Guest guest Posted July 29, 2012 Report Share Posted July 29, 2012 Nora,  This is just a suggestion. I don't know how old your Mom is or how long she has been suffering from this disease, but it sounds as though she needs to be in the hospital,-(behavioral health) for a while to get her medications right.  I hope she is taking an antidepressant and sometimes a person needs more than one. There are many different medications and if one doesn't work, something else must be tried.  Maybe if you stayed with her for a while in the (hospital) room, it would comfort her enough that she wouldn't feel like she had been committed, because that is not what I'm suggesting.  When my Dad had to be in the hospital for a while, my Mom stayed during the day and I stayed during the night. He never felt like he had been left somewhere because there was always someone he recognized in the room. His doctor told me that was the reason my Dad didn't have any paranoia while he was there.  Praying for you and your family,  ________________________________ To: LBDcaregivers Sent: Saturday, July 28, 2012 8:36 PM Subject: Mom  I am new to this group, however have been reading the post. I understand the frustration and concern I have read in your post. We recently have experienced much with Mom. She has had two suicide attempts in the past week and much paranoid and mean behavior. My baby sister was the main focus of this until yesterday. My poor father is the on-site caregiver and is receiving most of the anger. We have gotten something to calm her down, and it seems to be better today, but I ust received an email from her about my father telling her to apology to me or he was going to committ her. I know he did not do that, but this is her fear. I am not sure how we are going to make it through this, my middle sister and brother have just stopped responding to any request for help. We ust feel so lost. Thank you for letting me vent. Nora Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted July 31, 2012 Report Share Posted July 31, 2012 Yes, Capgras sounds like something to look into. Remember,though, Nora, that depression in all of its forms can come with dementia and sometimes the symptoms of depression can seem to be symptoms of dementia. There are a lot of similarities. I have a sister with severe depression and PTSD. She stays overnight (sometimes a few overnights) in the hospital for a medication adjustment at least once a year. And, in the early depression experiences, her husband had her committed. In some ways, it was a very good thing. The shock of it sort of brought her to her senses and she realized that she had a disease that needed regular treatment. And back in the 1960s, when my gentle grandfather took a swing at her, Grandma (a very no nonsense woman) had him committed and " properly medicated. " (I'm pretty sure his AZ was also LBD, which no one had heard of or defined at that time. So " Proper medication " included Haldol which strongly contributed to making him an observer in his family's life instead of the center of it.) Going into the hospital for a medication adjustment, especially in a psych ward, takes courage. And pushing someone to go in voluntarily or committing them takes a lot of strength and love. No one does it for fun. But sometimes things work out well and extend the time that the patient can have a reasonably normal life at home. Nora, take videos of these incidents, when practical. This will help the doctor understand more of the situation. Most people have a cell phone handy, which has a camera ready. Too often our loved ones do " showtime " for their medical appointments and you end up walking out of the office with only about half the help you really need. A journal of these incidents is also helpful for the doctor. If possible, mail, or email, this documentation to the doctor prior to the appointment so that he/she can review it without your mom present. Sometimes you have to prove what is happening and I'm sure seeing the actual incidents is helpful in treating her. If taking out a camera isn't practical, is someone in your family tech-savvy enough to set up a computer camera in a room where these events take place. I'm sure it could be a little bit hidden so both your parents forget its there. Not only would you be able to then chose sections of the recording for the doctor to see, you will also be able to log onto the camera and actually see how your parents are doing once in a while. Just some ideas. Kate On Mon, Jul 30, 2012 at 9:35 PM, Janet Colello wrote: > ** > > > Hi Nora, > I am here to say that every LBDer is different and being with that person > does not always work, so don't worry that you are in TX and they are in AZ. > My husband recognized me until the day he died, I was with him > everyday, but when he had paranoia there was no changing it, he had > delusions I was a spy once and he hurt me by twisting my arm so badly, I > was bruised all the way up my arm and chest. I don't know how I did it, he > had such a grip on me, but I managed to pull away before I was hurt > anymore. Another time, he tried to hit me over the head with a vase when my > back was turned. While in the hospital to get his medications adjusted, he > thought I was in a conspiracy with all the medical staff to do him in. I > had to put him in a nursing home, I couldn't live looking behind my back > all the time. After he was in the nursing home, he did not harm me anymore. > I felt secure with all the people there too. I was with him for 8 or more > hours everyday that he > was there. He always knew me, unless he had " Capgras. " > When my husband wasn't paranoid or delusional, he was very loving and knew > me and everything was fine. There is a symptom of LBD that some have and it > is called, " Capgras, " and my husband had it. He knew me, but I looked like > an imposter of me at times, and to him I wasn't me, even though I looked > like me and sometimes this triggered his paranoia. This " Capgras " was not a > daily thing, only ocassional. > Vent away Nora, it is something I always did here, and it helps when other > people identify with what you are going through. You are not alone. > I feel sorry for your family and can relate to the problem. You poor dad > is so frustrated he told her he would have her committed in a time of > desperation. Of course, he didn't mean it, but we say things we don't mean > in times of desperation. Can your dad get any respite? I had to create ways > to get away, I would even stay for the weekend in our Community Hilton. I > didn't care, I could be anywhere as soon as I checked in, and I had a > wonderful relaxing weekend and was ready to go again and face LBD head on. > Take care Nora. > Jan Colello, husband, Jim Colello, dx w/LBD Oct. 2003 > Deceased, January 22, 2011 > > ________________________________ > > To: " LBDcaregivers " <LBDcaregivers > > Sent: Sunday, July 29, 2012 1:40 PM > Subject: Re: Mom > > , > > Thank you for the suggestion. I wish being there was so easy, but I live > in TX and they are in AZ. I agree she needs to be in for help. > > Again, thank you! > > Nora Bell > > > To: " LBDcaregivers " <LBDcaregivers > > Sent: Sunday, July 29, 2012 12:59 PM > Subject: Re: Mom > > > Nora, > > This is just a suggestion. I don't know how old your Mom is or how long > she has been suffering from this disease, but it sounds as though she needs > to be in the hospital,-(behavioral health) for a while to get her > medications right. > > I hope she is taking an antidepressant and sometimes a person needs more > than one. There are many different medications and if one doesn't work, > something else must be tried. > > Maybe if you stayed with her for a while in the (hospital) room, it would > comfort her enough that she wouldn't feel like she had been committed, > because that is not what I'm suggesting. > > When my Dad had to be in the hospital for a while, my Mom stayed during > the day and I stayed during the night. He never felt like he had been left > somewhere because there was always someone he recognized in the room. His > doctor told me that was the reason my Dad didn't have any paranoia while he > was there. > > Praying for you and your family, > > > > ________________________________ > From: norabell64 <mailto:norabell64%40yahoo.com> > To: mailto:LBDcaregivers%40yahoogroups.com > Sent: Saturday, July 28, 2012 8:36 PM > Subject: Mom > > > > I am new to this group, however have been reading the post. I understand > the frustration and concern I have read in your post. We recently have > experienced much with Mom. She has had two suicide attempts in the past > week and much paranoid and mean behavior. My baby sister was the main focus > of this until yesterday. My poor father is the on-site caregiver and is > receiving most of the anger. > > We have gotten something to calm her down, and it seems to be better > today, but I ust received an email from her about my father telling her to > apology to me or he was going to committ her. I know he did not do that, > but this is her fear. > > I am not sure how we are going to make it through this, my middle sister > and brother have just stopped responding to any request for help. We ust > feel so lost. > > Thank you for letting me vent. > > Nora > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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