Hi everyone. Pat had declined since he was admitted to hospital on Saturday night. Worse each day but today was absolutely horrifying. He is restless delusional, continuously picking at his blanket and speaking utter jibberish. They moved him from cardiac unit back to psych floor tonight. Cardiologist wanted to order a stress test and a holster monitor today and mentioned a pacemaker. I told them absolutely not. Pat is on zyprexa and Ativan. There is no medical reason at this point for his decline. There was no uti. He is rocking, picking and completely paranoid and delusional. I spoke with pcp tonight who was going to call neurologist. I am really scared. Had anyone been through anything like this?
Christine0815, I would question if the Zyprexa is contributing to this. My husband had similar behavior when they put him on Risperdal (also an anti-psychotic drug). I had to demand they stop it and wouldn't give permission for them to give it to him (they wanted me to sign paper that it was ok to give it to him). He showed much improvement after it was stopped. Just a thought. He is only on ativan now and most days is ok. Sorry this is happening to your husband, and you too. Dorie
When Larry was in a nursing home for five days of Hospice respite, they gave him Haldol (an anti-psychotic), because apparently it was still on his med. list, even though he wasn't supposed to have it. It had made him extremely agitated and restless when we had tried it at home. So when he came home from respite, he was talking gibberish, which was not the norm for him. Very upsetting, to say the least. I tend to agree with Dorie that the anti-psychotic may be doing it. But don't forget, his dementia was progressing at home, too. That's why he had to go to the hospital. Or maybe it's a combination …the dementia is progressing, something cardiac is going on, he's in a strange place, and he's on different meds. The anti-psychotic dosage probably needs adjustment. Stay as closely on top of this as you can--you will need to advocate for him with the staff and the doctor…who probably have little idea what his usual behaviors are. You'll have to cue them on whether or not the meds they are trying are working or not.
Hi my dear friend myrtle. Thank you for checking in. What a horrible nightmare this is. He has an assigned security guard to his room and a sitter. He could not settle at all today. He is on so many drugs but still no magic dose. It's been a week. I selected the nursing home. My heart is broken. I am praying God takes him in his sleep. He is trying to escape himself. Again. Thank you for caring myrtle. Hope you are well.
Larry was so agitated that week in the hospital that he had to have a one-on-one sitter the whole time. Then when they sent him to Rehab., they didn't do the one-on-one, and he had a really bad fall--turned blue--they had to put oxygen on him. After that, the nurses kept him with them (in his wheelchair) while they went up and down the halls with their med cart or whatever. They were using Ativan, and then went to Ativan and Seroquel. Controlling these behaviors was a nightmare. He was 89, with plain-vanilla Alzheimers. Very frail…had lost a lot of weight (182 down to the 140s.) I can't imagine how hard it would be with an EOAD or FTD who is younger and stronger. Hang in there, Christine. I'm rooting for you all the way.
My husband also had a bad reaction to Risperdal. It happened while he was hospitalized, and as mentioned above, it caused extreme agitation. It was withdrawn but his agitation was at a level where he still required an in-room sitter. He had FTD and those were very difficult times. Actually, difficult does not come close to describing it.
Also as mentioned above, his go to was Ativan.
Your statement "he is trying to escape himself" caught me. You are in my thoughts and prayers.
Thanks for updating us, Christine. I figured the news was not good. What a world of heartbreak you’ve experienced in just one week. I’m so glad that the others on this site who have dealt with similar issues are here to share their stories and their expertise. I’m thinking of you and wishing you whatever strength you need to get through this nightmare period.