To Others Re: - severe agitation

[Guest guest]

Thanks Lin!

" Hopefully the MD is taking time

to talk with you about your dad's situation " .

The doctor has been avoiding us ALOT this time. I think he really

feels like he has done all he can do for dad. We requested a meeting

with him prior to discharge. He owes us that. My mom feels like if

she doesn't get answers to final questions it will nag her forever. I

think at this point there are no answers and the doctor can't do

anything more to reassure us.

Dad sometimes gets very " obsessed " with gadgets, so I am not sure a

white noise machine would calm him at this point. It may do more to

agitate him. Then again, you just never know, do you?

> > > > > >

> > > > > > > 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.

> > > > >

> > > > >

[Guest guest]

Dear ,

This doctor - this entire institution - absolutely owes you time, effort and

substance. A single meeting with him is minimal. Did you get a health clearance

for any other medical problems your dad may have? And what about a meds

assessment by the pharmacologist? The MD should put all that together for you.

I'm outraged by docs who pull what you describe. Your family deserve

attention and information, and your dad deserves proper treatment. There's just

nothing else to say. If this MD believes " there's nothing else to do, " you can

choose not to believe that and pursue other care for you dad. I think I told you

my mom's first MD told me that, too - and then we gained 5 years of calm,

pleasant life after severe agitation, aggression and suffering - with a doc who

knows LBD and took the time to follow-up on every aspect of care.

Yes, we all know LBD isn't curable, but no one has to suffer like this. It is

up to the doctor and the hospital to address your concerns. If the current doc

can't figure it out - tell him you want a consultation with the LBD specialist

on staff - or at any other area site. You do have this right. You are free to go

as high in the hospital you want. No physican's ego is more important than your

dad's care and your family's peace of mind.

I'm assuming from your e-mail address you are in Kansas City. Have you checked

the links maintains for LBD-savvy docs in the area? There are other

resources for finding the proper doc, also - dementia and neuro departments of

med-school based hospitals, the local chapter of the Alzheimer's Association

(which generally keep lists of docs trained in various dementias), ditto the

local chapter of the Parkinson's Association. Also, the National Parkinsons

Foundation has named certain med facilities as " centers of excellence. " Their

docs understand LBD, too, so the NPF website should provide some info, also.

You likely know all this, - I certainly don't mean to be presumptuous

or nosy. As you can tell, ignorant and indifferent doctors top my list of " worst

offenders " in the LBD world.

As you have time, please let us know what's going on with your dad. He and all

your family surely will be in my prayers.

Lin

Where will your dad go after the hospital?

kansascitian83 wrote:

Thanks Lin!

" Hopefully the MD is taking time

to talk with you about your dad's situation " .

The doctor has been avoiding us ALOT this time. I think he really

feels like he has done all he can do for dad. We requested a meeting

with him prior to discharge. He owes us that. My mom feels like if

she doesn't get answers to final questions it will nag her forever. I

think at this point there are no answers and the doctor can't do

anything more to reassure us.

Dad sometimes gets very " obsessed " with gadgets, so I am not sure a

white noise machine would calm him at this point. It may do more to

agitate him. Then again, you just never know, do you?

> > > > > >

> > > > > > > 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.

> > > > >

> > > > >