We went away with my parents to the country to get away for a long weekend. It was great to get away and go bush, and we really enjoyed the experience, so did the kids. But mum, not so much. It was too cold for her, and after a few really bad weeks, she probably shouldn't have gone away, but what do you do? sit in the comfort of your recliner until the alzheimers takes over? or get out and do something with the time you have left? create some photographic evidence that you actually did do some interesting activities with your grand children?
Last time we went to her geriatric specialist. They told her to stop taking Aricept to see if it was going to affect her tremors, as she has an appointment coming up with a neuro psych who specializes in parkinsons. So she went off the Aricept for 3 weeks, and it was a complete disaster. Apparently the tremors reduced a bit to start with (indicating it may be medically induced rather than parkinsons), but then she had 2 big falls, and started having massive panic attacks when left alone (while dad goes to work). Meanwhile, the tremors as still really bad.
So she's been back on the Aricept for a few days, and we'll see how that goes, see if she improves again, and see what the neuro psych has to say about all of that. It's hard to know if her issues are alzheimer's based, or depression / anxiety / mental health based. She seems to have truly given up. She can no longer put a jacket on by herself, she needs the same kind of assistance I give to my three year old daughter. And she can no longer put her shoes on by herself. I'm not sure if she can't or won't. I'm not sure if the pain is that bad, or if she's just given up.
I'm not entirely convinced that alot of her dependency issues are much to do with alzheimers. But believe that a large portion of it is based on anxiety and depression and just giving up because the prognosis is bad. There is this massive battle going on. Mum is in constant pain, enough pain that she won't dress herself, or put her shoes on because the bending and twisting cause too much pain, but she refuses to go to the pain clinic, because she fears becoming addicted and dependant on pain drugs. Same reason she refuses to be hospitalised to sort out her depression medication, because she's worried about being drugged out. But she can't do anything! It's painful for her to stand up at the sink and peel 3 potatoes or do a load of dishes.
My dad gets so angry that every time he takes her to the GP or the hospital about bad panic attacks, all they do is give her valium. But she's not seeing a psychologist. There really are no other ways (that i'm aware of) to deal with panic attacks than psychology / counselling or drug threrapy with anti depressants and valium type drugs. Doesn't matter how many time we talk about going to a psychologist, it never happens. She goes to the dentist, the physio, the chiro, the alzheimers specialist, the neuro psych, the gp, but the psychologist is never on the list. I know that dad probably gets a bit paranoid that he'll be in the firing line, but hell, she needs to sort out some of her demons, and fast. She needs to be able to open up to someone about her fears and concerns.
He ignores the fact that she has been chronically talking / yelling / screaming / punching / kicking etc. in her sleep for over a decade now (every night, multiple times, for long periods of time). He doesn't even begin to think that could be related to mental issues.
Not to mention the next big issue. She has 2 replaced knees, and needs to get them both re-done. And she doesn't want to go under general anaesthetic. She struggles with generals, so wants to try and get both knees replaced, at once with a spinal block... conscious... I've tried to tell dad that "what about panic attacks?" I mean they have to get saws and hammers out, and he thinks she'll be ok if he sits with her.... As if she's not going to have a panic attack or 20. She had a panic attack at the dentist the other day with having her false teeth mould taken, she had to leave, and try again another time it was that bad.
And I've tried to broach the subject of the fact that she'll need to recover in respite, as he won't be able to lift and shower her and toilet her without extra special equipment etc.
And I haven't even broached the subject of the fact that a massive operation like that, she'll probably need to be fully taught how to walk again, with the mental issues she has, that will be quite a task, and along with the alzheimers issues, it will be challenging to say the least, and that she won't recover as easy as the last 2 times she had those surgeries over a decade ago.
And that it could well send her alzheimers into a massive tailspin....
And there is a possibility that she may not learn to walk properly again if the alzheimers and mental issues cause problems. He seems to think (or say anyway) that it'll be ok. I think, that it'll be far from ok.
Arghhhhh.
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