@somemom my dad would do this. He was a danger to himself and others. Tried removing triggers but difficult as dad has quite a bit of aphasia. Lorazepam made things a lot worse. Currently, he is on Seroquel, short acting, three times a day, Lexapro once a day and Trazadone at night. I know it sounds like poly pharmacy but it took us a while to get there and it’s under the guidance of a geriatric psychiatrist. Now he does not have those periods of dangerous excitation and mostly pleasant and cheerful. Still forgets how to use a spoon from time to time.
I also am always in problem solving mode like @ECmotherx2. I will work to avoid giving “advice” unless it’s specifically asked. Thanks for the reminder @compmom
Anyone with experience with Purple Urinary Bag Syndrome? I know what it is and what might cause it…just wondering how others have been treated/outcome…no fever, pain awareness is poor so not 100% sure on that…TIA
Thanks! My sister just stayed with her for a few weeks whilst I was out of town on business, she calls it anxiety driven self-induced psychosis. The PT gal who comes to our house says that this is not how dementia presents, 100% out of reality and then back to normal and in and out of that state. We see her PCP next week so I am asking sister and PT person to write up their impressions and I will share them all with the doc.
My mother’s vascular dementia does fluctuate and she does perserverate. She can appear like her old self with visitos and then when they leave shows confusion about where she lives and what month it is etc.
But somemom it sounds like the difference between “normal” state and agitated psychotic state is huge with your mom. I am curious to hear what you find out.
Psychosis doesn’t go in and out to that degree either, in my experience.
I am sure your mom has been checked for UTI.
Very strange and sorry you are dealing with it.
I am glad your sister stayed with her and that you got validation for your observations!
@someom- the fluctuations in clarity- clear(er) one day and confused the next, ego-syntonic hallucinations (meaning seeing people that aren’t there, such as little children sitting across the room that is not frightening or bothersome to the person), can be symptoms of Lesh Body Dementia. Does her gait shuffle? Does she have any parkinsonian-like symptoms? Sleep issues? There are other symptoms too, but if you are going to the Dr., consider this possibility. A neurological consult is recommended, and an eeg may show abnormalities too. Good luck.
She shuffles when she is bad off and dizzy, but not when she is not dizzy, She has vertigo tendencies so getting dizzy is where her body goes when icky. No shakies like Parkinsons. Sleep issues, yes, when she is full on crazy, she mixes up day and night and gets up at 3AM and other times, but nearly always 3AM and thinks it’s day time, and wonders, “where is everybody” or “What the hell is going on around here” etc
She had an MRI, but not EEG, we have a PCP appt next week so I am trying to compile all the details for that. I’ll Google Lew Body and read the details.
Reading about LBD, this certainly is spot on:
“One of the hallmarks of Lewy body dementia is the fluctuation of cognitive functioning. Oftentimes, a person may function fairly well one day and, on the next, be totally disengaged with a sudden and profound loss of memory”
Just want to share that after getting my mother out of the hospital and taking her to a cancer surgery appointment at major teaching hospital and then trying another larger hospital cancer surgery dept. we finally found the perfect fit: a colorectal surgeon whose area of interest is “the intersection between palliative approaches and surgery.” In every topic that came up, she offered non-invasive, non-harmful, kind and compassionate options with a real understanding of the issues: a 91 year old with dementia, congestive heart failure, atrial fib on Coumadin and declining rather precipitously. We trusted this doc so much that we even allowed the sigmoidoscopy ON Coumadin and I went in to watch. NO cancer! Five docs told us probably cancer but it is diverticulitis. No picnic but better than stage3 or 4 cancer.
Message learned over and over again: keep going until your feel really good about the doctor, which IS possible.
@compmom So happy things are going your way. We had a cancer scare with my mom and I was certain from the doctors opinion it was cancer but we did the biopsy and it wasn’t. Yes, you have to find doctors you are comfortable with.Dementia is no picnic but glad you do not have to deal with cancer too. Hats off to you for being so dedicated to your mom and for trucking on
Alzheimers is merciless and brutal. I’m so sorry, @rosered55 and all those who have loved ones affected by this cruel condition. Dementia of the elderly is hard but Alzheimers is especially cruel when it attacks the young.
Wonderful @compmom! So glad you found a way to move forward. At a palliative care conference I heard a surgeon talk about the intersection of surgery and palliative care. I wonder if she was the same person. There can’t be too many out there.
Sorry about your neighbor @rosered55 It’s hard for my to see my parents this way in their 70’s-80’s. But young onset must be so difficult