What are you experiences with crying and combativeness?

More Mom drama..

Mom has been "crying without tears" quite frequently over the past week. This can continue for hours. You can distract her for a short time, but she will start up again. I have tried to comfort her. I have also tried the tactic she used on me when I was young, "Stop the crying!" Neither works for long. 

I gave her Lorazapam last night, and she was asleep when I left (at 8:30), but my brother said she woke up and cried until 12:30. She used to cry occasionally. Lately, it has been every day, starting in the late afternoon into the evening (and night). There are other times that she just starts mumbling and then whining. First thing in the morning until after lunch, she is fine.

What I have noticed is that Mom will get mad when you want/need her to do something that she doesn't want to do. 

A few weeks ago, she told me I was a "pain in the a**." I don't think she has ever said that in my lifetime! But, I am starting to realize there is more going on here. I found out that she recently hit my brother twice, then punched him because he wanted her to stay in her chair. With me, she has threatened to hit me ("I should slug you!"), or she swings her arms as if she is going to hit me. You can tell she is mad.

I have always wondered about "combativeness" -- did they just start hitting, or was it because they were asked to do something they didn't want to do?  This all seems to be associated with the later stages of cognitive decline.

Right now, I am sitting next to her as she is sleeping. Yesterday, the hospice nurse pointed out that Mom has apnea. So, I am counting how long it is before she takes a breath… What a way to spend the day!