Sometimes I think I am just going crazy or imagining it.
This weekend he took two falls, and it was not after getting up too quick and it was not in a hot time of the day. He was helping me put some chairs in the trunk of the car, and he loses his balance and I had to catch him before he fell over. Then, he got out of the car, (I told him do NOT HELP ME, but he got out and walked over to where I was popping up the tent.) Before I had a chanced to react, he was holding on to the tent, and he really fell hard. I ran over and grabbed him and a couple of other market folks came running over.
No more taking him to the market.
He had had a fall like that about 10 days ago, same thing, it seems like he is losing his balance and he falls backwards, unless he is going up the steps.
He has been on the low dose of Seroquel for over a month now, and has seemed alert and not too spaced out. I do not think it is the Seroquel, but don't know for sure. The only other meds he takes are 10 mg. Aricept and a prostrate one....(Tamsulosin)
Maybe it is those mini strokes? He also really moans when he falls asleep, and now EVERY NIGHT he forgets he ate dinner. It seems to be changing week to week!
I did read some threads on falls, I think I will look in to reading up some about stroke.
When I correct him when he asks for dinner the third time, he looks embarrassed and I just go hug him . God it is horrible.
He has been tossing and turning like crazy in his bed, I just went in there and he is soaking with sweat. It is not a hot night. And, he has just had a check up and tests for infection etc. and nothing...
He did not feel hot like a fever, his body is cool and he is covered in sweat. I will call the nurse in the morning. She was just here a few days ago for his check up, and says his health is good. ((???)))
...he was diagnosed with EOAD in Dec. 2010. I believe he was in stage 4 then. Now, it is like moving in to late stage 5, so is less than 2 years he has moved approx, one and a half stages. It seems too fast!
I know the stages are not exact, but I study this all a lot and it seems pretty accurate. There is no answer I will get about any of this, especially from the medical team they just say he is healthy. But I know all the ones here that know so much, and that is why I am hoping for any kind of answer, or reassurance, and of course, comfort.
One of the characterists of Lewy Body Dementia, which perhaps can happen with AD too, is Autonomic System Disorder. The automatic regulation of body systems such as blood pressure and temperature and sweating is no longer working properly. It is good to rule out something treatable, but it could be that.
Seroquel CAN reduce stability, but if the falling is escalating now, maybe it's not that. Jeff did become more inclined to lose his balance just as a result of the AD, and that's been the case for several years.
It is hard to accomplish things when they think they can help, but you know that's really a bad idea.
Coco--check out that Tamsulosin (generic for Flomax). Side effects can be: significant drop in blood pressure; dizziness; lightheadedness; fainting; spinning. All of those can cause falls, and I have several relatives who experienced the BP drop, so it's not rare.
Also, my husband's neuro said that none of the meds used for enlarged prostate are good for men with dementia. In Steve, several were tried and they caused exacerbation of symptoms that looked like delirium, to me. He was taken off them and it was replaced with Prazosin at bedtime. Prazosin is a BP med that has, as a side effect, emptying the bladder. Based on my experience, a regular urologist or internist isn't aware that it should be used in this case, but neuros and geriatricians are. Another good reason to see a specialist in dementia.
I received a great piece of advice from a nurse at my Dad's ALF. She said that when new symptoms present in the elderly or someone with dementia, first look for UTI or another physical cause--when those are ruled out, look at medications. My Dad was suddenly passing out, turned out, it was due to a new med he had been put on--Effexor. It was discontinued, and he stopped falling.
i would also lay suspect to the prostate med coco. the drop in bp causes what you are seeing especially when trying to stand up - my DH did the same thing it was the prostate meds. it can drop the bp significantly and i took my DH into ER and it was 89/45 or so. very low enough to cause falls and dizziness. on top of that he may dehydrate more quickly now in your climate due to metabolism issues going on. yes be sure to let his dr know. i dont know but it could be seroquel but the dr will know more. each person is different and it affects them in various ways.
Coco I have prostate cancer and at one point I was taking Flowmax (Tamsulonsin) I got off the med because I was dizzy ; would lose my balance; particularly after bending over, (Putting chairs in the truck) While on the med I fell several times and had trouble sleeping, night sweats etc.. My Urologist and Oncologist switched me to Avodart which treated the symptoms without the side effects Now 3 years post radiation therapy no longer needed
FLOWMAX (Tamulosing) SIDE EFFECTS:(LISTED IN ORDER OF FREQUENCY) Dizziness, unusual weakness, drowsiness, trouble sleeping, night sweating, blurred vision, runny nose, ............ there are many more but this is what concerns you.
When our MD started my husband on Flomax (which has since been stopped), he advised me to give it to him at bedtime for exactly that reason...the drop in BP and resulting dizziness and unsteadiness.
Thank you so much everyone, !! I just finished reading the side effects of Tamsulosin and wow there are a few other odd symptoms that he definitely has. Marty I am glad you brought up the night sweats he really had that. I have emailed his nurse and have included some of the responses here, without your names.
I really think you have hit the nail on the head. I AM NOT taking him off the seroquel, truly I think that is NOT it and it really helps him and me. He will be pacing 24 hours if I stop that. And like I said, he is not sleepy from it and in fact seems much happier.
Off to send my note to nurse, thanks again everyone.
JudithKB, I can't remember if your guy takes any prostate meds.
Just got off the phone with his nurse, we are going to leave him on the Tamsulosin for another week or two and observe. She was just here the other day and all his vitals were perfect.
It could certainly be some of the side effects. But it is SO good to hear his stream when he pees, nice long pees instead of stop and start and nothing.
Also she is going to look more in to the Aricept, he only takes 5 mg. and somehow it does not seem to be really doing anything. Possible take him off that now that he has the Seroquel for agitation.
I WILL NOT TAKE HIM OFF THE SEROQUEL, THAT HAS BEEN A LIFESAVER!!!
Coco...I know just how you feel about the Seroquel. ....I feel the same way when the neuro put my dh on the Risperidone....since the Seeroquel didn't seem to work for him
The Hospice Nurse was just here and for the first time he did his "regular" walking like he does when we are alone...very slow and kind of shuffles one leg. I was so glad she got to see it...because all the other Visting Nurses, etc. that have been here the past 2 weeks...never got to see it. He would always give it his all and walk like a normal person. This gal immediately picked up her cell phone and said I am ordering you a walker and wheel chair for your dh....he needs it now...but, it might be difficult for you to get him to use it in the beginning...but at least you will have it.
Coco - if you can afford it, you might want to get a blood pressure machine to check it. In fact, the VA will often supply one if seems warranted. You need to check his pressure as soon as possible after he looses balance.
Sometimes you have to go with your gut feeling. When my hb was put on a statin drug, by day 3 he could not remember who he spent the day with or what he had done. The doctor disagreed that the drug could do it but my research said different. I threw them away and refuse to give any drug that I believe he has a negative reaction to.
Coco, Lloyd has had increasing problems with falling. It was much worse when he took sleeping pills so I stopped these and he takes half a tsp of liquid Neurontin before bedtime. I try to avoid anything that sedates him because I don't want to impair him any further than he already is. Depakote, Depakote sprinkles, and Keppra turned him into a zombie. Trazadone made his myoclonus much worse in the mornings and if I couldn't keep him down, he was prone to fall as many as 5-6 times; but only in the mornings. The Neurontin helps with the seizures and the restlessness at night. He only takes 1 Namenda, 1 Marinol, 1 Coumadin, and the Neurontin now. Since he is getting much worse, the falling is happening much more lately.