Guest guest Posted December 31, 2003 Report Share Posted December 31, 2003 Hello: I just talked to my mom. Apparently, my dad had a really bad night last night. He didn't recognize her and was rather difficult. Yesterday, I pointedly asked my dad if he felt a bit more confused (he had told my mom the night before that he was feeling confused and he had been so good cognitively up until about a week ago). I wanted to know before we started him on the Sinemet (as it is, we start him today on 1 tablet). He repeatedly told me he was only confused when he was " dozy " and that he was functioning fine and proceeded to give me several situations when he had been in better control of the situation than my mom was. The thing is, that was true before but I have noted a change in him. Yet, because we're working so hard not to upset him, I only mentioned this to his doctor briefly and, when he objected to what I said, I didn't push the issue. Now, I'm afraid to begin the Sinemet for fear of what this will do to him cognitively. I think we'll begin today with one capsule and then monitor its effects. Should he manifest symptoms of dementia, we'll have to stop or re-evaluate if that is the right medication for him. I hate that this illness means we have to sacrifice either our LO's mental or physical capabilities. Haven't they all lost enough without having to consistently lose more to this damn illness???? Another problem is my father refuses to get outside assistance. He doesn't want to go to a nh (and, when he was functioning well, I agreed that he didn't need to be in a Alzeheimer's ward which is where his papers say he should be placed) and he doesn't want any help coming to help him at night. We long to make him happy and not go against his wishes but how much longer can we allow him to have this much control? The last thing I need is a sick mother too especially since I must return to work in 4 weeks.... Sorry for the long rant. Oddly enough, when I got the bad news you were the first people I thought to turn to. You've all become my best friends throughout this ordeal and for that I thank you. Abby Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted December 31, 2003 Report Share Posted December 31, 2003 Perhaps today will be a better day. It seems as though we can not predict from one day to the next, though when the sugar levels go either too high or low the LBD worsens. We had this yesterday. Today it is a bit better. Perhaps you will have a good day as a New Years Day present. Have as good a New Year as each and all of you can. SIMMEL Rapid decline Hello: I just talked to my mom. Apparently, my dad had a really bad night last night. He didn't recognize her and was rather difficult. Yesterday, I pointedly asked my dad if he felt a bit more confused (he had told my mom the night before that he was feeling confused and he had been so good cognitively up until about a week ago). I wanted to know before we started him on the Sinemet (as it is, we start him today on 1 tablet). He repeatedly told me he was only confused when he was " dozy " and that he was functioning fine and proceeded to give me several situations when he had been in better control of the situation than my mom was. The thing is, that was true before but I have noted a change in him. Yet, because we're working so hard not to upset him, I only mentioned this to his doctor briefly and, when he objected to what I said, I didn't push the issue. Now, I'm afraid to begin the Sinemet for fear of what this will do to him cognitively. I think we'll begin today with one capsule and then monitor its effects. Should he manifest symptoms of dementia, we'll have to stop or re-evaluate if that is the right medication for him. I hate that this illness means we have to sacrifice either our LO's mental or physical capabilities. Haven't they all lost enough without having to consistently lose more to this damn illness???? Another problem is my father refuses to get outside assistance. He doesn't want to go to a nh (and, when he was functioning well, I agreed that he didn't need to be in a Alzeheimer's ward which is where his papers say he should be placed) and he doesn't want any help coming to help him at night. We long to make him happy and not go against his wishes but how much longer can we allow him to have this much control? The last thing I need is a sick mother too especially since I must return to work in 4 weeks.... Sorry for the long rant. Oddly enough, when I got the bad news you were the first people I thought to turn to. You've all become my best friends throughout this ordeal and for that I thank you. Abby Welcome to LBDcaregivers. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted December 31, 2003 Report Share Posted December 31, 2003 Hi Abby... I hate to say this, but it probably wont be long before your Dad cant make decisions or do any of the regular daily things we take for granted. You need to start lining up some kind of outside help. I think in your position, I would kind of lie and say " we are just going to try out having someone here for a week or two to give Mom a hand " . You're right, you certainly dont need your Mom to be stressed and get sick. I wish you the best of luck with getting something lined up and getting your Dad to accept it. Hugs, Coyote > Abby, > > I think that you and your mom should go for the outside help. May your > father have an extrended time of clear thinking but if he follows the > average route of LBD he will soon be unable to make decisions at all. I > wish I had listened to my own advice earlier because after only 9 short > months of caring for mom I just about collapsed myself. > > You might want to try your dad on1/2 a tab in the morning and then half a > tab mid afternoon to introduce the medication a little more slowly. Also, > the sinemet should be given on a regular time schedule as I believe its only > " good " for 4-6 hours at most. I pray that this medication works for your > dad and doesn't further impair his cognitive abilities. > > Best of luck to you and yours. > Courage > > Rapid decline > > > >Hello: > > > >I just talked to my mom. Apparently, my dad had a really bad night > >last night. He didn't recognize her and was rather difficult. > > > >Yesterday, I pointedly asked my dad if he felt a bit more confused > >(he had told my mom the night before that he was feeling confused and > >he had been so good cognitively up until about a week ago). I wanted > >to know before we started him on the Sinemet (as it is, we start him > >today on 1 tablet). He repeatedly told me he was only confused when > >he was " dozy " and that he was functioning fine and proceeded to give > >me several situations when he had been in better control of the > >situation than my mom was. The thing is, that was true before but I > >have noted a change in him. Yet, because we're working so hard not > >to upset him, I only mentioned this to his doctor briefly and, when > >he objected to what I said, I didn't push the issue. > > > >Now, I'm afraid to begin the Sinemet for fear of what this will do to > >him cognitively. I think we'll begin today with one capsule and then > >monitor its effects. Should he manifest symptoms of dementia, we'll > >have to stop or re-evaluate if that is the right medication for him. > > > >I hate that this illness means we have to sacrifice either our LO's > >mental or physical capabilities. Haven't they all lost enough > >without having to consistently lose more to this damn illness???? > > > >Another problem is my father refuses to get outside assistance. He > >doesn't want to go to a nh (and, when he was functioning well, I > >agreed that he didn't need to be in a Alzeheimer's ward which is > >where his papers say he should be placed) and he doesn't want any > >help coming to help him at night. We long to make him happy and not > >go against his wishes but how much longer can we allow him to have > >this much control? The last thing I need is a sick mother too > >especially since I must return to work in 4 weeks.... > > > >Sorry for the long rant. Oddly enough, when I got the bad news you > >were the first people I thought to turn to. You've all become my > >best friends throughout this ordeal and for that I thank you. > > > >Abby > > > > > > > > > >Welcome to LBDcaregivers. > > > > > > > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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