Guest guest Posted March 31, 2008 Report Share Posted March 31, 2008 - This is good news. Wishing you well for your visit Wednesday. My dad struggled with strong behaviors the last 2 1/2 years of his life. My heart goes out to you and your dad. Heartfelt hugs- Sandie Des Moines, IA dad, Merle, passed from LBD, 9-20-02, age 65 -- " mary " wrote: -My Dad is doing much better they started him on depakote and zyprexa. No more outburst. I am very happy with the geri psych hospital he is at. It is 1 1/2 hours away and we have decided not to visit for awhile because it increases his agitation and wanting to go home. He is now eating for them and more cooperative taking his meds orally. Hard for me to tell without visually seeing him. We will go wednesday to a care conference with team. I worry so that he is scared and thinks we have abandoned him. They are very good about us calling several times a day. They say he hasn't really asked for us, but for my mom who is gone. He has been refering to my older sister as my mother though recently. Believe he was very delusional and paranoid. I am concerned that he will be a zombie from the meds. -- In LBDcaregivers , jane oie wrote: > > , > My heart goes out to you. My husband was diagnosed > with Parkinson's about 6 years ago, though I believe > he has lewy bodies. He has gotten increasingly more > aggressive and we had to call the police on him. His > paranoia is overwhelming...he doesn't trust me at all. > When we called 911, they convinced him that he needed > a psych eval and he agreed. When he got to the > hospital, they informed him that they did not have any > room. He was sent to stay at a friends house. The > hospital told him that he was fine. His specialist > in Milwaukee, also, believes that he's doing fine....I > don't. Our primary care doctor will be running some > tests on him and hopefully we'll be able to come up > with some solutions. I had no idea how difficult this > would be and find it overwhelming. I suspect that > this will only get worse? > Jane > --- mary wrote: > > > I'm wondering if anyone can relate to this > > experience. My Dad went > > to an assisted living alzheimer unit for respite. > > He has done this > > before. Prior to this he had an hospitalization for > > pneumonia and > > rehab. He was only back at my sisters 1 1/2 wks > > before respite. He > > did well the first couple days. He then started > > having agitation > > directed at the staff. A lot of paranoia. We > > visited daily and > > could calm him and have a pleasant visit. The other > > night he got > > combative with them . Long story short police were > > called. He > > settled once we arrived. They wanted to ship him to > > a psych > > hospital, but agreed he could stay with a 24 hour > > sitter. One day > > later they took him to dining room with sitter. He > > got agitated and > > walked up steps threatening to slice sitters throat, > > throwing chairs, > > and a TV. Police called in again (he injured > > officer). When I got > > there he was on a > > stretcher and restained and combative. I rode with > > them to hospital > > 1 1/2 hours away. He was combative the whole way > > escaped from > > restraints, we had to hold him down and he spit and > > threatened us the > > whole way. This is the first my father ever > > responded negatively to > > me. He has been agitated at the facility given > > geodon IM. Seems to > > calm, refusing to eat or drink, throwing objects, > > refusing oral med. > > The squad staff said they never had a 83 old as > > strong and difficult > > as him and I live in a major city. I would like to > > hear from anyone > > with a loved one with extreme agitation and their > > experiences. What > > do I have to look forward to? A month ago he was a > > cooperative man, > > going to adult daycare and would not hurt a fly. I > > know he is > > paranoid, delusional, & hallucinating. Thanks in > > advance. > > > > > > > > > > > > ______________________________________________________________________ ______________ > Be a better friend, newshound, and > know-it-all with Yahoo! Mobile. Try it now. http://mobile.yahoo.com/;_ylt=Ahu06i62sR8HDtDypao8Wcj9tAcJ > ------------------------------------ Welcome to LBDcaregivers. