My DH is 77 and I am 78,hew was DX 10yrs.ago is well into stage 6.Last weekend like a bolt of lightning he went unbelievable downward. I could not understand his speech,stuttered badly,didn't recognize me or his beloved dog.Was quite rigid when I tried to get him to sit or move about. Was so alarming.He was up and down all night,sequel didn't help. My first thought was a UTI,test was negative. Dr. said she never had anyone get so drastically worse in a days time. She is advising a NH as soon as I can find one. She doesn't think 24 hr. home care would be enough.I am in shock,I was hoping to get thru the summer before anything like this happened.I'm wondering if maybe he could have had a small stroke.His BP usually runs around 150 over 90.It was 102 over 60.Has anyone had their LO change so suddenly?
My first thought was a stroke. Or a seizure. The rigidity makes me think of a seizure, but I'm not a doctor. Was the doctor a neurologist? An MRI can detect a stroke. I'm surprised she didn't order one.
This is just my opinion because it's the way I am, but I would take him to the neurologist to find out what it was and if the damage is permanent.
In any case, whether or not it was a stroke or seizure, unfortunately, you are now faced with the results. Everything with this disease is a shock, even when we are expecting it. Please try and get in home help ASAP while you look for permanent placement. Or if possible, the doctor could admit him to the hosptial, and then get him admitted to a facility sraight from the hospital.
we have seen it many times here, how spouses take a nosedive on day to the next. when the disease involves the brain we know any number of things can cause reactions. TIA's, mini strokes, blood vessel bleeds,seizures , the disease entering another autonomic area of the brain that is out of our control. it happens, and can catch us quite unaware. i am sorry to hear of the decline, i hope you find the placement so you are at peace with the decisionmaking. divvi
yhouniey, it seems like a seizure to me but a MRI would be the only way to tell if it was a stroke. I can tell you from experience thatwhen my husband had his first seizure in August 2011, he declined over a few hours time and never got back to his baseline before the seizure. They never knew what caused it but suspected it was the high dose of seroquel he was on. His walking was unsteady, he needed a walker for a few weeks, he lost his abiity to speak in coherent sentences and could no longer find the words he needed, could no longer get in/out of bed without a lot of help and became more confused. He regained his balance, ability to walk steadily/safely after a pt came to the house but he never regained his ability to talk in sentences and coherently. So although he recovered physically after 6 weeks, he's never recovered his language and thought skills he had before the seizure. It all happened in less than 24 hours. The good news is that he's still at home. It does break my heart that one event created such damage and destruction.
Amazing,my DH is now functioning as he was a year ago.I had made all arrangements at the local NH for him,DD bought clothing he needed and the Dr. did paper work,but the Dr. said that at least now I have a plan so when it's necessary I am ready. I also signed with a home health co. What a difference a few days can make.I am so thankful to have my laughing DH back.