Ahh Liddy, *cuddles*
I have to say, when I first saw your changed name I thought, bugger, I always look for F-fragile as glass on here! I like your new name though :)
As for the axing of 250 beds, well because it is now Norfolk and Suffolk NHS Foundation Trust it is happening here too.
Try and remember you are getting the best treatment possible right now, and the funding has been secured prior to these changes. Its almost inconcievable to think anyone would get what you have in the next 4 years when all these changes are set to take place. I am assuming also that you have been given more than 12 months funding as it has been possible for you to stay in phase one longer than the 'suggested' time length, based on where you were at. I think you were shipped to London in part because DBT is not available in your PCT and you needed intense therapy that couldnt have been offered in the acute wards. I know it wont feel this way, but its probably a good thing you ended up in Roehampton, there is a lot more therapy there it seems than you could ever get here.
I have found a couple of articles on the issue;
http://www.edp24.co.uk/news/health/r...ices_1_1666740
http://www.eadt.co.uk/news/suffolk_m...bs_ 1_1665340
He said: “In-patient beds are already over subscribed. Staff have given me examples of patients sent to out of area beds, of patients accommodated in expensive private beds at £500 plus per day, of the existence of a waiting list for in-patient beds, of cases where new patients have been accommodated in the beds of patients out on leave (who may need to return urgently) - contrary to clinical advice. It’s hard to see how we can make do with fewer in-patient beds, when we already have a shortage.”
The above section of one of the articles really gets to me because this is precisely what happens. Both for you, and for F, last time she was in, she got put in another patients' bed who was on leave, then got sectioned and when the patient came back, they were sent home again for 'more home leave'!
It seems Norfolk only has 225 beds currently and suffolk 150. I certainly knew Suffolk didn't have 250 beds available in the first place and I couldn't easily see Norfolk having that many either, though I assumed it might be more, I think the population of Norfolk is bigger, though by how much, I don't know. I have seen that Norfolk is axing them from 225 down to 172 and in Suffolk, 150 down to 117. Yarmouth/Waverney area seems worst hit, cos they have 40 beds in what I think is the Northgate hospital and they are having them halved to 20!
Darling, your family have been hindering you for so many years, its, as horrible as it sounds, a silver lining that they have not contacted you; I don't think if they had it would have done your recovery process any good. Some people are not helpful, and sadly you can't choose your family, but you can choose your friends!!
I wonder, could you bring up in ward rounds that the level of support has become lower than you feel able to handle and ask that, maybe they offer you a set time each day to chat about how you are managing the food and SH urges. Obviously it would be advantageous if that time was not during meal times, but maybe after teatime or before breakfast?
Is there any way you could try and eat your meal plan 7 days a week and try and even out the eating less during the week and more at weekends? It might help with the feeling like you have gained if its a steady amount? It'd certainly be safer to eat more evenly, cos it sounds like food during the week is becoming very scarce and you need it for concentration on the therapy and programme which I know is all day, and a lot of hard work.
I do know of a couple of people who have had to stop their Lithium after 20+ years due to no kidney function and a dead thyroid gland. They went onto other less toxic meds, but did find the transition hard. F was taken off it due to kidney trouble when she ODed, but even taken correctly its pretty corrosive stuff. Thyroid function can be treated, as yours is, but the other stuff is balance of pro's and con's. In the future however you may respond to other medications better, because with age, our brains can change.
If there is anything I can do, please let me know. My email account has been hacked so don't try that, but FB and RYL messages will get through.
Lots of love, and big hugs, I can't wait to see you on 11th
xxxxxx
