inpatient advice

I just wanted to say I am so proud of you for choosing to do this! Wishing you the very best!

-CK

Thanks CK! I'm hoping for the very best!!!

Fluffums,

Bravo! I've never been inpatient, so I can't share any advice or words of wisdom on that. I was treated in an outpatient program. My therapist at that time told me that the trend seemed to be that more and more sufferers were seeking help as adults. This is good, I think! I was 33 when I started my recovery work, and you're right; I think there's a whole different focus when it is entered into voluntarily. Not that that makes it easier at all, but the motivation to succeed is... different. ♥

When will you begin your program?

Congrats, and much love to you!

Jen

Thanks hopeful! My program begins in April/May, but I'm hoping for May. April is going to be very full for me, but I guess we'll see.
That is a positive step that we are coming for help later on, but at the same time on our own.
Much love back to you too, as well as CK!

Hi! So, I'm super new to this whole online support group thing so I mainly just browse the topics and chime in when I feel inclined to do so. Your post got my attention. I have been to inpatient treatment on 4 separate occasions at 3 different treatment centers. If it sounds like I'm bragging I am totally not--I promise you there is nothing prideful about being in and out of treatment centers. But, I do think I can give you some ideas of what to expect. First off, I will say that I am 29, married, 2 boys, a about to graduate from law school--oh and my last inpatient discharge was late January 2012. I was also inpatient during both high school and college, so I have a wide range of perspectives.

Generally speaking ( as every tx center is different some things will likely be similar), you can expect to be greeted by women who are equally of not more scared of being there then you are. Motivation levels often fluctuate, depending on each person's story but most of all during the first week of IP. The first day is sort of exciting and everything is new. You'll move into your bedroom, a staff member will go trough your belongings looking for items that are not allowed, they usually take drawstrings that aren't sewn in and shoe laces too. Then you will your the unit, meet the other patients, meet with your therapist and dietician, and will then be told all the rules. Due to the nature of these facilities there are a ton of rules, some expected and some totally annoying. You will likely be weighed every morning in a gown, before you pee, and then have your vitals taken. You'll get ready for the day and will most likely have to compromise with your roommate about shower times. During the night your personal bathroom will be locked and you'll have to go down the hall and get a staff member to open it for you. Oh, and you CANNOT flush your own toilet. I'm not joking, regardless of what number you go staff who let you into the bathroom will be the one who flushes your toilet and locks the bathroom. Back to the morning routine...after you are done getting ready (and on their time schedule) the first group will probably be a goal setting and journalling group prior to breakfast. Then it will be breakfast time and, depending on the facility, you'll either be plated food or serve yourself according to some guidelines. While at meals, staff will be on heightened alert for any food games being played, hiding of food, trading of food, pretty much everything you can think of to avoid eating has been done so that is what staff is looking for. At my latest center we had to keep our hands above the table at all times. Also, my guess is you will be required to eat 100% of your meal plan. If you choose not to or don't like the food plated, those calories will be made up through supplementation either by Boost or Ensure. If you refuse to eat or drink the supplement, at some point the threat of NG tube will arise. That is not pleasant at all so I highly suggest avoiding that route. Oh, another thing to mention about meals is that they will likely be timed--mostly for logistical and scheduling purposes--but also to deter the prolonged meal time food game that some engage in. Typically you'll get 30 min for a meal and 15 minutes for snack. There are 3 meals and 3 snacks a day. The calorie levels will be mentioned as "refeeding", or "weight restoration" or "maintenance" I think those are fairly self explanatory.

After each meal you will probably have to wait 30-45 minutes before you can use the bathroom or be somewhere unsupervised. You would not believe the places people have purged--boy do I have stories. After that break it will be group time. And that is how the rest of the day will be: meal, wait the half, group, snack, wait the half, group,lunch, wait the half, group, group, snack, wait the half, group, free time, dinner, wait the half, free time or a more leisurely activity, snack, wait the half, bedtime, lights out. Mixed in there will be morning, lunch, and night meds of you have them.

The groups themselves vary even within the same program. Some common ones are coping skills, nutrition, body image, CBT, DBT, art therapy, music therapy, etc. During the day your therapist may pull you out of a group for your session time, same with the dietician. Also be prepared to work on assignments and worksheets that will likely be part of some phase or level structure of the program. That is pretty much the gist of it...if you have any specific questions or new clairification I am more than happy I respond. Trust me, I wish I had a heads up of what to expect on my third time, let alone first admission.

If you want to know more specifics about your actual program I might be able to help. You can message me if you'd like. I know all about pretty much every IP treatment center through experience, fellow patients, and such.

Wow, I didn't realize I'd been blabbing for so long. My apologies. I hope I answered your question. And congrats to you for making this decision--there is nothing in comparison to impatient/residential treatment. It saved my life.

--Kate

Yikes, I have more :) Just to touch base on the whole "group setting" thing, I encourage you to be open to the idea of it. I was certainly not open to the idea of talking with complete strangers about my presumed eating disorder. In fact, I didn't want to talk to anybody for any reason. After about three days of silence I broke down and engaged with the group. And you know what? That group of women are my biggest support system I have right now. I met my best friend, literally personality twin, souk sister, whatever you want to call it but I can honestly say that for the first time I am able to fully participate in a friendship. No longer hiding my eating disorder our friendship was not built upon fallacies. Rather, it was built upon the mutual fear of treatment, exhaustion from our 15 year battles with anorexia, and the idea that finally, FINALLY some one really understands what is going through my head. It has been one of the most amazing connections I have ever made. We can talk the truth, the brutally honest you're bing totally annoyingly dysmorphic and eating disordered way. But in general the women I met and went through treatment with last March-June are some of my closest companions and dearest friends...even though we all live nowhere near one another. The connection we made in discussing our individual struggles and the advice we gave to each other is truly the most beneficial thing you will get out of the experience. And in all honesty, it is the number 1 thing I miss about being in the real world. In treatment I was surrounded by women who knew exactly why I was having a bad morning and needed to change 3 times, or why I would star to sweat and tap my foot when I sat down with my try, or why I couldn't allow my food to touch, or saw that I ate categorically. It's that comfort of not feeling so alone in the struggle that I really miss. And due to the lack of resources in my Podunk college town, I am trying this whole online group thing. So give yourself a chance; you might surprise yourself!

-Kate

Kate, that is so helpful. Thank you.
I have experience in inpatient treatment myself, but honestly I don't know what I would add to all of that!