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted March 31, 2008 Report Share Posted March 31, 2008 My Mom has been in a nursing home for two years. We kept her at home for a year before that. Her LBD is getting much worse now and she is getting very aggressive. We have tried so much that is on the " good " drug list and, unfortunately, a lot on the " bad " list. Mom is extremely sensitive to everything. Unlike most LBD patients, the only drug that she COULD take has been Ativan. It helped with her paranoia and made her a lot less scared. Without it, she would hide in her closet like a scared rabbit. It was so sad. Our problem lately has been her aggressiveness. She is 91 and barely weighs a hundred pounds. But she is the strongest little thing you have ever seen. The staff is actually scared of her. She even tries to hit, kick and bite me now. I don't know what to do. We go every day to be sure she gets at least one meal down. The staff will not fight with her long to try to feed her. We sometimes stay for a few hours to get her to eat a meal. We do not want to use a feeding tube to prolong her agony. We hate watching her suffer. She goes into more Lewy Body slumps now and is almost impossible to wake. However, several times a week, she is perfect! She gets perfectly lucid and walks all over the nursing home with her walker. On those days, she even goes to the dining room for meals unassisted! The nursing home has no other patients like her and have never seen such fluctuation in a patient. Please email me if your loved one is similar to Mom. Also, please let me know what medication they are on. I wish there were something she could take that would give her more peace. However, we have experimented so much with drugs and she always ended up totally out of it and injuring herself. Nothing, except Ativan, has helped her at all. I was thinking that maybe the Ativan had started making her aggressive, but she has taken it for 5 years and never been aggressive before. And I would rather see her aggressive than scared to death. Barbara > > > > > I'm wondering if anyone can relate to this > > > experience. My Dad went > > > to an assisted living alzheimer unit for respite. > > > He has done this > > > before. Prior to this he had an hospitalization for > > > pneumonia and > > > rehab. He was only back at my sisters 1 1/2 wks > > > before respite. He > > > did well the first couple days. He then started > > > having agitation > > > directed at the staff. A lot of paranoia. We > > > visited daily and > > > could calm him and have a pleasant visit. The other > > > night he got > > > combative with them . Long story short police were > > > called. He > > > settled once we arrived. They wanted to ship him to > > > a psych > > > hospital, but agreed he could stay with a 24 hour > > > sitter. One day > > > later they took him to dining room with sitter. He > > > got agitated and > > > walked up steps threatening to slice sitters throat, > > > throwing chairs, > > > and a TV. Police called in again (he injured > > > officer). When I got > > > there he was on a > > > stretcher and restained and combative. I rode with > > > them to hospital > > > 1 1/2 hours away. He was combative the whole way > > > escaped from > > > restraints, we had to hold him down and he spit and > > > threatened us the > > > whole way. This is the first my father ever > > > responded negatively to > > > me. He has been agitated at the facility given > > > geodon IM. Seems to > > > calm, refusing to eat or drink, throwing objects, > > > refusing oral med. > > > The squad staff said they never had a 83 old as > > > strong and difficult > > > as him and I live in a major city. I would like to > > > hear from anyone > > > with a loved one with extreme agitation and their > > > experiences. What > > > do I have to look forward to? A month ago he was a > > > cooperative man, > > > going to adult daycare and would not hurt a fly. I > > > know he is > > > paranoid, delusional, & hallucinating. Thanks in > > > advance. > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > ______________________________________________________________________ > ______________ > > Be a better friend, newshound, and > > know-it-all with Yahoo! Mobile. Try it now. > http://mobile.yahoo.com/;_ylt=Ahu06i62sR8HDtDypao8Wcj9tAcJ > > > > > > ------------------------------------ > > Welcome to LBDcaregivers. > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted March 31, 2008 Report Share Posted March 31, 2008 Barbara. Welcome to the board. I'm sorry you had to find us, but also glad you did too. My mother didn't have the aggressiveness - so I can't help you in that regards. But would like to share w/ you Dr. Boeve's document - you may find it useful: Diagnostic Review & Medicine Management by Bradley F. Boeve, MD (October 2004) Physicians guide to diagnosing and treating DLB/LBD. Includes recommended dosages. http://www.lewybodydementia.org/Boevelink.php Also -- has she been tested for either a UTI or Hyponatremia (low sodium in blood) -- these two can bring on dramatic changes... > > > > > > > I'm wondering if anyone can relate to this > > > > experience. My Dad went > > > > to an assisted living alzheimer unit for respite. > > > > He has done this > > > > before. Prior to this he had an hospitalization for > > > > pneumonia and > > > > rehab. He was only back at my sisters 1 1/2 wks > > > > before respite. He > > > > did well the first couple days. He then started > > > > having agitation > > > > directed