I don't think my Mother fits into the Dementia or Alzhiemers catagory, but there is definately been a decline in her mental capabilities. She easily gets confused during conversations, forgets what happened at which house they have lived in. She sometimes forgets entire conversations within a few days. She is very jumpy with loud noises and is extremely negative about EVERYTHING. She is constantly looking out her window whenever a car or person goes by, or if she "hears something" She informs us of her use of the bathroom, and if she filled her water, or forgot it somewhere. It is getting increasingly difficult to carry on conversations with her. Does anyone have any ideas of what might be going on with her, or what we can do to help?
Thanks for any input!
Lori
Lori
Lori
Thank you so much for your reply :)
Lori
Good uch!!!
Just got back from: yet another 400 mile trip downstate and back to escort Mom to her Cancer Surgery follow-up. Great! Now they're consulting a Specialist because her Cancer was the aggressive variety, and due to her age (73) they usually don't do Chemotherapy. This revelation terrified her. The appointment is for 8:30 on Wednesday. Not easy days. Then she'll have another appt. with Surgeon...then Radiation, and so on... Feeling like we're in the middle of a nightmare right now, and wishing it would end.
The kicker is that Mom's been reporting: "I can't breathe..." (She was breathing.) Yesterday she told me she has sleeping sickness. Who said, I asked her. "I do." She doesn't eat, either. I took her a sandwich, and she only ate half. That's all she at through noon. Not enough! And she was carrying an ice bag to her office appointment. Refused to go into the office and wait until the Doctor was ready to see her, because "there are no comfortable seats in there..." She moaned and moaned...then kicked her feet rapidly back and forth over and over... She lay down, sat up, lay down, sat up, moaning... She got up and switched chairs, then complained, etc... When her Physician came in and asked how she was doing, she said she was dizzy. He felt her hands, and they were cold. He gave her smelling salts, then Coke (Coca Cola). This partially revived her. Then he gave her bad news. That her Cancer was the aggressive variety. An awful blow! She's one of those "pampered poodles," and the thought of losing her hair to Chemo is devastating to her. She's already in a flurry about it, before she even knows if they'll do Chemo. Wow! She is a whirlwind of pandemonium these days, it seems. And she takes out her wrath on me. I'm the one to blame for all her woes and disappointments. She tells everyone how rotten I... No matter what I do, nothing pleases. Never has.
My sister have a hard time figuring out what is going on with her. Since she's always been a complainer, and always angry and combative, we get confused trying to pin point what's wrong with her, and the Doctors haven't officially diagnosed anything yet. I have: I hate dementia!!! It seems hers must be early stage, because the symptoms come and go. She's always "perfectly fine" while in their office. (Not really.) I stopped by today to tell them she's been dizzy and has a headache that won't quit. They want to send a Social Worker to her home. Why? Why? Why? (She wants to know, and I do, too.) How bout a Neurologist? No one took her blood pressure today, and no one drew blood. She is not getting the help she needs, and I need to do something different. She can't, and we can't go on like this...
Your Mothers mental state sounds very familiar. My Mother is kind of like that. Always frustrated, cursing, sighing, moaning. Nothing is ever "right" for her...either too hot, too cold, too hard too soft, It really doesn't matter, she WILL find something to complain about.
She has problems following a conversation (or tv show) and always seems to think she is being "ganged up on" when we try to explain. I am now living here, just got finished moving in actually, and I see there is so much that need to be done. Like your mother, she is not diagnosed, but we KNOW that it must be dementia.
I wish you the best. Its going to be very hard on you, think of it as a learning experience! My prayers are with you :)
Lori
I am starting to feel better. I signed the lease on Mom's new apartment yesterday. She could move in today, if she were here. So next week, I'll go down, pack her things, bring her up. Got her phone today, and a hospital bed is on it's way. God is so good to us. Thanks for your prayers