Guest guest Posted July 5, 2010 Report Share Posted July 5, 2010 Sharon, I, for one, am very glad that you post about the episodes that you have. Many people with LBD don't know what it is when they are in the early stages, and certainly not until they actually get scared enough to tell someone or go to be evaluated. Please continue to post what you feel, as well as whatever you can add from the caregiver perspective also. Hugs and prayers, Joan > > > > Subject: Re: theft/personality changes > To: LBDcaregivers > Date: Monday, July 5, 2010, 6:35 AM > > >  > > > > Thanks to those who responded to my questions. With each question answered by those with experience, it may be possible to build a profile of sorts for LBD, especially considering individual variations. A few extractions from responses before continuing, below: > > < And, yes, some moments, or days, that he was " out of it " He may have had a bad experience, or was just plain afrid of loosing his sanity. He did express that to me several times. That was one thing that did scare him. (Imogene) > > > < you are at your best freinds house, you have known her for over 8 years so that is a pretty good lentth of time, she has been very active in your life, you used to bowl together every frdiday nite for 4 years, you go to her house every major holiday as your part of her family, her kids and grandkids call you auntie. etc. you are there adn having a good time, then all of a sudden you dont recongize anyone, you are not sure where you are. you look at your man of > 10 years and know you know him but not sure how/why. you begin to cry, you know you are where you are supoosed to be, but where are you. nothing seems familiar,, nothing seems certain, (Sharon)> > > < He panics if the doors or windows are left unlocked.I tell him > the dogs won't let anyone in without letting us know,but he's scared.I thought I was making him feel insecure somehow.I hate fear.That seems such a cruel thing added on top of everything else.He thinks people are stealing.He hides and moves things til I want to scream,but if it makes him feel safer I cope.He thinks people are going to come do a home invasion.He's afraid of so much so often.Are > there any ways to soften the fear? (Joann) > > > < Mom would say she was confused as to why she did or said a particular thing because she would remember what she said and know that it was wrong. In her last year or so she would say so many times that she wished she were dead. Sometimes I would ask her why, and she would just say 'I don't want to be a burden on you.' She was never a burden on me, but she had to know that something was really wrong for her to have said that time and time again. I think that she was afraid to talk to me about what was going on, and maybe > thought she was going crazy. Sometimes when I think of this disease, I think that it must be like your mind being held hostage until the episode of confusion clears away, and then you remember what happened and feel like you have no control over it. (Joan) > > > These responses confirm that the fluctuations in LBD do create a situation in which our loved ones are very aware of what is happening to them, just not able to understand it. Sharon's description is particularly helpful because it allows us to see things from her viewpoint as a person dealing with the disease...confirming what we suspect. Understsanding what our loved ones feel, but may not be able to articulate, goes a long way to helping them cope with the challenges. > > Joann, my answer to your question about softening the fear may not be helpful, depending on how much can be understood by him. When my mother first began experiencing the hallucinations, we sat and talked about them. I suggested that it was a movie was playing in her mind and gave her permission to ignore what she was seeing and/or hearing. I suggested that she reach out to touch the people and if she could not feel their skin or clothing, that she could ignore them. If they did not wear the required nametag of an employee in her facility, she could ignore them. After that when we would discuss what she was then hearing and/or seeing, I would ask her if it was the movie playing in her head. After a brief few seconds of thought, Mom would always tell me it was the movie. Seroquel was a huge boost in that it eliminated the frightening hallucinations, leaving pleasant ones in their place. (Mom stayed on the Seroquel until her neurologist felt the disease > had progressed to the point where it was no longer needed. After slow withdrawal, no negative effects were noted. That was about 2008 if my memory is correct.) Since then, Mom talks to others unseen by those around her but the talks are not upsetting. Often, she is speaking with her family members who are deceased or my father (also deceased). One day in particular in recent months, Mom was going through the motions of walking (she has not walked since late in 2007). When she stopped the movements, I asked her where she had gone. " For a walk. " I asked who was with her. " Oh, you wouldn't know them. " In spite of her advanced stage, her cognitive levels can be astounding at times. > > The medical community would be wise to solicit specific bits of information from caregivers. We see our loved ones over an extended period of time with changes occurring constantly. They see them for minutes of time periodically. Our knowledge base is far more comprehensive and could help with earlier diagnosis or merely with coping strategies. Just my opinion... > > Thanks, again, to those who responded. > > Best wishes, > Lynn in Florida > > > > > > > > > > > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted July 6, 2010 Report Share Posted July 6, 2010 joan, lynn and ohters i weill do my best to post whe i can and whhenever i tfeel like i can be helpful to others. hugs. sharon I am the daughter of Leonard whom was diagnosed in May 2004 and he died of complicatons *blood pressure started dropping and wouldn't recover* on Sept 25, 2005. He had bad case of Dr Jekyl/Mr Hyde