Looking for some info from the parents side

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Hey everyone,

I have seen so many great replies here and I'm truly lost in the process right.

I'm a pre-nursing student, start my nursing courses in the fall. My son has been having some serious problems and has just been admitted to a hospital. I spent 2 days in the ER with him waiting for a bed to open.

He's been in the psych hospital for 2 days now. I'm waiting for the treatment team to contact me when they figure out what the plan is.

I just feel so lost. I go to see him but he calls at night asking me to pick him up. He asks what's going to happen and I just don't know what to tell him aside from he is there for help so he doesn't have to be caught in his emotions. I just wondered if any of you could shine a light on this for me. What's the normal sequence for intake or deciding treatment? How long before they evaluate him? Could he get a different diagnosis?

He has ADHD and a growth disorder. The way his emotions flip, and flip fast, along with some of the other behaviors, I would swear he is bipolar. I know it's not just unmanaged ADHD and had been begging for help for 6 months but his dr said I just needed to supervise him more and be stricter. Both seem like great ideas until you see what home life is like. I couldn't possibly supervise him anymore than I already do. :(

Thanks for any input.

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Specializes in Psych.

Well, I would hope that he has already been seen by the psychiatrist, our patients are seen within 24 hours of admission and a diagnosis is made at that time. Instead of waiting for them to call you, I would be calling them. You are your childs best advocate.

And honestly your description of your sons behaviors is very similar to what my daughter was experiencing, and it was a reaction to her stimulant we used to control her ADHD. Once we had a med change and added an SSRI to help with her GAD, I have a new child.

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The only med we haven't tried was Intuniv. Concertta worked really well for about 3 yrs but in the last 8 months his behavior has gotten increasingly worse. He has attempted suicide but his dr felt it was more attention seeking than anything else. He's threatened to kill other people, himself, his brother. Threatened to run away. He has these "episodes" for lack of a better word where he will follow me amped up and angry for hours trying to get me to react? Or yell? I'm not sure... He just flips like a light switch and when I ask eh yes so mad he brings up stuff from weeks or months ago.

I've had to pick him up from school and vacation camp because he hit other kids, threatened to blow things up etc.

I am going down again today and will ask them what's happening.

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Specializes in psych, addictions, hospice, education.

As his parent you have the right to know everything about his treatment, unless he's 18 or older. In some states you would need to give permission for medications.

If they don't contact you, please contact them.

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Specializes in Psych.

Did his med happen to switch to generic 8 months ago . B cannot tolerate the generic forms of any stimulant that we have tried

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Sounds like a conduct disorder. You need to be talking to the social worker, sometimes in psych nursing we don't know the whole plan. Nursing is managing the symptoms. Find out if there is a case manager around.

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Please consider talking to another doctor for a second opinion. I highly question any doctor who would take your son's threats to harm himself and others so lightly. Perhaps chat with those administering your son's care in the Hospital. Maybe then can recommend a good social worker, therapist, or psychiatrist to assist you.

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Specializes in Nephrology, Cardiology, ER, ICU.

We wish you the best and agree that continuing to see his provider is necessary. Take care.

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