Re: Psychotic episode and a few other things

[Guest guest]

So sorry you're going through this. It's been some years since I've dealt with

my Dad in this state, but for us, someone else coming in (like me!), a

distraction of some kind, often brought him out of it. Dad was the same with his

partner, he often called her 'Dave' and was sure that the real Jane was out to

get him somehow.

On the valium front, I'd respond to that with NO WAY. Maybe it's not like this

with all LBD sufferers, but any benzone, Dad would have the opposite effect.

Valium made him flip right out.

Unfortunately I have no further advice to offer, except a listening ear. Hang in

there.

>

>

> Today, when I arrived at my parents' house, my father was sitting alone on the

sofa, in his pyjamas and his whole body was shaking. I asked what was wrong and

he said, in a really angry tone " She's a liar! " . I knew straight away he was

referring to Mum because I'd seen this a couple of times previously, though not

for a while.

>

> Dad found it difficult to articulate what it was he was upset about so I found

Mum in the bedroom and asked her. She wasn't quite sure either but said that he

was refusing to get dressed and have breakfast and that he'd called her many

things for the past couple of hours.

>

> I tried for around 30 minutes to find out why Dad was angry. He kept referring

to Mum having slammed the hall door but Mum said she just closed it to keep the

warmth in the main part of the house but she hadn't slammed anything. At one

point, Dad said " She's been listening to them " . He was convinced Mum was working

against him so I reminded him that Mum is there for him every day and that we

are doing everything we can to keep him at home, rather than in a nursing home.

>

> After another hour or so, I could tell he was coming out of his distressed

state - he accepted a glass of water and a blanket and instead of seeming so

angry, he was yawning. This came shortly after I told Dad that I thought the

reason he felt so bad is because of his illness. He asked (still in an angry

tone) " Do you think so? " . I think, in some strange way, that somehow gave him a

reason for the confusion and anger he was feeling.

>

> I felt so helpless because when Dad is in this state, even I can't get him out

of it. Mum was crying and said she didn't know what else to do.

>

> I spoke to Dad's doctor (just his general practitioner) and he said in that

instance, Dad needs to be medicated. I told him Dad had a bad reaction to

Seroquel which is the only thing we had tried.

>

> What do we do in this situation, which I suspect will become a more frequent

occurrence? Should we try him on something that will make him sleepy (eg.

Valium), do we call an ambulance (not preferable since they would want to take

him to hospital which would only make things worse)? Do we just wait it out like

we did today until he calms down and gets through the episode? It was so

heartbreaking - he swung between fits of anger, fits of laughter, looking like

he was going to cry.

>

> If anyone has any experience or advice, I'd love to hear about it.

>

> Thanks.

>

> Tania....

>

> (daughter of Barry, 78 yrs, dx with PD 2010, then LBD in 2011, then PDD in

2012)

>

[Guest guest]

I've been lurking a while since my husband died a few months ago. Your

situation is similar to what my husband was going through for a period of

time. Through trial and error we finally hit a combination of medicines that

worked very well on both temperament and sleep patterns...a trio of meds:

namenda, zoloft and gabapentin. He remained on these drugs until his

death, maintaining a cheery disposition and good sleep pattern through all his

struggle. I know that what works for one person may not work for another,

but this may be worth a try. I wish you and all you others going through the

same sad journey, a calm and peaceful trip. Marcia C.

[Guest guest]

Tania: Be very careful of the meds offered for your father. Check them

against the names on the list from the LBD Caregiver files. If at all

possible, perhaps you can get him to a neurologist or a geriatric doctor for

the best help with the problems you are having. Seroquel helped with my

husband's hallucinations-given to him at night. Distracting him is a good

idea, as others suggested. We all feel for you and understand your dilemma.

I hope your mother gets some respite time away a few times a week. It is

important for the primary caregiver to have some time to herself. Good

luck!!

Leona: Caregiver for husband Ray, age 68, diagnosed 2/04 with Parkinson's

Disease. Changed doctors, diagnosed 6/06 with LBD. Almost continual downhill

slide no matter what drugs we try. 5/2/08 Ray was placed in Sunrise Nursing

Home in Oswego, NY, 1 hour from home. So far, so good! Hardest thing I have

ever done in my life, however. 3/19/09 transferred to Samaritan Keep NH in

Watertown, NY closer to home. He passed peacefully at 5:18 am on April 14,

2009. I am handling it OK.