Method and Aftermath of Failed Suicide Attempt (present day Australia)

[scully_208]

Have gone through the relevant tags in this community, searched for and asked questions on the NaNoWriMo forums, read through various websites and answer forums with different search terms including "aftermath of suicide attempt" "hospitalisation after failed suicide", "suicide attempt survivor stories", etc. Have also tried to do research on

Comments

[bloodied_angel7]

Okay, some of this I can help with, but not all of it so here goes

[scully_208]

Thank you so much, this is so helpful.

Apologies for not being clear, I don't intend her to pass out, although she does take the pill with the intention of passing out. I want her to throw up before they really hit her system, so that could be pretty much immediate if need be. I could have drink more alcohol to trigger the vomiting if the pills themselves aren't likely to cause it.

However I am wondering how long she would have until she lost consciousness from the blood loss and whether that situation is realistic, if that makes sense.

Also you are correct, panadeine forte was a misquote on my part - it would just be panadeine she'd have on hand, but if there are other more effective drugs she might have available I can change that.

[scully_208]

Ah, on first read I missed the part you mentioned about the emetic. That's good to know, and works for the story. Thanks.

[haldane]

Just a couple of points - you can have any kind of drug you want on hand, even prescription, because it doesn't have to be *her* script. Maybe one of her parents has a chronic pain issue or has recently had surgery, or is suffering from menopausal insomnia. That said, most home-use drugs in Australia are laced with emetics so that overdosing results in vomiting.

And from my brother the psychiatrist - horizontal vs vertical makes an enormous difference. Horizontal cuts put small gaps in the arteries, while vertical cuts make long splits which are much harder for the body to block up. That's the reason Romans used to suicide in the bath; the water stops the cuts from clotting.

[scully_208]

This is exactly what I've been trying to find info on, thank you. I think she'd be too scared to do it vertically the first time, so maybe multiple cuts horizontally. She makes a more serious attempt later.

[nineveh_uk]

There is now an 'antidote' to paracetamol that can be administered to patients who've taken an overdose. The NHS protocols are here: http://www.mhra.gov.uk/Safetyinformation/DrugSafetyUpdate/CON185624 No doubt the Australian health service has an equivalent.

[marycatelli]

IIRC, a ER doctor once said in an online discussion I was in they no longer pump stomachs. Instead they give activated charcoal slurry. It comes in a cherry flavor.

(Then he added Yummy -- I asked Really? -- and he admitted to never tasting it.)

So you might want to investigate that.

[lostandalone22]

It's not yummy. It tastes horrible and you have to drink the whole thing. I know this because I had to do that when I was having an ulcer problem and they wanted to do some kind of imaging thing.

[marycatelli]

Good thing he never had it then; that might have biased his judgment.