at the staff. A lot of paranoia. We > > > > visited daily and > > > > could calm him and have a pleasant visit. The other > > > > night he got > > > > combative with them . Long story short police were > > > > called. He > > > > settled once we arrived. They wanted to ship him to > > > > a psych > > > > hospital, but agreed he could stay with a 24 hour > > > > sitter. One day > > > > later they took him to dining room with sitter. He > > > > got agitated and > > > > walked up steps threatening to slice sitters throat, > > > > throwing chairs, > > > > and a TV. Police called in again (he injured > > > > officer). When I got > > > > there he was on a > > > > stretcher and restained and combative. I rode with > > > > them to hospital > > > > 1 1/2 hours away. He was combative the whole way > > > > escaped from > > > > restraints, we had to hold him down and he spit and > > > > threatened us the > > > > whole way. This is the first my father ever > > > > responded negatively to > > > > me. He has been agitated at the facility given > > > > geodon IM. Seems to > > > > calm, refusing to eat or drink, throwing objects, > > > > refusing oral med. > > > > The squad staff said they never had a 83 old as > > > > strong and difficult > > > > as him and I live in a major city. I would like to > > > > hear from anyone > > > > with a loved one with extreme agitation and their > > > > experiences. What > > > > do I have to look forward to? A month ago he was a > > > > cooperative man, > > > > going to adult daycare and would not hurt a fly. I > > > > know he is > > > > paranoid, delusional, & hallucinating. Thanks in > > > > advance. > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > ______________________________________________________________________ > > ______________ > > > Be a better friend, newshound, and > > > know-it-all with Yahoo! Mobile. Try it now. > > http://mobile.yahoo.com/;_ylt=Ahu06i62sR8HDtDypao8Wcj9tAcJ > > > > > > > > > > > ------------------------------------ > > > > Welcome to LBDcaregivers. > > > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted April 1, 2008 Report Share Posted April 1, 2008 Barbara, I had a mother who was very similar. I had her with me 3 years and she spent the last year of her life in a nh. I spent many days feeding her at the nh. She couldn't take any drugs either. I had a real time from the hospital visit getting them to take her off the drugs. She had a mild anti-anxity drug and managed just fine. It was on the " no-no " list too. It was the only med I could give her without her bouncing off walls. She never did the sleep thing and wasn't aggressive unless someone was unreasonable with her. The biggest problem we had was that she didn't sleep well. I was up every other night for 3 years. Hope we can be of some help here. Hugs, 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. Re: - severe agitation My Mom has been in a nursing home for two years. We kept her at home for a year before that. Her LBD is getting much worse now and she is getting very aggressive. We have tried so much that is on the " good " drug list and, unfortunately, a lot on the " bad " list. Mom is extremely sensitive to everything. Unlike most LBD patients, the only drug that she COULD take has been Ativan. It helped with her paranoia and made her a lot less scared. Without it, she would hide in her closet like a scared rabbit. It was so sad. Our problem lately has been her aggressiveness. She is 91 and barely weighs a hundred pounds. But she is the strongest little thing you have ever seen. The staff is actually scared of her. She even tries to hit, kick and bite me now. I don't know what to do. We go every day to be sure she gets at least one meal down. The staff will not fight with her long to try to feed her. We sometimes stay for a few hours to get her to eat a meal. We do not want to use a feeding tube to prolong her agony. We hate watching her suffer. She goes into more Lewy Body slumps now and is almost impossible to wake. However, several times a week, she is perfect! She gets perfectly lucid and walks all over the nursing home with her walker. On those days, she even goes to the dining room for meals unassisted! The nursing home has no other patients like her and have never seen such fluctuation in a patient. Please email me if your loved one is similar to Mom. Also, please let me know what medication they are on. I wish there were something she could take that would give her more peace. However, we have experimented so much with drugs and she always ended up totally out of it and injuring herself. Nothing, except Ativan, has helped her at all. I was thinking that maybe the Ativan had started making her aggressive, but she has taken it for 5 years and never been aggressive before. And I would rather see her aggressive than scared to death. Barbara > > > > > I'm wondering if anyone