My first post was actually submitted before your second post. If I’d had a chance to read your third post I would have had a different opinion of the folks who put you there. Memphis runs their psych wards much different than ours here. I’m shocked that there are such places right out of One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest. And worse.
My experience when I thought I was suicidal was much different. It was much closer to a regular hospital stay. Rooms for two or four people, more freedom about where you could go, staff that took medical concerns such as diabetes seriously. It wasn’t wonderful but I had a much better experience than you.
I guess it makes a difference in which state you get yourself committed.
In your first post you wrote that the staff was reasonably savvy to worry that I might be suicidal, and, in fact, I agree. Truth be told, I can’t argue with the decision to put me under surveillance; it’s the treatment during said observation that I have the issue with. I mean–no beds? No PILLOWS? Lights constantly on? Letting people stay in literally pissy rooms for hours?
I understand now why those crazy homeless people prefer to live on the street.
Sorry about the use of the word crazy, but what do you call it, People With Mental Health Problems (PWMHPs)? I don’t think I can say that without it sounding like a fart. I’m cra-…funny that way.
Nope. I am still in the ward, sending this message to the SMDB via my telekinetic powers. Unfortunately, according to my precognitive powerws, it won’t occur to me to use those powers to escape for another six hours.
Mentally ill is the usual term. It can be used as an adjective (“those mentally ill homeless people”) or a noun (“the mentally ill often face discrimination”).
I’m not diabetic or a doctor, but isn’t a blood sugar level of 347 pretty bad?
Well, it was possible that you had been subjected to “outpatient commitment”.
Yeah…not to mention the “go away, don’t bug me you freak” attitude/behavior of the staff when you came to them with genuine & immediate medical needs and questions. Great care regimen, huh?
I suppose if one were astonishingly confident and secure in themselves and not in the least bit fragile, a psychiatric ward would not do them appreciable damage. But psych wards strike me as horribly inappropriate environments for the very people we tend to think belong in them.
WOW :eek: The service in that hospital is horrible! can’t you see about sueing or pressing charges? but other than that it is good to hear that you are home and in your own custody. Best wishes
And having patients whose charts state are diabetic and not checking sugar levels? You should file a complaint about that if nothing else. I mean isn’t a level of 347 dangerous? I know that was the other guys level but still.
Nope, a normal random blood glucose (nonfasting, doesn’t take into account what or when you’ve eaten) is around the low to mid 100s. A normal fasting blood glucose (when you haven’t eaten for 8 hours) is less than 110 mg/dL. I’m not a doctor, but that’s what my reference materials say.
Holy shit, though, Fabulousyou should really report that to someone. That’s absolutely horrifying.
It’s hard to believe that places such as this one still exist. It sounds more like a forensic psychiatric facility … and a pretty horrific one at that.
I apologize for you having such a bad experience. Besides your having to undergo such a horrorshow, it’s places such as this that give the rest of my profession a bad rap and dissuade patients that really need help from accessing it.
Although it may be cold comfort, your results are by no means the “standard” way patients are treated at psychiatric facilities. A good number of places work to provide responsive and compassionate care (at least the one in which I work and the ones I speak with in my state) - AND ask for formalized feedback from our clients about how the stay went to make SURE we’re doing our jobs right.
I would certainly be writing some people (writing, not calling - writing establishes a paper trail). Find out of there what patient advocacy groups exist in TN. If this escapade was billed to your insurance, complain to your insurance company. If they’re JHACO-accredited, that’s another good organization to contact. And let’s not forget your elected officials. While it can’t undo what’s happened to you, it can help make changes so others aren’t mistreated.
A normal blood sugar varies during the day, depending on how much you’ve eaten and how long its been since you’ve eaten. A good fasting blood sugar (that is, first thing in the morning, after about 12 hours with no food and a good night’s rest) is 90-110. For a diabetic, a good post-prandrial (post-meal–say about two hours later, after you’ve had time to digest your food) is under 180. Over two hundred is worrisome, over 300 is dangerous and likely to be mood-altering, which is why I think J’s increasingly wretched behavior during my first night was due to his highly elevated level. 118 isn’t particularly worrisome at 7 o’clock at night, unless you’ve just taken insulin or some pancreas-stimulating drug, like glyburide. Then, if you don’t eat, you’ll likely go hypoglycemic while you sleep, which is dangerous. (Last night my blood sugar was 94 two hours after dinner, so I made sure to eat a snack before bed.)
