Rough Sunday

[Guest guest]

Mom and Dad spent a very difficult night where Dad completely lost touch with

reality, argued and fought with Mom swearing to notify " the authorities " and

have her removed. Mom finally called me at about 8 am and I spoke to Dad. He

said he did not trust this woman and was relieved when I told him I would be

there within 30 minutes. He knew who I was, had insisted that Mom call me, and

recognized me when I arrived.

Our 21 year old daughter came to stay with my mother, helping her to settle,

rest, eat something and just unload a bit. I took Dad to the hospital on the

prompt advice of his GP to check for any hidden infection such as a UTI or

something that may have triggered this episode. (It began the evening before

around 6 pm after a trip to the bathroom, Dad returned to the family room

hostile, paranoid and verbally abusive (apparently).

He didn't really come back to reality until he tried to explain the nights

events ( " all of the people and arguing with that woman " when he stopped

midstream and realized it had been his wife (of 60 years) all along. Then he

felt terrible and wanted to keep calling her to check on her. 4 hours later,

tests completed with nothing abnormal presenting itself, I took him home. We

will follow up with the GP this week as we wait for our appointment with the

neurologist, which is July 18. Maybe the GP can move forward with an Exelon

patch? Or is there a safe, mild sedative medication that can calm him at night?

There was no doubt, in the hospital, that he has dementia and it was mentioned

several times. Though he won't remember, it is a relief to move toward speaking

of it out loud to him and at least use the truth when he asks, " what the hell is

happening to my mind? "

Anyway…any thoughts or advise, friends? -Ida