Damejulian posted this under a different discussion, and I didn't want it to go unnoticed, so I am posting it here, so we can all give her a proper welcome.
damejulianCommentTime13 hours ago edit delete Brand new to this. I am a wreck, but mostly because my husband is. He's having awful anxiety and obsessive thoughts. Every three hrs. at night it's either, "Why am I so anxious," or "Let me explain why I might go to jail." (This is a man with impeccable history who has seized upon something spurious.) What in the world shall I do? Dr. gives him Seroquel and Xanax. Pretty much like aspirin. My husband is also on about 20 other meds for all kinds of illnesses, from heart disease to diabetes to prostate problems. Help!
Damejulian,
Welcome to my website. Please tell us more about yourself and your husband so we can be or more help. Has he been diagnosed by a neurologist who specializes in memory disorders? How old is he? Is he on any Alzheimer's medications, such as Aricept, Namenda, or Exelon?
You have come to a place of comfort for spouses who are trying to cope with the Alzheimer's/dementia of their husband/wife. The issues we face in dealing with a spouse with this disease are so different from the issues faced by children and grandchildren caregivers. We discuss all of those issues here - loss of intimacy; social contact; conversation; anger; resentment; stress; and pain of living with the stranger that Alzheimer's Disease has put in place of our beloved spouse.
The message boards are only part of this website. Please be sure to log onto the home page - www.thealzheimerspouse.com - and read all of the resources on the left side. I recommend starting with "Newly Diagnosed/New Member" and "Understanding the Dementia Experience". There are 4 sections for EOAD members - two of which focus on the young teens whose parents have EOAD (early onset AD). There is a great new section on informative videos, and another excellent resource - Early Onset Dementia - A Practical Guide.
Do not miss the "previous blog" section. It is there you will find a huge array of topics with which you can relate. There is a new "search" feature on the home page that allows you to look up different topics that may have been explored in a previous blog. Log onto the home page - www.thealzheimerspouse.com - daily for new blogs; news updates; important information.
damejulian, welcome to this wonderful website. It has a lot of valuable information and a wonderful "family" who understands what you've been through, what you're going through and what lies ahead. Join us often.
damejulian, I welcome you to this site but I am sorry you need to be here. My DH was Dx'd 2 years ago and last year and this year he came up with stories that were paranoid. Your DH may be going through the same thing. Does he have a neurologist doctor? Our neuro put DH on Sertraline, the generic form of Zoloft. He was on 50mg and for a while it worked. This month it was raised to 100mg and so far there have been no paranoid episodes. I keep the things DH does and says in the computer and print it out when we have an appointment so the doctor can read it before seeing DH. I hope you can get some help for your husband and yourself. Again I welcome you here.
welcome Damejulian. you are among friends. many of us have been longtime caregivers to AD/dementia spouses others here are just starting their journey. many are in the midst of fighting paranoia and hallucinations. some meds if not well tolerated maybe the cuprit for adding to the problem. i know my DH did much worse in the later stages of AD on some of the meds. maybe you could revisit the medications with his dr and try to tweak or try another type if its not working. many here have had med changes for the better. different variants of dementia tend to work differently with some of the prescribed meds -not all meds work for every patient. check with the dr and let them know your concerns. hope you find good support and help here with us. divvi
Damejulian, welcome to the site! I\m sorry I don't have any more practical advice to add to what others have said, but I hope you will find an answer in the regulation of medicine. This is certainly the right place to look.