can anyone shed light on whats happening?

bag_lady · October 29, 2005, 2:37pm

Hello everyone.

bag_lady · October 29, 2005, 10:17pm

An update....

Lyn_Kyle_Emerick · October 30, 2005, 10:28am

Hi Bag Lady .........My you do have your hands full ........I was wondering when Stella is at home WHO is in charge of her meds if she has any??? The hubby sounds like a real prize and if he is a boozer than he has no ability to look after others ........I am betting that alot of what was wrong with Stella has to do with the infections .....It is a sad reality what happens to our loved ones behind closed doors..........I do not know if you are talking about an EEG .................she should see a neurololigist or has she ........You sound like you are at aloss and rightly so .......when you do talk to someone who will listen to you TELL them to check for viral infections and the whatnot as she could very well have had this infection since she fell the first time and it is so east to mis DX peeps and say they have alzheimer's when they do not instead of checking into other sources ...we all have some memory loss ( I know I do ) I will be anxiuos to hear what they say on Monday to you ....Is there any where she can be that there is someone to look after her that is reliable ?someone that will ease some of this off of you and your niece??? I am thinking about you .........sorry .........God Bless .........Lyn

bag_lady · October 30, 2005, 10:39pm

Hello Lyn, thankyou for your reply.

leenvee · October 31, 2005, 2:38am

Dear Stella,
When you say "water infection", do you mean urinary tract infection? If so, there's a history of them in my family, and after a few myself, I started taking a cranberry capsule every day. You can get them in the vitamin aisle, and they don't cost much, and it really worked for me.
Good luck.
Geeve

SnowyLynne · October 31, 2005, 7:46am

UTI makes us with AD very agitated & downright grumpy.Any type of infection causes problems.What medication is she on???

SnowyLynne

Lyn_Kyle_Emerick · October 31, 2005, 10:59am

Thanks Snowy I was waiting for you ............The infection could cause so many problems and peeps just do not realise what it can actually do ........cranberry juice is good as a preventitive measure but she needs good medical care as well .........EEG will show the activity in the brain or the damage that may be there ........alcholilcs are moody ( my ex) and it must be downright terrifying for Stella to have to live in that environment as well ( I know what I went thru ) and I know you and her daughter are doing your best it is hard I look after my MOm and I find it is hard on me but I know she would flip if I was to put her in a home .........I hope they get this test done and things start to ease up for u and for Stella ............I will be thinking of you ............my prayers ...............God Bless ...........Lyn

bag_lady · November 3, 2005, 11:21am

Snowylynne... Stella takes Aricept (sp) for her dementia. And at the moment she is on the antibiotics for the water infection but I am not sure what they are called. She is doing better,eating and not sleeping so much and so far no more of the weird seizure type symptoms.

SnowyLynne · November 3, 2005, 4:04pm

If she gets really agitated or angry Seroquel can help.I had a bad spot in Feb.& It put a stop to my anger & agitatin.Heathcare workers at the rehab hosp.hubby was in were not nice when they found out I had AD.Lie i'm adelpated or something.It took me by complete surprise as I'd never been treated like that before,threw me into a real tizzy...........I use Seroquel now asa PRN med.With my Dr blessing.

SnowyLynne

AlwaysRosie · November 4, 2005, 1:25am

Snowy,

Is Seroquel taken on a regular basis or can it be used 'as needed'. Dad has been having some real anxious/agitated times lately.

Thanks.

In His Grip,

SnowyLynne · November 4, 2005, 7:43am

Always rosie ususlly it is given every day in most cases,keeps the agitation down.One day I may need it every day too,who knows?

SnowyLynne

Lyn_Kyle_Emerick · November 4, 2005, 1:16pm

Seroquel is a drug that has to get into system as well from my understanding .......hopefuly there is something else dad can use for this Rosie .......thinking bout you ......Give Dad and Mom a big hugg and you too ....God Bless ..Lyn

bag_lady · November 23, 2005, 4:10pm

An update

I went with my sister Stella and my niece marie yesterday for the apointment with the consultant.

The gist of how it went is, Stella is being sent for an MRI scan soon because she hasnt had anything done like that to check on things for years.

It was decided that because Stella is so against the idea of a day centre, that Cath(mental health nurse) will increase her visits to Stella and take her out to do things that Stella enjoys. She has already taken her out for tea and cake and Stella was fine with that. Stella already spends Monday with our other sister and Wednesdays with me so that will be 4 days taken care of. If the day care issue is forced at the moment,it will only distress Stella and make the situation worse.

Stella's husband has started to trust Cath the nurse so that is a big step forward. I think the next thing they are going to suggest is a night sitter for a couple nights a week to start with. This is because we have made them aware that Mick very often drinks at night so he cant be aware if Stella was to wake up or if she was ill in the night.