scenarios. He was showing hallucinations and falling issues since prior to 1994. We moved in to take care of him Jan 19, 2003 and still live in his house. And in feb 2009, i have been diagonosed with 99% probability of lbd. Hoping that a cure or treatment will be found before it's too late for me. Subject: Re: theft/personality changes lynn To: LBDcaregivers Date: Monday, July 5, 2010, 5:30 PM  Sharon, I, for one, am very glad that you post about the episodes that you have. Many people with LBD don't know what it is when they are in the early stages, and certainly not until they actually get scared enough to tell someone or go to be evaluated. Please continue to post what you feel, as well as whatever you can add from the caregiver perspective also. Hugs and prayers, Joan > > > > Subject: Re: theft/personality changes > To: LBDcaregivers > Date: Monday, July 5, 2010, 6:35 AM > > >  > > > > Thanks to those who responded to my questions. With each question answered by those with experience, it may be possible to build a profile of sorts for LBD, especially considering individual variations. A few extractions from responses before continuing, below: > > < And, yes, some moments, or days, that he was " out of it " He may have had a bad experience, or was just plain afrid of loosing his sanity. He did express that to me several times. That was one thing that did scare him. (Imogene) > > > < you are at your best freinds house, you have known her for over 8 years so that is a pretty good lentth of time, she has been very active in your life, you used to bowl together every frdiday nite for 4 years, you go to her house every major holiday as your part of her family, her kids and grandkids call you auntie. etc. you are there adn having a good time, then all of a sudden you dont recongize anyone, you are not sure where you are. you look at your man of > 10 years and know you know him but not sure how/why. you begin to cry, you know you are where you are supoosed to be, but where are you. nothing seems familiar,, nothing seems certain, (Sharon)> > > < He panics if the doors or windows are left unlocked.I tell him > the dogs won't let anyone in without letting us know,but he's scared.I thought I was making him feel insecure somehow.I hate fear.That seems such a cruel thing added on top of everything else.He thinks people are stealing.He hides and moves things til I want to scream,but if it makes him feel safer I cope.He thinks people are going to come do a home invasion.He's afraid of so much so often.Are > there any ways to soften the fear? (Joann) > > > < Mom would say she was confused as to why she did or said a particular thing because she would remember what she said and know that it was wrong. In her last year or so she would say so many times that she wished she were dead. Sometimes I would ask her why, and she would just say 'I don't want to be a burden on you.' She was never a burden on me, but she had to know that something was really wrong for her to have said that time and time again. I think that she was afraid to talk to me about what was going on, and maybe > thought she was going crazy. Sometimes when I think of this disease, I think that it must be like your mind being held hostage until the episode of confusion clears away, and then you remember what happened and feel like you have no control over it. (Joan) > > > These responses confirm that the fluctuations in LBD do create a situation in which our loved ones are very aware of what is happening to them, just not able to understand it. Sharon's description is particularly helpful because it allows us to see things from her viewpoint as a person dealing with the disease...confirming what we suspect. Understsanding what our loved ones feel, but may not be able to articulate, goes a long way to helping them cope with the challenges. > > Joann, my answer to your question about softening the fear may not be helpful, depending on how much can be understood by him. When my mother first began experiencing the hallucinations, we sat and talked about them. I suggested that it was a movie was playing in her mind and gave her permission to ignore what she was seeing and/or hearing. I suggested that she reach out to touch the people and if she could not feel their skin or clothing, that she could ignore them. If they did not wear the required nametag of an employee in her facility, she could ignore them. After that when we would discuss what she was then hearing and/or seeing, I would ask her if it was the movie playing in her head. After a brief few seconds of thought, Mom would always tell me it was the movie. Seroquel was a huge boost in that it eliminated the frightening hallucinations, leaving pleasant ones in their place. (Mom stayed on the Seroquel until her neurologist felt the disease > had progressed to the point where it was no longer needed. After slow withdrawal, no negative effects were noted. That was about 2008 if my memory is correct.) Since then, Mom talks to others unseen by those around her but the talks are not upsetting. Often, she is speaking with her family members who are deceased or my father (also deceased). One day in particular in recent months, Mom was going through the motions of walking (she has not walked since late in 2007). When she stopped the movements, I asked her where she had gone. " For a walk. " I asked who was with her. " Oh, you wouldn't know them. " In spite of her advanced stage, her cognitive levels can be astounding at times. > > The medical community would be wise to solicit specific bits of information from caregivers. We see our loved ones over an extended period of time with changes occurring constantly. They see them for minutes of time periodically. Our knowledge base is far more comprehensive and could help with earlier diagnosis or merely with coping strategies. Just my opinion... > > Thanks, again, to those who responded. > > Best wishes, > Lynn in Florida > > > > > > > > > > > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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