What shall I do?

I'm in the middle of some kind of moral matter, and basically I don't know what to do, because I'm no proffessional in this.

The case is, that a friend of me, a retired farang, suffered from a stroke 2 years ago. Basically things were ok, except from the disability with his left arm and leg and speech was a bit of a problem. He got treatment, medication and medical attention and improved slightly. Luckily he was living with a boy who found him in time and took care of things.

In the meantime he swapped boys, but current and former boy, only knew and know how to take care of his ATM card, which left him on a regular bases without any satang, and the regular visits to the hospital stopped. The boys knew my friends pin-number, because he couldn't go to the ATM himself, BUT this is not the problem (anymore): I have both ATM and VISA card, so the boy isn't able anymore to withdraw money without the farang knowing it.

The problem is, that since about 6 months, my friend is more or less hallucinating about people who want to play games, fights, kill him, Poisson him, spy on him, want money of him, basically, he sees in most people an enemy and he is hearing and seeing people who aren't there. His Thai boy is very fed up with the situation, because he is all day confronted with problems who aren't there. I'm being called on a daily bases, to solve problems between my friend and people who don't exist.

Over the last 6 months, my friend moved from Pattaya to Petchabun, Korat and back to Pattaya. Spend a few days in my house, but there are "spies" everywhere.

Yesterday I was at his condo and I found a pretty desperate, (mentally) tired friend, who was and is close to the edge. I'm pretty sure, that if I do nothing he won't make it to the end of the month.
I asked him and begged him to visit a doctor in order to check him up and eventually adjust his medication, because I think that may be the cause of his mental state, but he is very stubborn and won't go unless I drag him to a doctor, who might be able to help him.

Question is: Is there anybody out there who knows what I should do in this situation and where I can get professional help!!

seems the answer is obvious--drag him to the doctor as you mention at the end of your email--your friend needs medical attention.

[Marsilius]

This sounds like paranoid schizophrenia. You need to get medical advice for your friend urgently.

[TrongpaiExpat]

Sad story. I hope your not looking for some web board diagnose here.

This story sure demonstrates the need for good farang friends but you need to take it a step further. One farang expat friend has me listed in his Thai living will with full power-of-attorney in such events.

I suspect most of the Pattaya aging ex-pats have not made such provisions.

Hey,

Sounds like a terrible situation and I think you are a good friend to be concerned.

I would suggest that you take him to see a psychiatrist, or get one to visit him.
I assume he has lucid times. Sometimes (not all the time) medication can assist.

Does he have any real family? Brother sister etc that can take over for him till he is well enough. Maybe you can find a care giver and not a boy to help out and if nothing else can be done contact the embassy of the country he is from and explain the situation.

[Aunty]

You need to have your friend seen by a 'psychogeriatrician'. Unfortunately I have no idea if such a medical specialist is available in Pattaya or Thailand for that matter, or not. They are however in Singapore:-

http://www.cgh.com.sg/library/mental_elderly.asp

If you can't find a psychogeriatrician in Thailand then a competent psychiatrist will do. There are many potential causes for mental illness in the elderly, ranging from problems with medications through to more serious neurological disorders and diseases. But whatever the cause, it requires a specialist to sort it out. The first port of call would be to his doctor, if he has one, for a discussion and referral, or take him straight to a psychogeriatrician if you can find one.

A friend of mine here (fortunately married, with a wife to take care of him) has identical hallucinations / paranoid delusions which also started about the same time. After being persuaded to stop "self-medicating" he is now generally able to rationalise his fears, but they were unable to find any appropriate medical / psychiatric help in the Pattaya / Sattahip / Si Racha area. Despite this, I would strongly support the advice given - drag him to a doctor. Even if they cannot advise what medicine to take they can at least tell him what medicine to stop.

First I want to say it is very sad.
But it reminds me of my father getting Alzheimer. It can be anything from paranoia, which you also see it with people getting Alzheimer, to another sickness. I am not an expert on this, just telling you what I have experienced. My father went phycotic, before they gave him the right medicine and it was in small doses. Even if he was sick he grew up again, after he was taken care of and was given the right medicine. Please try to take him to an expert, if possible. Best luck to you and you friend.

Some doctors might make a home visit. Do you know Dr sawaddipong clinic? he speaks excellent english and is a great doctor.

If I had no official "Power of Attorney" or authority to make medical decisions I would contact his lawer or family and have someone come and get him. Failing that I would contact his Embassy.

Friendship can go so far but you do no one any favors if you get in over your head and can't handle a situation.

Thanks to you all.
At least I'm able to qualify his problem; with some help from the net, I found out that the problem might be solved with the right medication. Major problem will be to convince my friend of having a mental sickness.

Unfortunately my friend has no family, so no help from that direction.

I'll try to get in touch with Dr. Somchai at BKK-Hospital-PTT for a first consult and than we'll see how and what.

Thanks again.

Given the number of members of this board clearly suffering from paranoia, delusions and multiple personality disorder you have picked the right place to start!!

[Dodger]

Joseph...

Quote:

my friend is more or less hallucinating about people who want to play games, fights, kill him, Poisson him, spy on him, want money of him,

Leave him alone - he's probably the wisest man in Pattaya.

I cant offer any more solutions than you have thought of. But what l an offer, is what a kind and thoughtful person you are, to take this much care of him, and think of him. It's not a case of take him to the Hospital or Dr, if he doesn't want o go, he wont, or he will tell the shrink a different story.
I just hope l have a friend like you, if anything like this happens to me.

PP

[Lunchtime O'Booze]

for years I thought I was more or less hallucinating about people who want to play games ,fight or kill me, poisson me, spy on me, want money from me, basically,see me as the enemy and indeed, thought I was hearing and seeing people who aren't there.

Then I realized it was all true and it was that bloody woman I married, Mrs O'Booze who had finally cottoned on she had wed an old bender and brought in her entire family to try and finish me off.

now what you need my dear is..get a pencil and write this down...a doctor..I'll spell it D_O_C_T_O_R

he will then refer your friend, who is obviously quite balmy to something called a PSYCHIATRIST who will put your friend on very calming MEDICATIONS.

then all will be well.

Friends,

thanks for all the support and good advices.
I talked to my friend a few days ago and I explained what a possible cause of his hallucinating impressions could be.
I convinced him to contact his doctor at BKK-PTT-Hospital in order to make an appointment. I'll go with him to be sure that if he doesn't talk about his problem, I'll do so.

I also talked to his boyfriend, who is also in a pretty desperate state of not knowing what to do anymore.

Hope that we can work things out in a professional way with the right medication.

Thanks again.