new member

Posted May 11, 2012 · May 11, 2012

Hi everyone,

I joined this group because I supervise the care of my mother, who has LBD.

She began with delusions, hallucinations and paranoia and has progressively

become wheelchair-bound over the past 5 years. We live in Philadelphia, PA.

Originally my mom was taking Aricept and Seoquel as well as the Parkinson

drug Stalevo and was able to live in assisted living. Without telling me her

primary care physician took her off Aricept after her doing well on a mental

status exam and she became delusional again. On March 30 she was put back

on Aricept. While still confused she got up to answer the door (no one was

there) because " the cleaners were there. " She immediately fell and broke

her upper arm bone.

Since that time she has again become paranoid and is having hallucinations,

as usual worse during the night but also during the day. She is living in

the skilled nursing unit in my parent's retirement home.

Our main worry is that she is not eating and has lost 15 pounds over the

past month. She tells us she is not hungry and also that she feels

nauseated, and eats perhaps half a sandwich and half a yogurt over the

course of a day.

I know that Aricept can cause GI issues, and wonder if her reduced diet

during the fall and hospitalization has led to possible sensitivity? She

always tolerated it well with no nausea or vomiting.

Her physician wants to take her off Aricept again, just when it would begin

to start showing results. She responded so well to the drug in the past that

I am reluctant to see her go off it, although I know that she has to eat

more than she is currently doing.

Would anti-nausea drugs be a possible solution until she begins to eat

enough to tolerate the drug, or would she react badly to them?

Advice would be very welcome!

Posted July 13, 2012 · July 13, 2012

kk,

Thank you for joining. One of our greatest challenges is helping

professionals understand the differences between the dementias and

combinations of the dementias (Mom's diagnosis: LBD with parkinsonism and

aspects of AD). When a medical provider, like you, takes the time to do

some research and understand the cases he/she is dealing with, it's a win

for all of us and very appreciated.

If you haven't already, please take a look at www.lbda.org. In addition to

discussion forums, the site has a section dedicated to professional

education, with some quick references to inform quickly and accurately. I

take part in both this and the lbda discussion groups and would never have

gotten this far without them.

Kate

> **

>

> Thank you so much for letting me join your group. I have already

> found an incredible wealth of useful information in your files and

> links. I'm a retired RN doing per diem homecare and companionship for

> the elderly including Hospice and different types of dementia

> including LBD and I have family members who have walked this path. I

> have a very dear client now with LBD and your tips and insight will

> certainly help me to meet her needs in the best way possible. I will

> keep you and yours in my thoughts and prayers. I am looking forward to

> reading, listening and observing what you have to offer.

>

--

Kate Knapp

UMN - OIT

*

" What's past is prologue. " The Tempest, W.S.*

Posted July 13, 2012 · July 13, 2012