can relate to this > > > experience. My Dad went > > > to an assisted living alzheimer unit for respite. > > > He has done this > > > before. Prior to this he had an hospitalization for > > > pneumonia and > > > rehab. He was only back at my sisters 1 1/2 wks > > > before respite. He > > > did well the first couple days. He then started > > > having agitation > > > directed at the staff. A lot of paranoia. We > > > visited daily and > > > could calm him and have a pleasant visit. The other > > > night he got > > > combative with them . Long story short police were > > > called. He > > > settled once we arrived. They wanted to ship him to > > > a psych > > > hospital, but agreed he could stay with a 24 hour > > > sitter. One day > > > later they took him to dining room with sitter. He > > > got agitated and > > > walked up steps threatening to slice sitters throat, > > > throwing chairs, > > > and a TV. Police called in again (he injured > > > officer). When I got > > > there he was on a > > > stretcher and restained and combative. I rode with > > > them to hospital > > > 1 1/2 hours away. He was combative the whole way > > > escaped from > > > restraints, we had to hold him down and he spit and > > > threatened us the > > > whole way. This is the first my father ever > > > responded negatively to > > > me. He has been agitated at the facility given > > > geodon IM. Seems to > > > calm, refusing to eat or drink, throwing objects, > > > refusing oral med. > > > The squad staff said they never had a 83 old as > > > strong and difficult > > > as him and I live in a major city. I would like to > > > hear from anyone > > > with a loved one with extreme agitation and their > > > experiences. What > > > do I have to look forward to? A month ago he was a > > > cooperative man, > > > going to adult daycare and would not hurt a fly. I > > > know he is > > > paranoid, delusional, & hallucinating. Thanks in > > > advance. > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > ______________________________________________________________________ > ______________ > > Be a better friend, newshound, and > > know-it-all with Yahoo! Mobile. Try it now. > http://mobile.yahoo.com/;_ylt=Ahu06i62sR8HDtDypao8Wcj9tAcJ > > > > > > ------------------------------------ > > Welcome to LBDcaregivers. > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted April 1, 2008 Report Share Posted April 1, 2008 Barbara, I'm thinking you could try contacting Dr. Boeve or one of the other doctors who are on the LBDA's board directly for some suggestions. " barbarabourgeois " <barbarabourgeois To @gmail.com> LBDcaregivers Sent by: cc LBDcaregivers@yah oogroups.com Subject Re: - severe agitation 03/31/2008 07:46 PM Please respond to LBDcaregivers@yah oogroups.com My Mom has been in a nursing home for two years. We kept her at home for a year before that. Her LBD is getting much worse now and she is getting very aggressive. We have tried so much that is on the " good " drug list and, unfortunately, a lot on the " bad " list. Mom is extremely sensitive to everything. Unlike most LBD patients, the only drug that she COULD take has been Ativan. It helped with her paranoia and made her a lot less scared. Without it, she would hide in her closet like a scared rabbit. It was so sad. Our problem lately has been her aggressiveness. She is 91 and barely weighs a hundred pounds. But she is the strongest little thing you have ever seen. The staff is actually scared of her. She even tries to hit, kick and bite me now. I don't know what to do. We go every day to be sure she gets at least one meal down. The staff will not fight with her long to try to feed her. We sometimes stay for a few hours to get her to eat a meal. We do not want to use a feeding tube to prolong her agony. We hate watching her suffer. She goes into more Lewy Body slumps now and is almost impossible to wake. However, several times a week, she is perfect! She gets perfectly lucid and walks all over the nursing home with her walker. On those days, she even goes to the dining room for meals unassisted! The nursing home has no other patients like her and have never seen such fluctuation in a patient. Please email me if your loved one is similar to Mom. Also, please let me know what medication they are on. I wish there were something she could take that would give her more peace. However, we have experimented so much with drugs and she always ended up totally out of it and injuring herself. Nothing, except Ativan, has helped her at all. I was thinking that maybe the Ativan had started making her aggressive, but she has taken it for 5 years and never been aggressive before. And I would rather see her aggressive than scared to death. Barbara > > > > > I'm wondering if anyone can relate to this > > > experience. My Dad went > > > to an assisted living alzheimer unit for respite. > > > He has done