Rain storms affecting my wife. Anyone else notice this?

Hallah, I thought of something else.   Does your wife watch any tv that might include reports on the West Coast wildfires, torrential rainfalls and floods or other disturbing weather reports in various areas?  If so, she may be reacting to the increased volatility of weather due to climate change, and worrying that a rainfall could actually turn into a torrential downpour that might affect yours and her safety.  Just a thought..

Barb, yes, my wife has had numerous surgeries over the years. That does add to the mix. But she doesn’t complain.

My wife is a very strong person. In all our years together I have never seen nor heard her complain about pain. Honest! There have been times I’ve seen tears in her eyes and ask what’s wrong. “Oh, I hurt.”

I thank each of you for your replies. I heeded your advice to having my wife’s doctors check her out.

No uti’s and all medications are ok.

As some have suggested, we are chalking this up to dementia and an increase in not being able to handle weather changes.

barometric pressure changes affect me...they change my blood pressure and make my bones ache. And I don't have dementia...yet...that I know of....
However, dementia patients don't regulated pain or physical changes well and seem to have what appears to be a more dramatic reaction.

Hallah, actually, I think your wife may have a higher sensitivity level to the weather than many people, but I don't necessarily see that as negative. It "just is."   I love summer thunderstorms (except when they knock out the electricity) - to me they're refreshing and dynamic.

You're an intuitive and insightful person, and if you haven't found anything that addresses her fears, that just might not be possible, but OTOH, if she's active, what about doing some mild exercises if she's up to it?

Grandma, sorry I’m just now getting back to you. I had never heard of a weighted blanket. I can tell by what you said my wife would feel the same as you about a weighted blanket. “Too heavy!”

I remember a few very cold winter nights covered up in bed with several of Mom’s handmade quilts. I could not move! So I understand how you felt.

Have you tried a weighted blanket? It is supposed to help dogs, cats and some people, Weighted blankets and vests have been used on people with Autism for years.
I was given a weighted blanket for Christmas one year and once I took it out of the box and covered myself with it, it went back into the box and back to the store. The weight was so much that I could not turn over.
If you want to try one look for a child's weighted blanket, they would have less weight and it would be smaller so it could be used as a lap blanket.
I would discuss this with the doctor (or sometimes better, with a pharmacist) to make sure that these are not side effects of medications and if so can meds be reduced to limit side effects or possibly eliminated.

Send, my wife was diagnosed with schizophrenia several years ago. Over time the dosage of Respiridone was lowered to an acceptable level. Lowering it any more might allow the hallucinations to come back and my wife said “no way”. I agreed!! I know the doctor she has at the Behavioral Health office knows of her dementia. I called him this morning and I’m waiting on his call-back (only way to access him because of COVID) and I’ll mention dementia and maybe prescribing another medication.

Resperdal aka Respiridone.

IMPORTANT WARNING:
Studies have shown that older adults with dementia (a brain disorder that affects the ability to remember, think clearly, communicate, and perform daily activities and that may cause changes in mood and personality) who take antipsychotics (medications for mental illness) such as risperidone have an increased risk of death during treatment. Older adults with dementia may also have a greater chance of having a stroke or ministroke during treatment. Tell your doctor and pharmacist if you are taking furosemide (Lasix).
Risperidone is not approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for the treatment of behavior problems in older adults with dementia. Talk to the doctor who prescribed this medication if you, a family member, or someone you care for has dementia and is taking risperidone. For more information visit the FDA website: http://www.fda.gov/Drugs

Oh wow Hallah!

You have just disclosed the diagnosis that is causing your wife's restlessness.
I am going to tell you, but I want you to be able to receive it and tell her doctor.

Tardive dyskinesia caused by the Resperidol.

This is my opinion, I am not a doctor, but I think the doctor will agree. There may be other factors like you said, the storms. Or maybe instead of a UTI, she has a yeast infection.

The cure for tardive dyskinesia is to discontinue, decrease, or change the medication. It is not going to help to take more Austedo, imo. You may need a second opinion by a geriatric psychiatrist. Or, even start over getting her diagnosed?

I would not be surprised if she is found to be over-medicated.

Prayers now.

The person I notice who suffers dramatically different symptoms is me.

I’ve was diagnosed years ago with fibromyalgia. Both my husband and I know that my pain level, headaches, and temperature regulation can go off kilter especially in drastic changes of weather.

Add hypothyroidism and a Covid infection. Same symptoms, amplified.

AND, UNPREDICTABLE.

So here’s my bottom line, for myself.

It HELPS me to stay a little more comfortable when I have symptoms to be able to identify the cause, and sometimes, I can find a way to address a solution for the discomforts that are bothering me.

It is my personal practice to take the least amount of medication possible, and I use relaxation techniques, cutting back on planned activities, and careful diet management.

If your wife is not experiencing symptoms of discomfort, can what you are referring to as “restlessness” be a desire to stretch, see her surroundings from a different position, even just shift her weight?

You are a devoted spouse and caregiver. You are entitled to a good night’s sleep and your wife needs her sleep as well. But are you sure that her actions overall are causing her distress?

Is it possible that you’re looking for a solution when there isn’t so much of a problem? Do you see her life as being better when she’s “sitting still”?

Hallah,
If this starts in the late afternoon or evening, have you heard about sundowning?

Caregivers have described this over and over.

They have also said, a sudden change in behavior should be checked out by her doctors, starting with a UTI.

If your wife is immobile, or in bed most of the time, she might have a blood clot somewhere. But don't get all scared because I said that, there are a myriad of simple things to explain the restlessness.

So glad that the symptoms subsided once the storm blew through. Write these incidences down, the date, the time, and you may discover a pattern, with each storm, she does this.

Send, let’s not forget nights with full moons too. I’ve worked enough night shifts with others and seen some weird happenings to know there’s something to that.

I made dinner thinking that would help calm her down after she ate. Nope. No pain, no uti. About an hour after the storm moved she calmed down but her mind is still muddled.

So today I’ll blame the nasty storm that blew through.

The weather, the sun, the moon and the stars, impending earthquakes, yes.

We are searching for the latest change or disturbance to explain many poster's feeling scattered, unsettled, restless, irritable, or more pain, etc. this week. So sometimes there is just no explaining it. Spaceweathernews.com

A rain storm or thunder storm can explain it. As well as an UTI.

Feed your wife a snack, medicate any pain, cool off the house, try that. imo.