I would really like some help/advice here as Im sure we are not the only one this happens to.
My mum is 84 has either Vascular dementia or Alzheimers (never had a proper diagnosis or some sobriety test as in What year is it etc etc) and has probably had this for least 7 years. Up until Aug 2009 she could walk with the use of a frame (due to she fractured her leg 8 years ago) and could feed herself, we managed to get a carer in to help her to wash herself. Aug 2009 she couldnt get up out of bed, could not weight bare and she was taken to hospital who advised she had a urine infection which was affecting her brain as in sending signals saying "i cant walk anymore" Anyway the infection was treated and though I was very disapointed with the physios only trying about 3 times to get up her they gave in .. but thats another story.
The long and short was that she would have to be hoisted from bed to chair, wheelchair etc. We also noticed around this time her screaming and shouting and swearing was worsening and she lost the ability to feed herself as in with knife and fork - shes ok with finger food.
Anyway she came out of hospital after the care package had been sorted out which now results in 4 times a day with 2 carers each visit, she has a catheter fitted and is incontinent - Is a case of that old saying "when you come out of hospital - you are worse than when you went in".
To get to the problem of which advice is needed is each morning when the carers come in to get her washed and dressed and hoisted etc mum has major screaming fits, swearing, crying and continous bouts of " I dont like it I dont like it" "Leave me alone Leave me alone" and cries out for her mum. The Carers are patient with her, explain althroughout what they are doing and they say it doesnt bother them regarding the swearing and shouting - she has also lashed out physically at times but that is seldom - but saying that sometimes you can hear laughing and joking going on but this is getting rare. The same kind of thing happens each time they lift her during the day to see if she has been a toilet - you see her getting so worked up feel like she will give herself a heart attack soon - and when its hair wash day .. the screaming is much much worse WW3 comes to mind!
I spoke to her GP who sent round a physcotherapist (sorry if misseplt)who is a specialist in Dementia, he said there is a drug called Lorazepam which calms anxiety and he started her on a small dose (half tablet)- said give it to her in the morning and takes about 30 minutes to work - of which we did and nothing... no change whatsoever - he indicated that its a drug that doesnt need to build up in your system as in a asprin. Whether was coincedence but we felt made her worse and more sleepy throughout day. I phoned the Specialist who said increase to one tablet a day of which we did and no change apart from sleepy. We have decided to take her off the pill since last week and I have to call the specialist again this week as hes been on holiday.
Therefore can anyone offer any guidance help on how to calm my mum down in the mornings, I know its probably due to the fact that due to her short term memory she sees people coming in changing her clothes washing her and probably cant understand why they are doing so - and as said the carers are patient and understanding (well most of them!) but its horrible to hear her screaming and shouting and getting so worked up. She loves old music and we play that sometimes in the morning thinking may help but doesnt, they try and talk to her about daily things but again nothing seems to help and of course 10 minutes after they have left she does not remember them or the screaming and swearing at them so much to say she says "wasnt me, must have been someone else.." Her normal behaviour throughout the day can be up and down.. she still has a laugh and great sense of humour then next minute she is down and moany... probably like all of us - up days and down days.
Sorry this email is long - but would appreciate any help and if anyone knows of lorazepam as in does it work etc or any other calming down drug - i have seen pills on the chemist shelf such as calmeze but I dont know if they would work with someone who has dementia.
Thanks for reading and hope someone may be able to offer advice.
Linda
