[wintereyes]

I'm looking for some input as to what you would think is a better thing to do. It's been two weeks since I was first diagnosed, and I've been on 5 different medications so far.. Abilify is the latest, as I just got it and will try it for the first time tonight (20mg... isn't this a bit of a high initial dose?)

My "fork in the road" right now, is whether to keep trying to treat this piecemeal, at home, while seeing my campus psychiatrist for 15 or so minutes a day ... or going to a hospital and getting myself all leveled out faster? My psychiatrist said today that if the Abilify doesn't work, and I'm still having a hard time by the end of the week, that a stay in the hospital over the weekend might be the best thing to do. (A weekend stay would be best because I refuse to miss going to my college courses, even if it's painful to go to them sometimes).

Has this happened to anyone else before? What is it like to be in the hospital for bipolar? I'm not suicidal per say.. I get frustrated and "want out of my head" sometimes (I'm sure that makes sense to at least some of you right now). But I'm not particularly a threat to mine or anyone's safety.. Still, the pdoc thinks that I can be leveled out faster if I went to the hospital. Any advice, or stories from experience would be greatly appreciated!Thanks,

M.

[sugahorse1]

I'd say go to hospital.
5 meds in 2 weeks is far too quick - I would not be happy with the pdoc. Meds take up to 6 weeks to "work", so you can't tell in 2 weeks if they are, or aren't working.

I've had good experiences in hospital.

[cocoabeans]

Do your research regarding that "weekend stay" though. Depending where you live, if you check yourself in and the doctors there decide you're not fit to be out....it might be a several week stay.

[BNLsMOM]

Not to mention there isn't much actual treatment going on in the hospital over the weekend. I remember there was a lot of, "we'll try that on Monday and watch you for a few days," and "We'll watch you over the weekend and maybe discharge sometime next week."

[venusss]

Depends how you feel. Sometimes if you are able to somehow "chill" at home, it's better then to be in strange environment...

And... your pdoc is going to fast with things it seems...