WS, as someone who used to do what you do, you absolutely did the right thing, and bless you for it. A is lucky to have you looking out for her. I hope she'll be all right.
I'm pretty optimistic that she will get through this ok, but this process of changing meds takes sooooooooo long, and has had more than the usual amount of unintended consequences (beyond the behavioral consequences) that we are all weary, stressed and trying hard to pretend it hasn't been as serious as it is. And I'm just talking about staff - I can't begin to imagine what it's been like to be inside A's mind and body. You know, I can totally believe that someone who lies around watching tv all day would rather be doing that than going to their day program, but lying around on their bedroom floor not watching tv, listening to music, playing with anything, doing anything other than lying there? That's real. There have been too many times that we check on her not to see if she is getting into trouble but to make sure she's still breathing. And the dramatic loss of appetite - no way is that faked. This person isn't the sort of person who can starve herself. So if she were pretending to not eat at meal time but sneaking food when she thought no one was watching, there would be food missing. There would be empty wrappers and containers. Food gets put in front of her for her to nibble on, and it just sits there. It's not a matter of one missed meal. It's been three weeks at least since she has eaten more than one meal per day, and in the last seven days she has eaten one solid meal. Thank heavens for Ensure and chocolate milk.
I don't mind having to fend off her housemates complaining that she is just faking to get special treatment - sure, when you are relatively healthy the idea of staying home from work for a month or more, having people bring you chocolate milk and treats to tempt you to eat, that sounds appealing. What I do mind is having to point out to staff just how real this all is while getting the feeling that they think their understanding of her is superior. This isn't her being willful. This is her feeling like crappy in a way I have never seen in 8 years of working with her.
Fortunately I don't have to work hard to convince my supervisor. It's just a couple of my coworkers I would like to go after with a clue stick.
Believe it or not, this isn't the most out of control thing I am dealing with at work. So much. So I read here and think good thoughts for you all and send out ~ma and bask in your love and acceptance, but I don't always have the wherewithal to participate in conversation. For which I am sorry.