I know my topic may sound strange but it's what I have now. Kevan has become the darling of the LTC and is a social butterfly. Everyone loves him and waves at him and stops to say high. They tease with him and he teases back. I sit and watch this man in front of me and wonder where he has been for the last six years!!! The old Kevan is back. Then one of the staff or I will not do something his way or not at all or they will not show concern for a residents needs or what ever is not to his liking and the other Kevan comes out swinging ( nasty tongue swinging ) . I just don't understand what I am seeing. I spoke with his nurse and they said they don't know who is going to show up either, but that he is doing fine and has to live there. He sleeps more sometimes two hours in the morning then two or three in the afternoon. It's now fourteen years where we have been able to track symptoms showing. How can this change happen? What is going on?
I call it Dr. Jeckyll and Mr. Hyde. It's just the emotional side of the brain affected by this disease and they are not in control of their emotions anymore. I get it also when frustrated, bored or anxious. But when happy, he is such a nice person to be around.
Jazzy - it is the nature of frontotemporal dementia with a behavioral deviant. My husband's moods have changed for years as quickly as flipping on a light switch.
He too is lovely, kind, and co-operative in the facility he is in unless there is any kind of change to routine. It can be as simple as a new relief nurse on. We never know what will trigger him. He goes from laughing and dancing during a birthday celebration to assaulting people. They had to send one woman to hospital for an exam and xrays as they were concerned my husband broke some bones.
Such a tragic disease. I have nursed every type of illness we humans endure and have come to believe that Alzheimer's and dementia are the worst of them all. Not only for the individual suffering from it but for spouses too.
Thank you for you comments. Very helpful! I am now very concerned that moving him from this residence to one in Alberta where he doesn't know anyone will cause high levels of stress and upsets. He is comfortable here now and knows everyone (this minute anyway) and they know how to keep him happy and not so volatile. I really need family support for me but maybe moving him will just cause me more stress and upset. I will have to go through the readjustment all over again. He has been here for a year now and I just don't know what to do. I see my cardiologist next week and I guess I need to talk to him before making any decisions. Your right Kathleen, this is the worst disease in the world. My heart just breaks for him. It must be so frustrating.