Re: Fwd: alcohol and sleep problems/Robin

[Guest guest]

It depends on what and how much medication he is on, and how far along his

disease is, and what the disease is. Each case has to be dealt with on it's

own merits, or demerits. Or, reactions, and as was pointed out, such as a coma.

But, if they are like Jan's situation, she knows what her man is taking and

how bad his situation is. She sees wine in preference to Haldol. I don't

blame her, when Haldol is obviously bad for him. As smart as Jan is, I am sure

she will weigh other medications against wine, also.

Did you know that Alcohol actually stops or curbs Essential Tremor? Another

nerve disorder? Of course wine wears off and a person can become an alcoholic

if they tried to use it in place of medication. It does work wonders for

short term, before a meal, when a person may slop food all over themselves

while

trying to eat. It allows a person to eat in public once in a while. So wine

does have some good qualities, but also some detrimental ones if used

improperly. When in doubt then don't.

Imogene

Caregiver for my True Texas Gentleman husband of 35 years. He has AD and

possibly LBD, is Taking Aricept.

In a message dated 4/28/2006 1:50:59 PM Central Daylight Time,

aswest1021@... writes:

It isn't worth it to her

to get in a big altercation with him if she can avoid it.

April

[Guest guest]

Robin,

Believe me, I'm exactly in line with you on this one! When my FIL

ordered the margarita and my MIL didn't step in, my mouth just fell

to the floor. I didn't feel it was my place as a DIL to step in and

say something. However, I have since made my opinion very well

known to my husband. All he'll say is, " You're probably right " . I

think he knows he would be fighting a losing battle if he made any

attempt to take his father's alcohol from him. My FIL has never

taken well to someone else giving him orders or removing something

from him that he enjoys. I am convinced that the alcohol makes his

symptoms worse. I saw it with my own eyes just the other day. I

think my MIL is to the point where she's reached that " anything

goes " stage just to make her life easier. It isn't worth it to her

to get in a big altercation with him if she can avoid it.

April

In LBDcaregivers , Robin Riddle wrote:

>

> April,

>

> I know you (and apparently your MIL) have no control over your FIL

but I

> would have to say it's ridiculous to let someone with a

neurological

> disease consume a 16oz margarita. I'm sorry but I have to

say " what are

> you (your MIL) thinking?! " And he's been diagnosed with PD how

long

> ago...? Even when my dad was first diagnosed (he weighed 220

lbs), he

> would seem completely drunk on a glass of wine -- slurred speech,

> difficulty standing and walking, and even slower than " normal "

thinking. I

> pointed out to him that his thinking was already unclear and the

alcohol

> was pushing him well beyond the edge. He's hardly had anything to

drink

> since then. If we go out to a family dinner, he'll split a glass

of wine

> with me and usually he's happy if I have most of it. The

neurologist put

> it to us this way: " In general, people should drink in

> moderation. 'Moderation' for someone with a neurological

condition is

> 'very little'. "

>

> As for your question about sleep disturbances, if you go to

lbda.org you

> will see " Sleep REM Disorder " listed as a secondary symptom. Did

you

> mention these sleep issues to the Emory neurologist?

>

> Robin

>

>

> >Message: 13 Digest Number 3005

> > Date: Thu, 27 Apr 2006 13:37:04 -0000

> >

> >Subject: Sinemet and Seroquel

> >

> >I know that some of you have responded to me about my question

> >regarding meds reduction. Some say it was a good thing for your

LO

> >to be taken off of Sinemet and Seroquel. Can you go into more

> >detail? If my FIL is taken completely off the Sinemet, sounds

like

> >his confusion might improve, but what about his freezing,

rigidity,

> >and falling episodes? Will he be able to get around any better

than

> >he is now? Of course, as my MIL pointed out during the drs.

visit,

> >she can't really tell a difference between his on and off times.

> >Would that indicate that the medication isn't doing its thing?

> >Someone also posted about how you should avoid alchohol while on

> >Seroquel. Well, my FIL drinks 7 or more alcoholic drinks per

week.

> >In fact, right after his appointment on Tues., we all went out for

> >lunch and he ordered a 16 oz. margarita! We had one heck of a

time

> >getting him up from his seat after we were finished with lunch.

> >When we were driving home in the car, he nodded off and went to

> >sleep for several minutes. When we got in my house, he layed down

> >in the bedroom and went to sleep. After my MIL woke him up and he

> >started walking towards the garage is when he fell into the

garbage

> >can. Could this be due to the interaction of Seroquel with the

> >alcohol or is it just the way of the disease? As I mentioned

> >before, he falls anywhere from 5-16 times a day.

> >

> >Jan, I know that you mentioned your husband has never done well

with

> >subracting 7 from 100 and continuing backwards. If my FIL was able

> >to do that, is it indicative of anything? What about the fact

that

> >he didn't know the correct year, month, or day? Just curious.

> >

> >Thanks!

> >April

> >

>

>____________________________________________________________________

____

>

>____________________________________________________________________

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> >

> >Message: 14

> > Date: Thu, 27 Apr 2006 13:48:58 -0000

> >

> >Subject: Re: Sinemet and Seroquel

> >

> >I'd say a doctor should tell him to stop drinking alcohol. IMHO.

And

> >then you'll know if it's the alcohol or the medication...

> >

>

>____________________________________________________________________

____

>

>____________________________________________________________________

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> >

> >Message: 16

> > Date: Thu, 27 Apr 2006 15:35:13 -0000

> >

> >Subject: Sleep Disturbances...Here I Go Again!

> >

> >Ever since my FIL's doctor appointment, I have had more and more

> >questions pop in my head, so please, bear with me. I'm sure I've

read

> >about it before, but how common are sleep disturbances with LBD?

My

> >FIL used to be able to take 2-3 hour naps during the day, then

sleep

> >fine at night. Now, since his diagnosis, he's not able to nap

much

> >during the day and he doesn't sleep but about five hours at

night...

> >unless, of course, he takes sleeping meds. My MIL also said that

he

> >mumbles during his sleep and he has tremors in his legs when he

lies

> >down.

> >

> >April

>