this > > > before. Prior to this he had an hospitalization for > > > pneumonia and > > > rehab. He was only back at my sisters 1 1/2 wks > > > before respite. He > > > did well the first couple days. He then started > > > having agitation > > > directed at the staff. A lot of paranoia. We > > > visited daily and > > > could calm him and have a pleasant visit. The other > > > night he got > > > combative with them . Long story short police were > > > called. He > > > settled once we arrived. They wanted to ship him to > > > a psych > > > hospital, but agreed he could stay with a 24 hour > > > sitter. One day > > > later they took him to dining room with sitter. He > > > got agitated and > > > walked up steps threatening to slice sitters throat, > > > throwing chairs, > > > and a TV. Police called in again (he injured > > > officer). When I got > > > there he was on a > > > stretcher and restained and combative. I rode with > > > them to hospital > > > 1 1/2 hours away. He was combative the whole way > > > escaped from > > > restraints, we had to hold him down and he spit and > > > threatened us the > > > whole way. This is the first my father ever > > > responded negatively to > > > me. He has been agitated at the facility given > > > geodon IM. Seems to > > > calm, refusing to eat or drink, throwing objects, > > > refusing oral med. > > > The squad staff said they never had a 83 old as > > > strong and difficult > > > as him and I live in a major city. I would like to > > > hear from anyone > > > with a loved one with extreme agitation and their > > > experiences. What > > > do I have to look forward to? A month ago he was a > > > cooperative man, > > > going to adult daycare and would not hurt a fly. I > > > know he is > > > paranoid, delusional, & hallucinating. Thanks in > > > advance. > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > __________________________________________________________ > ______________ > > Be a better friend, newshound, and > > know-it-all with Yahoo! Mobile. Try it now. > http://mobile.yahoo.com/;_ylt=Ahu06i62sR8HDtDypao8Wcj9tAcJ > > > > > > ------------------------------------ > > Welcome to LBDcaregivers. > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted April 2, 2008 Report Share Posted April 2, 2008 Dear Barbara, My mom is 80 and has been in one of the senior care facilities owned by the organization I work for. Her fluctuations are frequent - even within one day she can be " fine " in the AM and at mid-day a wreck. She was on several of the benzo meds, including Ativan, early on. Different people respond to differently to the same meds, but yes, Ativan, can boomerang on people, even after a long time on it. People's physical and mental status becomes more frail, and meds need to be reevaluated and perhaps dosages revised. My mom's quality of life has been possible only because of Razadyne (one of the " golden 3 " for cognition) and Seroquel, one of the atypical antipsychotics. She is at a pretty low dose now - just 45 mg down from a high of 275 mg just 3-1/2 years ago. It keeps her more stable, much less aggressive and combative (she's small, too, but can be powerful), and without serious hallucinations. If your mom's aggressiveness has increased significantly over a fairly short time, the MD will want to ensure her physical status hasn't changed - infections, diabetes (even sub-clinical), cardiact issues, etc. There are multiple possible causes for increased aggression beyond LBD. The great majority of docs and facilities " haven't seen " much of LBD - mostly because it's so often misdiagnosed and thus not addressed in a community setting. We family members seem to be the " first wave " of teachers and trainers for MDs and care centers. Please let us know how the next days and weeks go for your mom and you. Both of you are in my prayers. Lin Donna Mido wrote: Barbara, I had a mother who was very similar. I had her with me 3 years and she spent the last year of her life in a nh. I spent many days feeding her at the nh. She couldn't take any drugs either. I had a real time from the hospital visit getting them to take her off the drugs. She had a mild anti-anxity drug and managed just fine. It was on the " no-no " list too. It was the only med I could give her without her bouncing off walls. She never did the sleep thing and wasn't aggressive unless someone was unreasonable with her. The biggest problem we had was that she didn't sleep well. I was up every other night for 3 years. Hope we can be of some help here. Hugs, 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. Re: - severe agitation My Mom has been in a nursing home for two years. We kept her at home for a year before that. Her LBD is getting much worse now and she is getting very aggressive. We have tried so much that is on the " good " drug list and, unfortunately, a lot on the " bad " list. Mom