Helping Those Who Care for Parkinson's Patients
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My father is seriously confused nearly 100% of the time now. His neurologist doesn't seem to know anything about psychiatric drugs and I have been considering going to a geriatric psychiatrist. But I was thinking. As things are now, he's rarely unhappy. He thinks he's at work, or back in the Navy, when he was young and healthy and productive. How would he feel about his life if he were in his right mind? Would he be desperately miserable at being unable to drive, walk more than a few feet, build his beloved model airplanes? Is it better for him to continue in his delusions? He rarely gets night terrors and he's cooperative most of the time. Maybe I should leave things as they are for now. I'd love to get your thoughts. |
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susger8: My father had psychosis with dementia. The psychiatrist told us that he seemed to be in a good place in his mind. Even though, at a very late stage, he seemed to not really know what was going on he seemed mostly happy. He was the President of the U.S. (which I thought would be stressful  ), but didn't seem to be for him. He seemed most happy to invite the Queen of England to visit in his nursing home! When he was in a more rational state of mind he seemed stressed and unhappy. My sister and I finally decided that as long as he was happy we were happy. The nurses felt that he was in fact entertaining himself. Kind of a mental defense in a way. We will never know of course, but he seemed happier the way he was...
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I think I agree with you. I found the whole experience painful to watch and impossible to deal with but my husband seemed happy most of the time. He often regressed to a small child level where he cried for his mother (me) and refused to listen to instructions. It was necessary to watch him ALL of the time because he would do things that were dangerous - much like a 2 yr old. He didn't want to wear clothes but he did want to drive. One morning I found him on the porch naked and angry because he wanted to go to the bank and I had hidden the car keys. There in lies the rub. While he seemed oblivious to his disease he was frustrated and frightened often. His hallucinations presented him with frightful images that were very real to him and the constraints were difficult for a man who had always been on the go. Unless something new has come on the market in the last 18 months I don't think any of the psychotropic drugs helped him - we must have tried them all. If you can manage the problem without them I say go ahead. Thanks you for this new thought. It gives we caregivers food for thought. |
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| I think you have a very good point about dementia serving a purpose. My husband and i were just talking about the very same thing. My mom has not been depressed lately. She has two extra children now who keep her company. According to mom, they are very small and cute. And when I've heard her mumbling and ask her to speak up, she says she's not talking to me. At least in our case, it's not a bad thing to endure. I can see though, that not all cases are the same, like with Annwood. It could make things worse if they are frightened. I often ask my mom, when she says she's been dreaming - which is when I think she recognizes she's been hallucinating - if they are good or bad dreams. So long as they're good, I'm not as concerned. And with mom, since she's immobile, I don't have to worry about her moving around as a result of her dementia. In that sense, we're fortunate. Thanks for your thoughts. |
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| Good advice as usual. However, I just can't resist injecting my (perhaps) morbid sense of humor into this thread. I take two meds in attempt to slow what has been described as mild dimentia---translation example: Yesterday I forgot my day care nurses name. After reading these posts it appears I might have more fun letting the dimentia progress. However, rather than being an American Idol I think I have about ten other genie-like fantasies I would rank higher. Dont ask & I won't tell! Bob C |
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I don't know if dementia serves a purpose, but I do know it can be a relief, as long as it's not accompanied by fear. I have long accepted the fact that I am like a single mother, only my "child" is devolving, instead of evolving. The development is backward: He's gone from a Lieutenant Colonel in the U.S. Air Force with a Master's degree in Civil Engineering to the mental age of approximately 8 years old at the moment, and he will regress further until he is like a newborn infant, with constant need of care. Along the way, there will be the usual markings of childhood: Fantasies, "imaginary friends," ghosts in the closet, etc. It reminds me of a meditation I read once: "Children and the elderly are closest to God." At least I'm fortunate in that Dad, to a degree, is aware of what he is going through and is slowly allowing me to take over. He also has the rigid type of PD and therefore can't wander. I count my blessings. |
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| You are a wise woman, Tara. I very much liked your quote and it sounds to me as if you are accepting of what is happening. It is hard. My husband was about 2 yrs old when he died from PD. This was a brilliant physician who helped so many people and it was hard for me to accept what was happening to him. By the way, I am also an "Air Force Brat". |