Re:Thanks everyone!

[Guest guest]

Hi Everyone,

Just got done reading the last digest I rec'd (#2785). I've been

reading lately instead of posting. Please forgive me up front

because I will probably ramble. Thank you for listening.

I'm not doing too well. I'm frustrated and at my wits end. I feel

like I'm being a big baby because after reading this last digest, my

problems seem minor compared to some of yours. However, I need to

vent and ask questions.

May God be with and Bless you all who are dealing with this disease.

I Thank you all, but there are a few people who have been extremly

helpful with info. I would like to thank you personaly (I hope you

know who you are), I just can't seem to find the emails I printed

out with your names. Just too much going on. Know what I mean?

Guess I'm hoping some of you can give me some insight and advice. I

try to make Dad do as much for himself as possible at this point...

Since he's still capable. I don't " baby " him. Am I wrong?

Dad, diagnosed with LBD about a month ago is still walking and

feeding himself. I or another person prepare all his meals. We had

to take all knobs off the stove because he will try to cook for

himself in the middle of the night (even though he's been fed very

well). He doesn't turn burners off (I'm afraid of fire). He is

incontinent most the time (day and night)and even though I have

diapers for him, most the time he refuses or forgets to put them on

(usually refusing). He's still a very proud and " Stubborn " man! The

house stinks because he pee's all over the place and then blames it

on people who aren't even there. He won't sleep in his bed, he say's

there is a " couple " in there (even after I show him nobody is

there). He also insist we are not at his house and packs bags to go

home or elsewhere. He says he (we) need to go upstairs (no upstairs,

single story ranch house). He will show me where the steps are and

he actually see's them even though they are not there (what do I do

and how do I respond?).

He is a large man (240) and I'm a mid size woman (140). He sometimes

gets physical and tries to fight me or hit me with his cane! He has

hurt me a couple times (don't think purposely though), so I brushed

it off... I just don't know what to do anymore.

I've always promised him I wouldn't put him in a home and I don't

want to break my promise. I just feel like we are both angry at each

other a good portion of the time. Actually, one moment he acts as

though he hates me and the next moment he's very nice and sweet to

me! Mine is more frustration and not knowing how to deal than anger!

Dad was recently put on new meds... The drugs he was put on

are " Quetiapine " 25mg; 1 tab 3x day for mood stabilization and

hallutionations and 100 mg at bedtime for sleep and hallutionations

(seems to have worked fairly well). Is this the same drug as Sinemet?

Then we were to start Rivastigmine Tartrate 1.5mg; four days later

(what a disaster)? He was suppose to start this one at 1x a day and

then increase after a 7 day period (then increase again 2x's more

after each 7 days)... but after just 3 days on the drug he got more

aggressive, violent and hallucinations were totally " out of control "

(more than before)! I immediately took him off of it. I will call

the VA on Wed. (only day the Doc's & Pharmacist at Loma VA in

S CA are there for info)! Two days ago we started him on Divalproex

NA 250mg EC tab (2x day). This one is supposedly for mood too. He

seems to be responding to this one ok.

I haven't seen these specific drugs mentioned on this site. Just

wondering if anyone knows anything about these drugs and if they are

just generics for brand names mentioned here? We have gone through

the VA and were told they were the newest and greatest drugs for

LBD.

Hugs and Best of Wishes for you all in the New Year,

Debbie

PS. is my Father