An infected toe and an infected tooth teamed up to cause problems last week. Both caused pain, obviously, but I think that having to be sedated so that the dentist who came to the ALF facility to extract the infected tooth, a lengthy process for a back molar, is probably what caused the behavior problems that ended up with him being Baker Acted by the psychiatrist, sent to the ER and later transferred to the psych hospital for med evaluation. I'm told that the Baker Act deal will require a judge making decisions and obviously, my presence is vitally necessary if there's a hearing. The tooth extraction was done late Friday and on Sunday afternoon he began to exhibit agressive, hostile behaviors, hitting staff members, other residents and visitors. Even threw a cup of cocoa in a man's face. I had plans to get together with our friend Jeanette, our Rotterdam member on these boards, while on a 10-day visit to Holland that I planned a year ago. By Sunday morning I felt that all the loose ends of recent months had all been tied up, so I started packing! I've been so busy since the first of the year with my own medical procedures that I was really looking forward to this. Suddenly it doesn't seem so important, since I'm so scared about my dear husband. As recently as Friday the head of the unit told me that she never has any trouble with him. "I just love Doc," she told me.
Wow...these things do like to upset the apple cart. As aggressive behavior in the ALF has featured prominently in my week, I feel for you. I do believe that anaesthesia can have very disturbing effects on our LO's impaired brains. It certainly did with my dad (he had Parkinson's) and each time, it took a couple days or so for things to regulate. I hope that is all that is going on, and he'll normalize soon.
Pris--what kind of sedation did the dentist use for the tooth extraction? I'm doing my darndest to keep my husband's teeth clean because I don't want him to require anything like that. Daily visits, using brush picks on him, working on my dental hygiene degree! Dentist who visited him at ALF said he should have a cleaning every 4 mos.
marilyninMD ... he was given a gel-like substance about an hour before the dentist was to arrive. The week before they just gave him Xanax and he refused to see the dentist, so stronger measures were needed. Good news is that the dr. at the psych facility where he was taken has determined that the whole dentist thing plus the infected toe was the trigger to his agitation. He said to go ahead and take my trip!!! There won't be any legal stuff involved, just his recommendation and when all is settled down he'll go back to the ALF. Things sure look better now.
once they cant swallow pills anymore giving medications becomes an issue. i have been giving pills for years dissolved in puddings and applesauce and such. its taken a hard hit on his teeth and gums because these meds are not supposed to be opened. but its this or he doesnt get them. some i have had made into liquid prescriptions but others cant. so when they get to last stages the teeth may have issues just to wear and tear over time. i also am doing my best but think at some point it may be an issue, and have a group of dentists that i can call that do work in home or facilities. so its good to know they do have traveling dentists!
Yes, a dentist came to see Steve at the ALF to do a deep cleaning in January. I was his "assistant" (me, who doesn't like the sight of blood). While I was chattering away to calm Steve, I was telling myself not to freak out, it's just blood. Wow, the things we must do!
P. S. They gave Steve an Ativan before the appointment and he never left the chair. He kept saying OW OW OW the whole time and trying to get his hands on the dentist, but I kept his hands down and was trying every flattering trick in the book to distract him. Telling him what a great patient he is, how gorgeous his teeth are, etc. Although he's on a lot of calming meds, without the Ativan, I doubt he would have tolerated it--I wonder if the gel Pris mentioned was Ativan in another form.
Pris R, back at them!!! Obviously, the sedation affected him and that is what I would say. Most of us are so guarded about sedatives and anesthesia, but sometimes we have no choice. Lloyd had to have one ear cleaned one time and I actually climbed on the table and straddled him to get it done. We do what we gotta do and sometimes they may have to be sedated, but we should maybe warn those involved that it is going to affect an already impaired brain and we have no idea how.
The dr. at the psych facility said it was all entirely due to the dental procedure, the sedative plus the procedure itself. Also his infected toe contributed. He's doing fine right now and if they feel his meds need adjusting they'll do it. Then he'll go back to his ALF. And he said for me to definitely take my vacation, which I'm sure looking forward to. I'll be meeting up with Jeanette B. in Rotterdam when our little ship docks there for a day. I'm all packed and feel comfortable knowing that the loose ends are pretty well tied up. My wonderful step-daughter lives nearby and I don't know what I'd do without her support and help.