Because of Micks behaviour and the fact that he cant cope with himself,let alone Stella,they have talked him into having a mental health nurse into the home to try and help him because they can see that he obviously has big issues of his own that they want to try and help him with.

Stella only scored 13 on her last memory test I think, and she is going to be having another one soon. If she gets as low as 12 then they might take her off the Aricept meds because they say the low test results mean that it isnt doing anything for her. I voiced my concern that I have heard that some people become very anxious and even violent when Aricept is stopped. They said,if that were to happen then they would put her back on it even if it was doing nothing for her memory.

They are going to speak with Mick(a meeting in the home because he wont come to the apointments) and try to explain how important it is for Stella to be looked after propery by Mick and explain how he can do that. I have warned them though,that Mick only sees what he wants to and he doesnt even seem to ever be able to see the point of view of others. He is totaly self absorbed. This is due in part to his drinking but in my opinion he has had the same atitude for as long as I have known him and thats about 35 years.

We are sort of stuck between a rock and a hard place, Remove Stella from her home and she will be very very distressed,or she stays where she is with him and his attitude and that also causes anxiety.

She hates it when she can not be with her daughter Marie. She follows her all over the house. Things are taking there toll on marie now as well. She collapsed at uni last week. She is trying to do a university course,work part time and look out for "both" parents.

I asked the Doctor if he thought the strange seizure thing that Stella had could have been due to the effects of her UTI but he said he feels it is more likely due to her condition. I think this is one reason that he has ordered the MRI scan.

Thats it for now,on we plod.

Sue

SnowyLynne · November 23, 2005, 8:32pm

Baglady,a UTI Is called a Urinary track Infection.(or water infection as you call it.).Even a bad cold can cause problems,or pnumonia.You are right about the MMSE at 12 medocations are stopped.Except for agitation & outbursts they need to keep taking those meds.Being dehydrated can also caus UTI so see to it she had plenty to drink at all times,not when he chooses to.How is her appetite?

SnowyLynne

Lyn_Kyle_Emerick · November 23, 2005, 11:28pm

hanks Snowy for your input .....am having probs here with the dang weather ............hard to keep online ..........God Bless ......Lyn

bag_lady · November 27, 2005, 4:44pm

Thanks Snowylynne

Yes it is difficult at times getting Stella to drink enough. She can have a glass of orange squash in her hand and we still have to remind her to drink it. The trouble is that she has started getting a bit annoyed about being reminded all the time. Not much else we can do though because like you said it is very important for her to get enough to drink.

Apetite wise,she will eat like a horse if it is somthing that she likes,but she is getting more and more fussy over foods lately. Did I read somewhere that with dementia the ability to taste is affected?

Sue

Lyn_Kyle_Emerick · November 28, 2005, 11:06am

Sue ........with Mom I just keep getting her small drinks constantly and usually this gets her enough fluids........her appetite is good as well but definitely has changed,she is very open about what she refuses to eat and what she thinks of the food put in front of her ,so I do try and make what I know she will eat ....for instance if I do a turkey or roast beef then I will make up a few dinners (using the TV dinner trays) and freeze them so that I just have to pop it out of freezer and into oven or microwave .........it is a time saver for sure as well I know she will eat it and she loves chocolate so I always keep her "aero" bars on hand .......My Dad is different though as I said he was a chef and wants his food looking presentable (of course ) and fresh lol.........I am not sure if I had told you that he was tested and he has AD as well (he is my step dad) so I am now looking after them both ,but have hubby and daughter to help and here to come to for support and answers .......God Bless ...........Lyn

bag_lady · December 2, 2005, 4:42pm

Lyn... Stella always likes a roast dinner too. She spends Mondays with one of our other sisters and I know she always enjos a roast dinner there. I very often also do her a roast on a Wednesday as well,but not always. She loves roast potatoes. Stella likes chocolate too, but cake is her favourite out of everything I think so we have to keep that well hidden until after dinner lol. We have found that she loves yoghurt,and that is a good, thing especialy as she has had a few rounds of antibiotics lately for her UTI's

SnowyLynne · December 2, 2005, 8:00pm

Yes,Alzheimer's does affect taste of foods.Every day day Is different with mer,I get bored with the same foods.I'm more Into eating veggies than anything but love my Steak & Margaritas,lol.

SnowyLynne

bag_lady · December 2, 2005, 11:01pm

You have just reminded me of somthing I was meaning to ask SnowyLynne. Stella is on Aricept. Is alcohol a no no when taking this? I keep meaning to ask my Brother in Law and my neice about this because they are the ones that give Stella her tablets at night. I know that Stella used to enjoy a glass of cider with a meal and it would be nice to think that she still can without it being a problem.

Thanks

Sue