Alzheimer's Disease Support Group
Alzheimer's disease (AD) is the most common cause of dementia and characterized by progressive cognitive deterioration with declining activities of daily living and neuropsychiatric symptoms or behavioral changes. An early symptom is memory loss (amnesia), usually manifesting as minor forgetfulness that becomes pronounced with illness progression, with relative...
The nurse practitioner just called me and we discussed Rollie's behavior. LOL First apparently, he hasn't slept much so she asked if they could give him a sleeping pill and I said, "PLEASE DO!" She asked how did I get him to sleep at night and I said, "I'll tell you the truth, I sit on his bed, hold his hand and gently rub his head until he goes to sleep." They don't have the staff for that.
Then she described his behavior in the day, his wandering and shadowing and mumbling. She said the nurses call him Mr. Nuisance, LOL, she said every time they turn around he is right THERE! I told her, "That is why he is there, because he does that to me EVERYDAY, ALL DAY!" She said, "So this is normal for him, it isn't just because he is in a strange place?" She upped his Ativan dosage.
She said it was interesting how he was still physically strong in many ways but his dementia was so far gone. I felt validated finally. That is what I have been trying to describe to everyone and I felt like they weren't listening. The only question he got right on the Mini-Mental was my name but she said she coaxed him on remembering my name.
My kids wanted me to bring him to the VA respite for just this reason because they thought it would show them how bad Rollie was doing since he was presenting so well at the doctor's office visits.
Then she described his behavior in the day, his wandering and shadowing and mumbling. She said the nurses call him Mr. Nuisance, LOL, she said every time they turn around he is right THERE! I told her, "That is why he is there, because he does that to me EVERYDAY, ALL DAY!" She said, "So this is normal for him, it isn't just because he is in a strange place?" She upped his Ativan dosage.
She said it was interesting how he was still physically strong in many ways but his dementia was so far gone. I felt validated finally. That is what I have been trying to describe to everyone and I felt like they weren't listening. The only question he got right on the Mini-Mental was my name but she said she coaxed him on remembering my name.
My kids wanted me to bring him to the VA respite for just this reason because they thought it would show them how bad Rollie was doing since he was presenting so well at the doctor's office visits.
To finally be vaildated must feel very very good. I hope the Ativan helps. In my husb. case seroquel helped a lot.
Hope this leads to big changes for the better .
Hugs.
that used to drive me crazy that he could do so well at the Dr. office and then be totally confused the rest of the day. No one can see the true picture until they spend a couple days with them...(and nights) lol.
I hope you are enjoying your time away, you deserve it.
Hope to meet you in September.
xoxo Carolyn
My Rob does the same thing, presents well to the Dr. and not at home. I have begun to wonder .."Is it me??"
The whole thing is a mystery to me. They should be careful upping the Ativan, it can possibly make things worse. Everyone is of course different, but it did worsen things with Rob.
They actually took him off that and put him on Serequel. I give it to him around 6;00 to help with sundowning and it seems to help him sleep at night then. He has started going to bed earlier now.
Rob does the same shadowing, mumbling ,etc...
Actually Rob and Rollie sound like they are in a very similar phase of this disease! I completely empathyze with you on all counts.
Hang in there! (hug)
Wow my brain is going a mile a minute right now with all the possibilities.
the office was in an uproar with nurses coming to check out what was happening....I left smiling......
Thank you for my laugh of the day!!!! Too funny ...way to go Ron