is extremely sensitive to everything. Unlike most LBD patients, the only drug that she COULD take has been Ativan. It helped with her paranoia and made her a lot less scared. Without it, she would hide in her closet like a scared rabbit. It was so sad. Our problem lately has been her aggressiveness. She is 91 and barely weighs a hundred pounds. But she is the strongest little thing you have ever seen. The staff is actually scared of her. She even tries to hit, kick and bite me now. I don't know what to do. We go every day to be sure she gets at least one meal down. The staff will not fight with her long to try to feed her. We sometimes stay for a few hours to get her to eat a meal. We do not want to use a feeding tube to prolong her agony. We hate watching her suffer. She goes into more Lewy Body slumps now and is almost impossible to wake. However, several times a week, she is perfect! She gets perfectly lucid and walks all over the nursing home with her walker. On those days, she even goes to the dining room for meals unassisted! The nursing home has no other patients like her and have never seen such fluctuation in a patient. Please email me if your loved one is similar to Mom. Also, please let me know what medication they are on. I wish there were something she could take that would give her more peace. However, we have experimented so much with drugs and she always ended up totally out of it and injuring herself. Nothing, except Ativan, has helped her at all. I was thinking that maybe the Ativan had started making her aggressive, but she has taken it for 5 years and never been aggressive before. And I would rather see her aggressive than scared to death. Barbara > > > > > I'm wondering if anyone can relate to this > > > experience. My Dad went > > > to an assisted living alzheimer unit for respite. > > > He has done this > > > before. Prior to this he had an hospitalization for > > > pneumonia and > > > rehab. He was only back at my sisters 1 1/2 wks > > > before respite. He > > > did well the first couple days. He then started > > > having agitation > > > directed at the staff. A lot of paranoia. We > > > visited daily and > > > could calm him and have a pleasant visit. The other > > > night he got > > > combative with them . Long story short police were > > > called. He > > > settled once we arrived. They wanted to ship him to > > > a psych > > > hospital, but agreed he could stay with a 24 hour > > > sitter. One day > > > later they took him to dining room with sitter. He > > > got agitated and > > > walked up steps threatening to slice sitters throat, > > > throwing chairs, > > > and a TV. Police called in again (he injured > > > officer). When I got > > > there he was on a > > > stretcher and restained and combative. I rode with > > > them to hospital > > > 1 1/2 hours away. He was combative the whole way > > > escaped from > > > restraints, we had to hold him down and he spit and > > > threatened us the > > > whole way. This is the first my father ever > > > responded negatively to > > > me. He has been agitated at the facility given > > > geodon IM. Seems to > > > calm, refusing to eat or drink, throwing objects, > > > refusing oral med. > > > The squad staff said they never had a 83 old as > > > strong and difficult > > > as him and I live in a major city. I would like to > > > hear from anyone > > > with a loved one with extreme agitation and their > > > experiences. What > > > do I have to look forward to? A month ago he was a > > > cooperative man, > > > going to adult daycare and would not hurt a fly. I > > > know he is > > > paranoid, delusional, & hallucinating. Thanks in > > > advance. > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > ______________________________________________________________________ > ______________ > > Be a better friend, newshound, and > > know-it-all with Yahoo! Mobile. Try it now. > http://mobile.yahoo.com/;_ylt=Ahu06i62sR8HDtDypao8Wcj9tAcJ > > > > > > ------------------------------------ > > Welcome to LBDcaregivers. > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted April 2, 2008 Report Share Posted April 2, 2008 " Her fluctuations are frequent - even within one day she can be " fine " in the AM and at mid-day a wreck " . Donna, thanks for saying that. We really are living that with dad since he has been in the psych ward the past two weeks. Up,down,up,down. He has been worse since his hospitalization though. So now, my mom can beat herself up on a daily basis for having him re-admitted. No part of this illness is humane in any way! > > > > > > > I'm wondering if anyone can relate to this > > > > experience. My Dad went > > > > to an assisted living alzheimer unit for respite. > > > > He has done this > > > > before. Prior to this he had an hospitalization for > > > > pneumonia and > > > > rehab. He was only back at my sisters 1 1/2 wks > > > > before