Schizophrenia

[kaz86]

Hi ya.
My mum has schizophrenia has years And is also a alcoholic.
Her schizophrenia has been manageable, recently however she is getting very paranoid and hearing voices. She also has cirrhosis (I'm guessing nearer to end stage, jaundice, skin rashes, had fluid around belly for years it's gone now but I think she may take medication, sleeps for 4pm-3am, has had blood from both ends, always constipated). She had stopped drinking and symptoms improved however she is drinking again not as much as she use to (rather than spirits now 3 Guinness's a day, along with co codomol) . I'm not sure whether the paranoia is the schizophrenia or the liver disease. Not sure what to do, quite worried. We also visit with our young children and just feeling anxious about them seeing her like that.

Hi Kaz86,

I am sorry you are having to go through al this with your mum, must be so hard.
Is there a option of not taking the children? a friend to leave them with just until she's stable again?
Didnt want to not reply, thinking of you

I wouldn't want her seeing the kids.
Unfortunately there's not a lot you can do to stop the drinking. Is the drinking interfering with the medication or has she stopped taking it?

Thanks she is taking her meds I think it's to do with the liver disease maybe it's not being digested I don't know. She never drinks with the kids around. She adores the kids. Hoping she will just improve I don't know. Her anxiety is quite high atm too.

Can she get a review of the medication? Is she under a consultant for the liver issue as well as the MH one?

She is under none. She won't accept any help for the liver. Gp had been supporting her however he left.
Gp also now sees her for her mh. Think she sees a psychiatrist once a year.

It's hard because a build up of toxins from liver disease can make people act mentally unwell. However, how do you separate the schizophrenia from the liver disease? It might be a good idea to contact the MH team- if she sees a psych every year then she must still be in their system. They can give you advice, if nothing else.

You need to contact her local Community Mental Health Team - that is where the psychiatrist will work from that she sees. Her GPs will know which Team she is under as the psychiatrist writes to the GP surgery after each appointment.

They have duty workers & a crisis team who could assess her & contact the psychiatrist re her meds.

Physical problems can definitely affect mental health medications.