he talks in whispers and what he says is completely incoherent. Rollie do you have to pee? he just stares at me.

Our family doctor says pain medication is horrible with changes in Alzheimer's that can stick around a long time. How long does he take the pain meds? Hope it is just that and when he stops he will not be so bad. Just think what morphine would do to you or me and then realize what it does to the Alz brain. I can't even give my mom Tylenol without seeing some mental personality changes.

It's so bad because you have to treat the pain, how can you not. Just work with the doctor and take him off it as soon as possible. Hope he gets better soon!

Wow could pain meds really make that kind of change? So fast? My dad is going for a root canal on Monday and I can't imagine how he will react to that. In addition they told him to stop all of his meds and no one has told the neurologist. From what I have read this should all be supervised.

I hope Rollie does come out of this. Maybe it is just taking a little longer for the meds to work their way out of his body??

Deb,

I think it's hard to know....have you been able to talk with his docs or the Hospice nurse?

It is so hard...here, but not here....I am sure if you touch him lightly he will recognize that in some part of him, a soothing, known light touch...

My hus who has an acquired brain injury in addition also can talk in whispers most of the time and is completely incoherent...d/t brain damage worsened by the Alz....unnerving...

thinking of you....

Am I describing this well enough? Are you getting a good picture? The reason I ask is because I want to be sure the doctors really are understanding me. His behavior is so weird. and how can I not give him pain meds? He has to have something. Of course this is Friday evening and no one is ion the office anymore.

Deb,

What is clear is that Rollie's behavior is different from what it has been fairly recently. You describe that it seems to be related to his injury, hospitalization and medication, especially morphine...

As we have all become aware, any one of these massive changes in and ALZ person's experience can alter his/her overall condition or stage...We know they do not take to change at all let alone all this change.

Also, we KNOW that caregiver's wear out fast with added crisis...There is my concern for you. It is hard enough on a day to day basis, but add in this level of medical complications and behavior and there is a formula for you burning out very quickly.....

When my Dad was in the NH in FL on Hospice, I had the tel # of the Hospice he was in and I could call that # if there were issues and problems(and boy were there).

My concern for you is that it feels like you need to be processing this behavior of Rollie's with a medical person and that's why I'm thinking that if there is Hospice involved there might be a no you can call to get someone to call you stat.....

please let me know if I can help in any way....Marianne

Hi Deb,
I take morphine, because I have to and you can never compare the effects on one person to another. It doesn't even get to my head. I don't even know what a morphine 'high' feels like. My doc explained it but, that's not important here, right now.
What IS important is that your Rollie is experiencing something so 'out of the normal' that you are concerned. Your concern is ALL that matters and your assessment. I hope that you can get in touch with SOME medical professional. Is there a Hotline ? if not, maybe you could call a hospital near by and ask if any nurse or health care professional that knows something about both medications and Alzheimers can speak with you, that you have got to see if he needs immediate care OR what you should watch for honey. The 'mix' of meds is such a doggone tight rope sometimes. This way, you might get some peace of mind and you might have to get something changed. Either way, it cannot do any harm and might actually help !
Please read all the contraindications on the medications, as well. It may be there for you to see in black and white. I have had some docs that weren't so bright and gave me a mix of medications before that have caused some very bad side effects and to be honest with you, it's not that hard for them to do ! However, it is THEIR job, for getting paid the Big Bucks, they need to know it !

God Bless you and Please update us on how Rollie is doing.
Big Ole Hugs,
~Meredith

When my FIL was in the hospital after his bypass surgery he got so violent from the pain meds that he punched a nurse in the throat and they had to tie him down. After that surgery his dementia got so bad and he has been going down ever since. The neurologist says this is normal and that the fact he had light dementia before the surgery and now it is like he is in his forth year of it.

Does he have times where he is ok or just staying bad even when the meds are starting to wear off

Please take care, I know it must be so hard and I am thinking of you.

No, the changes are constant, he doesn't seem to waver back and forth between how he was before and how he is now, I talke dto a nurse last night on the phone and she is going to send his regular doctor a mesage

Would you feel better if you got him to a Dr. ?
Is the nurse that comes a hospice nurse ?

I feel like the answer I will get at the doctor is 'there's not much we can do" there aren't too many types of pain meds, He is a little better today, we are backing off the oxycodone and only giving it when he complains.

Oxy is notorious for causing "the spins" and hallucinations. Hopefully this will be temporary.