Using tv remote to try and make a call. Using the phone to change channels on the tv. Does not remember how to check blood sugar or use her insilin pump.
May be medication related.
So any recommendations for how to proceed to give us the best chance for a proper diagnosis ?
Many women would love to have a partner as attentive as you are. Bottom line, you realized something was ‘off’ and you are handling it. No advice because you seem to be on top of things. Just wanted to complement you for caring and acting appropriately. Hugs!
Fran has had major back surgery in the past (L2 thru S1 fusion). This is why the pain meds were prescribed. She also has had a triple bypass in 2012 and then stents placed a year later.
Has been a Type 1 diabetic for 50 years and has been on a Medtronic CGM pump system for 12 years, which keeps her diabetes well controlled. Last A1C was 5.2. Better than Mine.
So now it is down to meds and/or onset of dementia or delirium. She was ver angry when I called 911, even though I explained the reasons.
Confusion, very lethargic, etc. No interest in taking care of herself. I can't even get her to get in the car to transport her to the doctor.
This morning still angry and blaming me. The geriatric specialist looks to be the way to go. Fran's neurologst referred us to a Certified Neuropsychologist, however appointment 3rd week of September. Will try to push that to an earlier date or find a geriatric specialist with an earlier time-frame. That is IF I can get her to go.
After researching the options it appears that it is not against the law to not take care of oneself. So frustrating.
S/he should also be able to refer you to the right specialist she might need for any further evaluation. In addition to various situations that might produce some of these behaviors (medications, blood sugar, opioids, etc, even if they have been used for years), being either OVER-hydrated or under-hydrated can produce odd behavior. Many people know about being under-hydrated, but our mom was OVER-hydrating, which leads to "washing out" the electrolytes in her system - reduction in potassium left her very befuddled, really out of it, and this was well before dementia! This situation can lead to more serious medical conditions too, not just being confused. They gave her IV fluids with potassium, etc and she was to stay overnight, but restoring her electrolytes brought back the nasty crab! Even that night she was nasty to me. Plan was for her to stay overnight, go home in the morning, but oh boy was she NASTY to me! I got my SIL to pick her up and take her home as I was stuck at work.
So, a GOOD checkup, including lab work, would be the best place to start. Document the changes you observe and provide those. Hope for the best, but plan for the not so best...
blessings to you both.
If she also drinks alcohol the risk is over 10 times worse because alcoholic beverages...is a legal narcotic and interacts with medications.
Hope your eye surgery went well and got you the results you wanted.
rather than hit "reply" to your last post I will respond this way.
You want to know what treatment options there are...
For dementia there really is no "treatment" that will make her "better"
There are medications that are supposed to slow the decline but the decline will continue.
So bottom line it is up to you to determine :
If you can safely care for her at home by yourself. I will tell you right now you can not do this alone. Hiring caregivers is an option. Do not rely completely on family and or friends. It is not fair to them.
I made the cut off for me Safety. As long as it was safe for my Husband to remain at home...as long as it was safe for me for my Husband to remain at home he would stay. But as soon as I could no longer safely care for him I would have had to make the decision to place him. Luckily he was compliant and he remained at home until the day he died.
I did have help from Hospice the last 3 years of his life. I had the help of the VA as well. I could not have done it without both.
So do not let anyone tell you that you should do this..or you should do that...
Only YOU know what is right for you and for your wife.
As the facilitator of a Support Group I go to says..."Don't should on yourself"
As this disease changes her it will change you and it will change your decisions.
If you have ever "promised" each other that you would never put the other in a "Nursing home" remember that that person you made the promise to no longer exists.
One other thing to consider..a trip to a lawyer that specializes in Elder Law. Get POA for Health and Finances in order. Do what you need to do to protect yourself and make things easier financially.
Might be a bit early but consider End of Life decisions What measures do you want to take. Check out a document called a POLST much more detailed than a DNR.
Take care of yourself.
This is a difficult Journey you both are on.
My wife has been a type 1 diabetic for over 50 years. Her diabetes is well controlled, due to using an insulin pump along with a cgm sensor.
She is 75 , has had major lumbar surgery in the past, and is on opioids to control the pain. She has tolerated her meds for quite while now. We have seen a Neurologist and was diagnosed with metabolic encephalopathy, among other issues.
It is to the point where I think I need to force the issue by having her admitted to the hospital by a doctors order for observation. She is not very mobile and going from doctor to doctor is not an option. You know the drill, labs, scans etc.
Her medical condition is very complicated and would be difficult for her PCP to manage this aspect of her care.
There are too many possible dangerous situations, such as the pills, the insulin pump, fall risk etc. I cannot watch her 24/7. I do control her meds right now.
I have not done the research yet, but if it gets to the point of a dementia diagnosis, what could the treatment options be?
Thanks,
Joe
I am not on insulin, but I do the TV remote/telephone/cell phone/iPad switch up once in a while (all the time) and so does DH. Since we live in a very high pressure environment just at present, we laugh it off.
Before you see her doctor, make a list of any changes, good or bad, that she’s experienced recently, and a separate list of things you’ve observed that you think indicate out of the ordinary in her day to day activities.
Also, jot down how she reacts to these missteps.
Before you go to her doctor together, make a copy of these lists and mail them to the doctor’s office. They can be useful to the doctor if you find any additional quirks showing up in the future.
Medications, change of sleep habits, blood sugar levels, thyroid status, happy AND unhappy stressors- all of these and a whole bunch more stuff can cause this kind of result. I speak from experience.