I don't know to describe the, I guess mini panic attacks, my DH has been getting these last few weeks. He seems to get a feeling that he is doing something "wrong" and it even flowd up to his Day Care to day. He had left the house quite happy this morning, but about half and hour later they rang me to ask if he had been upset when he had left, as he was saying that he felt he had done something "wrong". He always seems to be worried that he might do something "wrong'. I have some medication from the Dr., but can't give him that when he is going out, as it makes him sleepy. I don't understand why he should worry about something which doesn't exist, does anyone out there have a problem with anything like this.The medication I have is Zaxax, does anyone know this medication?
Alzheimer's Disease affects all areas of the brain in different ways, and everyone is affected differently. It sounds like your husband is experiencing agitation. You say that you don't understand why he should worry about something which doesn't exist, but in his mind, it is real and it does exist.
Do you mean Xanax? That is a short term anti-anxiety drug. Many of us spouses take it to calm us down. It does not build up in the system like an anti-depressant. It is basically a tranquilizer. I would strongly suggest you describe your husband's symptoms to the doctor before you give him anything.
sylvia--it sounds like you're still fairly new to this battle field. You will find it much easier to deal with if you can grasp the idea that you don't have to understand why he thinks or acts the way he does---it's the disease. There might be a trigger sometimes, but not always. "Why"really isn't that important. You have to learn to see that he is thinking or acting that way and then do what you must (if anything) about it.
Many thanks for your prompt replies and thanks for them also. My DH is nearly 7 yrs. post dx, but I still have a lot to learn about this dreadful disease, even though I have seen it a nurse. It is different when you have it 24/7 and not an 8 hr. shift, I never thought it would happen to us, my DH was so clever at everything. It is hard to get your head around the way the Alz. thinks - it is Zanax, the medication. and perhaps I do need it sometimes more than him !!!
sylvia as a home health nurse I still didn't recognize my husband's symptoms for what it truly was. After much research I am still frustrated because it seems the medical community still doesn't understand the disease.
carosi said almost exactly what I was going to say. If you take one day at a time in your DH's world it is easier to help him. All the things that use to work will not work anymore. It is like learning about your LO all over again. If you stick with us you will hear a lot of tips and whenever you need help this is the place to ask.
sylvia--yes, yes, yes, what you have described is exactly what happened to my husband at daycare. Thinking he had done something wrong, when he hadn't. He would become quite upset and the staff tried to reassure him that everything was fine. There didn't seem to be any specific triggers that caused the behavior. Long story short, last week I decided to stop having him attend the program, because of overstimulation and the agitation it caused. He is much less stressed at home, and has never had the feeling of having done something wrong here.
I agree with Joan that you should discuss the specific behaviors with his doctor and see what the best medication would be to help calm him.