my local mental health unit here in little Exmouth.

I will get weighed and have my blood taken and analysed

So that means swallowing one of my blue ones cos as a good patient I want my meds to show up in my blood.

The blue ones are like duff speed. They are 'anti-psychotics' with the side-effects of restlessess, insomnia and weight gain.

I also get lasting facial numbness and have had a couple of sore throats. I tested my sore throats with the covid testing kits to check if I had gone down with covid again. I hadn't.

The restlessness, BTW the medical term is athakisia, is not that bad. I want to go for longer walks than. usual, When the weather's good I like my coastal walks and I like walking aroud Exeter too.

Walking might keep my weight down however I have gained 7lb since my entry into hospital. This is due to my cravings for biscuits and sugar in my T. Some of the time I resist and I eat plain biscuits not choccy. I have just had 2 shortbread fingers and T without sugar.

Craving for sugar and carbs are a common side effect of the blue ones. and I am on the minimum dose of 5mg every mornig.

As for the insomnia well- hey presto I get the white ones for that! One each night to make me sleep better, In hospital I was only allowed one after midnight if I couldn't sleep and one of the healthcare assistants told me that they were addictive. At home I am prescribed one to take every night.

I also take the big peach ones which I have taken for the past 12 years. I was on the minimum dose , sometimes called a maintenance dose of 250 mg in the morning and 250mg at night. This has not changed much. I now take an extra peachy at night.

Yeh, loads of meds and it's all peachy-pie.

BTW going to Torquay Hospital cured my psychosis pretty damn quick. I went there because there were no available beds in the mental health unit for older people in Exeter. Hip hooray! I was now a good distance away from two people who I used to trust - my so-called best friend for 12 years and my ex who I thankfully did not live with for 6.

They stuck to one another like glue when I was away and backed each other up every chance they got. Both of them had my house keys, could come and go as they pleased and I had given my ex best friend permission to use my laptop whenever she liked.

Yes, I used to trust them. However I never gave her permission to copy the phone numbers of all my family from my phone book.

Whe I was discharged from hospital I saw a locksmith. Problem solved although she still badgers my daughter by phone and me by Facebook.

I am giving my spare key to two long term and more trustworthy friends when I need to do so.They have agreed and their friend in the shop has promised not to tell anyone!

I don't have a mobile anymore just my landline. My choice.

However I do not wish to go on with my true tale of falling out with a pair of liars and to thereby squish two stories into one. It's a mental way to write.

So back to me, myself I. It's off to nursie at 9.30 this moring wearing light clothes and sandals for the scales and giving a quick Yes to everything.

Drugs - where's the harm?