Catching up post surgeries /Trista

[Guest guest]

HI ,,I can only tell you that when they put my mom on aricpt and

combined it with Namenda it did wonders. I mean her confusion got alot

better, no more hallucinating. It worked for us. This sharp Doctor who

found the LBD dx said the Namenda boosts the Aricept. Good luck. I am

sorry about your mom. I hope that helps.

Best Trista

>

>

>

> You, too, will be one of the strong ones when this is over. We went

through just what you are going through and learned day by day what we

had to do next. It was a good day when we all found the web site to

have others who understood and listened when we were at our wits end.

>

> Keep a stiff upper lip. Have some fun days if you can.

>

> Throw your expectations out the window. That is one of the best

things to do to survive.

>

> Hugs and lots of warm wishes coming your way.

>

> Donna R

>

> Caregave for Mom (after I brought her from WI to MI) for 3 years and

4th year in a nh.

> She was almost 89 when she died in '02. No dx other than mine.

>

>

> Catching up post surgeries

>

> Hello All

> I haven't posted much since the summer but I have tried to keep up

> with everyone's news here. Mom went into the hospital mid August and

> subsequently had two surgeries. First was a very nasty gall bladder

> and the second, less than a week later was an emergency repair of the

> liver bile duct. She was in the hospital for 3 1/2 weeks. Looking

> back the summer is a blur. Lots of hospital time and stress wondering

> if she would suffer major deterioration from all the meds.

> Hallucinating vikings in her hospital room you may remember.

>

> When she was released I brought her home to my house. She was a

> complete non cooperator. We had a long planned vacation coming up and

> could not decide whether to go or not. After about ten days and

> several follow up visits to the Dr at which time he said she was

> coming along very well physically, we decided to get a live in

> caregiver to stay with her at our house and we went to Hawaii.

>

> By the time I got on the plane I was a complete wreck. I was in

> serious pain with my neck and shoulders and my inflamatory condition

> was screaming at me. We left mom with a very capable friend of the

> family who my mom has known for years. Mom actually thought this was

> a great idea. Turned into a nightmare for our friend. Mom was

> terrible to her. Called her every name in the book, swearing like a

> drunken sailor, doing nothing for herself, barely eating, refused to

> bathe, on and on. She kept insisting that she couldn't do any of

> these things because she was in someone else's house. When we got

> home mom started in on me. Completely irrational. We decided it was

> sink or swim time for mom so we took her home.

>

> So far she is managing. But I am doing more monitoring than ever.

> Taking the meds is a big issue. She will say I am taking them right

> now and then the next day I find that she didn't take them. We get

> the groceries but she thinks she is driving herself to the market.

> Actually her car has a dead battery which I have not mentioned to

> her. She tells me " Of course I am driving, how do you think I am

> getting my groceries! "

>

> Last week we went up to her house with food and meds and she blew a

> fuse and called the police on us. They came and were very

> understanding. The next day right after I talked to her on the phone,

> a good day I was thinking, she called my husband and told him I stole

> her table cover and she saw me do it, and swearing like a sailor.

>

> This is the shortened condensed version, there is lots of other nasty

> and crazy stuff going on. I guess the saving grace is that she

> doesn't remember when she gets so upset, I mean upset! Unfortunately

> I remember. Just when I think we are making progress she blows

> sideways, or forgets what I have told her every day for two weeks. I

> guess that is my problem....thinking we are making progress. I have

> to stop doing that. Lately I have tried to tell myself it is never

> going to get better only worse. Then I get scared & depressed. I feel

> like I have to have a better plan but sometimes I feel paralized. I

> have a terrible time dealing with her " wrath " . Many years of

> conditioning there, as she has always been difficult.

>

> Dr visit this week and he asked her to take a driving test at the DMV

> so we could all be sure she was safe behind the wheel. This will be

> the next big issue which I am sure will get very nasty. He also

> mentioned putting her on Namenda. Any pearls of wisdom on that med

> anyone? She currently takes Aricept since June or July.

>

> Thanks for letting me catch up with you all and for venting. I think

> you are all so strong and wonderful. This is the hardest challenge I

> have ever faced and I have had a couple of doozies in my time.

>

> Thanks

> & Mom Ginny 83 yrs

>

>

>

>

>

>