respite. He > > > > did well the first couple days. He then started > > > > having agitation > > > > directed at the staff. A lot of paranoia. We > > > > visited daily and > > > > could calm him and have a pleasant visit. The other > > > > night he got > > > > combative with them . Long story short police were > > > > called. He > > > > settled once we arrived. They wanted to ship him to > > > > a psych > > > > hospital, but agreed he could stay with a 24 hour > > > > sitter. One day > > > > later they took him to dining room with sitter. He > > > > got agitated and > > > > walked up steps threatening to slice sitters throat, > > > > throwing chairs, > > > > and a TV. Police called in again (he injured > > > > officer). When I got > > > > there he was on a > > > > stretcher and restained and combative. I rode with > > > > them to hospital > > > > 1 1/2 hours away. He was combative the whole way > > > > escaped from > > > > restraints, we had to hold him down and he spit and > > > > threatened us the > > > > whole way. This is the first my father ever > > > > responded negatively to > > > > me. He has been agitated at the facility given > > > > geodon IM. Seems to > > > > calm, refusing to eat or drink, throwing objects, > > > > refusing oral med. > > > > The squad staff said they never had a 83 old as > > > > strong and difficult > > > > as him and I live in a major city. I would like to > > > > hear from anyone > > > > with a loved one with extreme agitation and their > > > > experiences. What > > > > do I have to look forward to? A month ago he was a > > > > cooperative man, > > > > going to adult daycare and would not hurt a fly. I > > > > know he is > > > > paranoid, delusional, & hallucinating. Thanks in > > > > advance. > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > ______________________________________________________________________ > > ______________ > > > Be a better friend, newshound, and > > > know-it-all with Yahoo! Mobile. Try it now. > > http://mobile.yahoo.com/;_ylt=Ahu06i62sR8HDtDypao8Wcj9tAcJ > > > > > > > > > > > ------------------------------------ > > > > Welcome to LBDcaregivers. > > > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted April 3, 2008 Report Share Posted April 3, 2008 Dear , I'm sure not glad you had to join us here, but am pleased to be able to assure you that fluctuations are so common. Any change in routine, any anxiety-producing event, even over-stimulating happy occasions can make our loved ones' dementia behavior worse. Your poor dad is just reacting to what is probably a distressing, maybe scary situation. I wouldn't want to be in the psych unit either! Hopefully the doctors are knowledgeable about LBD and are managing his meds properly. Just as understandable is your mom's beating herself up. I did the same when we admitted mom to a psych unit 5 years ago. Her MD at the time was ignorant about LBD and good/bad meds, and basically overdosed her on the bad ones. I knew nothing, either. Getting her meds sorted out was done outside the psych unit, where it was just too terrifying for her. She has a history of mental illness pre-LBD, but it was not a good placement. And of course I didn't know to watch the meds, so she was given all the ones we now know are harmful, which contributed to the psych behavior and fluctuations. Hopefully your dad will be out of there soon and back on familiar ground. Am keeping him - and you and your mom - in my prayers. Lin Imogene Ward wrote: Precious , I hear you, I hear you!!! Love a lot, Imogene > > > > > > > > > I'm wondering if anyone can relate to this > > > > > experience. My Dad went > > > > > to an assisted living alzheimer unit for respite. > > > > > He has done this > > > > > before. Prior to this he had an hospitalization for > > > > > pneumonia and > > > > > rehab. He was only back at my sisters 1 1/2 wks > > > > > before respite. He > > > > > did well the first couple days. He then started > > > > > having agitation > > > > > directed at the staff. A lot of paranoia. We > > > > > visited daily and > > > > > could calm him and have a pleasant visit. The other > > > > > night he got > > > > > combative with them . Long story short police were > > > > > called. He > > > > > settled once we arrived. They wanted to ship him to > > > > > a psych > > > > > hospital, but agreed he could stay with a 24 hour > > > > > sitter. One day > > > > > later they took him to dining room with sitter. He > > > > > got agitated and > > > > > walked up steps threatening to slice sitters throat, > > > > > throwing chairs, > > > > > and a TV. Police called in again (he injured > > > > > officer). When I got > > > > > there he was on a > > > > > stretcher and restained and combative. I rode with > > > > > them to hospital > > > > > 1 1/2 hours away. He was combative the whole way > > > > > escaped from > > > > > restraints, we