mother-in-law w/ lbd

January 12, 2006

hello-I'm new to this group. my mother-in-law was diagnosed with lbd

in the fall of 05. In january 05 she fell and broke her other

hip ( first one in 01). this last year there has been quite a

decline in her health. in june 05 she had been diagnosed with nph-

(water on the brain) she had a surgery and they placed a shunt in to

remove the water causing her to fall and shuffle her feet. but the

shunt got kinked and she had surgery again to unkink it. she seemed

to be doing better. when in the hospital from her hip surgery she

developed celluities. which inturn from the antibiotics she

developed c-diff. and has really had loose bowels and incontinence

since then. from feb 05 to sept 05 she lived with us. but with her

bowel incontinence and having c-diff, and realizing it was time for

more skilled care for her then i was able to give she now lives in

an nursing home. these last two weeks have really been hard. we have

had major ups and downs. one minute she is complaining of hurting

all over, to not speaking were not sure if she has had TIA's or not

the dr. told us a few weeks ago that she had ,had a small one but we

have had several episodes that one would think that she has. from

the things i have read here she has some of the same qualities-but

i'm extremely greatful that she hasn't gotten violent or uneasy to

manage. ihope that that doesen't happen. dose it usually??

she doesen't remeber that her husband has passed on and when she

asks for him i tell her and or me its like living that day all over

again.I know that the good lord will take her in his own time, she

asks why she is still here i tell her that she is not done teaching

us all yet. i hope that some one can tell me what it is like when

the time is closer she is still talking but not all the time, same

with eating. i try not to force her. i think i have rambled on

enough maybe someone can help me with some encouraging words of

wisdom.thanks-kelly

January 15, 2006

,

I am just getting back to replying to some of my email. Welcome. Sorry you

have to be here and it is hard. You don't say if your MIL has been dxed with

LBD or if you think she just has lots of these symptoms. It is difficult no

matter what dementia anyone is dealing with.

No everyone respond with the being difficult to manage, unless they get scared.

Then many do strike back. But generally not everyone is difficult to manage.

Usually the meds keep them quiet and calm. I think that is why most MD's put

them on the meds.

If she has only been in a nh for 2 weeks, she is probably still adjusting.

Change is hard for the Dementia patient.

I am not sure what the " c-diff " is and tried to figure it out and then thought I

would just ask you.

It does sound like she has gone through a lot at the hospital with her hip and

head surgery, and am not sure what meds they used for that.

Hope we can be of some help here.

Keep in contact and ask more questions if you have some. Do check out the LBDA

..org after my name. Go to the " Links " and there is lots of info.

Donna R

Do you want to read more about Lewy Body? You can also read the Thistle, the

LBD Newsletter. Just click on:

http://www.lewybodydementia.org