DH has fallen twice in the last few weeks. Just standing by the refrigerator getting ice, turned and fell. Fortunately, no damage done - took me forever to get him up because I won't pull at him (he weights 210 - me: 100). But he did get up by holding on to a chair. Did not remember falling.

Friday night he came in for dinner, standing at the bar and his left arm just started jerking-uncontrollably. I pulled up a chair and told him to sit down and he just stared ahead and didn't know what I was saying. Finally did get him to sit, and by that time the jerking had stopped. Then he asked me what he was doing sitting in the chair in the middle of the floor. He was fine after that, ate dinner;took dog for short walk (while I watched) and went to bed at his usual time: 6:30. Slept all night good. However, yesterday and today, he is seemingly more "forgetful" - if that's possible! Repetitive questions are being asked more often.

Does this sound like TIA or small stroke?

It sounds like a trip to the doctor's would be a good idea. Even with all our knowledge and experience, it's better not to second guess. It could even be a blood pressure problem that a medication, or change in medication, could help. Sorry you have this extra worry. Sending love and wishing you both the best.

Vickie...Sounds more like a seizure than a stroke. AD patients often need medication to control seizure activity due to the disruption of the pathways of the brain. You should let your doctor know so an accurate assessment can be made. Once seizure activity is noted it can happen again so you want to make sure that he is on the correct meds.

Judith whether your DH would be treated for TIA depends on many factors. It makes good sense to let your doctor know what you observed.

Proud of both of you that you did not panic and send your beloved DH's to a busy, frightening emergency room. (Saw a lot of that when I was working!) While these events were not true emergencies you should make your doctors aware.

Yes, thank you all for your responses. scs, I was under the impression a seizure left the patient sleepy, lathargic..He was not. He was very alert when the jerking stopped, ate a good dinner, took dog for walk,etc. I will let the Dr. know, but no way was I going to call 911 and have him sent to the ER.

Mine had a number of seizures in the past; this was fairly early on. Only once was it when he was standing, other times it was when he was sitting. Shake, look vacant, slump over, and within 5 minutes was up and fairly alert, although with some residual blanking out. The neuro prescribed neurontin (gabapentin the generic) and that seems to have put an end to them. Ask the doctor about that, but there's really nothing that will show up on tests and if he has them he may freak out - mine did when he had one when i was out of town and my daughter was minding him.

I'm with you, Vickie. I had one of those episodes at a grocery store a couple of years ago. All of a sudden I didn't know where I was. I knew it was a grocery store but It was one I didn't know. Nothing looked familiar and I make my way to the register, wrote a check and found my way out. Finally located my car and prayed that I would make it home safely. Since it was on the week-end I waited until Mon. to see a doctor. They ran all kinds of test and an MRI and never did find anything. The doctor just classified it as a TIA for Medicare.

Mine didn't have any but I agree. Watchful waiting is as good as anything. Just try to sit him down if you see one starting. Might be a good idea to get a gait belt to have on hand if you need to pull him over to a chair. If he's still able to get up from the floor then just hold him and comfort him and wait till it's over.

Bama that must have been Nov 6th 2010 LSU 24 Ala 21

If they are indeed seizures, an EEG might show abnormal brain wave activity -- even if when not having a seizure at the time of the testing. Not sure you'd want to put your DH through it, though.

A good neurologist will probably have you observe for further activity or just perscribe appropriate med. No need to put DH through extensive tests. You are such a good AD spouse Vickie...a role model for all of us.

You're right, Vickie. I googled the terms, too, just now and they don't seem to fit. And yet, I have friends with partial seizures, and they have a very similar symptom profiles as your first two despriptions at the top of this page. Weird. Nonetheless, I hear you about not putting him through the testing at his age. He (and you) have been through so much. You are an inspiration. In fact, I was thinking of you this past weekend when encountering a situation that reminded me of your son.

Thanks, JudithKB. I don't like the side effects of Lamotringine. They include dizziness, nausea, and coordination problems. He has enough problems with all of those!