had to hold him down and he spit and > > > > > threatened us the > > > > > whole way. This is the first my father ever > > > > > responded negatively to > > > > > me. He has been agitated at the facility given > > > > > geodon IM. Seems to > > > > > calm, refusing to eat or drink, throwing objects, > > > > > refusing oral med. > > > > > The squad staff said they never had a 83 old as > > > > > strong and difficult > > > > > as him and I live in a major city. I would like to > > > > > hear from anyone > > > > > with a loved one with extreme agitation and their > > > > > experiences. What > > > > > do I have to look forward to? A month ago he was a > > > > > cooperative man, > > > > > going to adult daycare and would not hurt a fly. I > > > > > know he is > > > > > paranoid, delusional, & hallucinating. Thanks in > > > > > advance. > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > ______________________________________________________________________ > > > ______________ > > > > Be a better friend, newshound, and > > > > know-it-all with Yahoo! Mobile. Try it now. > > > http://mobile.yahoo.com/;_ylt=Ahu06i62sR8HDtDypao8Wcj9tAcJ > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > ------------------------------------ > > > > > > Welcome to LBDcaregivers. > > > > > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted April 6, 2008 Report Share Posted April 6, 2008 Hi Lin. I just found your reply. This board format is hard for me to keep up with. LOL Thanks for the reassurance. Interesting you kind of confirmed what my mom already said. Dad is so sensitive to noise and loud outbursts. There have been several disruptive patients there. It does bother dad to have so much commotion vs. the calm and quiet of his house. I have to keep the faith in his Psych. He goes slow and I really think he understands LBD....well, as much as anyone can. We weren't prepared for such drastic fluctuations in dad. We didn't experience any of this during his last stay. But, then his disease has advanced since then too. > > > > > > > > > > > I'm wondering if anyone can relate to this > > > > > > experience. My Dad went > > > > > > to an assisted living alzheimer unit for respite. > > > > > > He has done this > > > > > > before. Prior to this he had an hospitalization for > > > > > > pneumonia and > > > > > > rehab. He was only back at my sisters 1 1/2 wks > > > > > > before respite. He > > > > > > did well the first couple days. He then started > > > > > > having agitation > > > > > > directed at the staff. A lot of paranoia. We > > > > > > visited daily and > > > > > > could calm him and have a pleasant visit. The other > > > > > > night he got > > > > > > combative with them . Long story short police were > > > > > > called. He > > > > > > settled once we arrived. They wanted to ship him to > > > > > > a psych > > > > > > hospital, but agreed he could stay with a 24 hour > > > > > > sitter. One day > > > > > > later they took him to dining room with sitter. He > > > > > > got agitated and > > > > > > walked up steps threatening to slice sitters throat, > > > > > > throwing chairs, > > > > > > and a TV. Police called in again (he injured > > > > > > officer). When I got > > > > > > there he was on a > > > > > > stretcher and restained and combative. I rode with > > > > > > them to hospital > > > > > > 1 1/2 hours away. He was combative the whole way > > > > > > escaped from > > > > > > restraints, we had to hold him down and he spit and > > > > > > threatened us the > > > > > > whole way. This is the first my father ever > > > > > > responded negatively to > > > > > > me. He has been agitated at the facility given > > > > > > geodon IM. Seems to > > > > > > calm, refusing to eat or drink, throwing objects, > > > > > > refusing oral med. > > > > > > The squad staff said they never had a 83 old as > > > > > > strong and difficult > > > > > > as him and I live in a major city. I would like to > > > > > > hear from anyone > > > > > > with a loved one with extreme agitation and their > > > > > > experiences. What > > > > > > do I have to look forward to? A month ago he was a > > > > > > cooperative man, > > > > > > going to adult daycare and would not hurt a fly. I > > > > > > know he is > > > > > > paranoid, delusional, & hallucinating. Thanks in > > > > > > advance. > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > ______________________________________________________________________ > > > > ______________ > > > > > Be a better friend, newshound, and > > > > > know-it-all with Yahoo! Mobile. Try it now. > > > > http://mobile.yahoo.com/;_ylt=Ahu06i62sR8HDtDypao8Wcj9tAcJ > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > ------------------------------------ > > > > > > > > Welcome to LBDcaregivers. > > > > > > > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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