I'm worried; Update page 3 post 33

[Freedom]

Dad got in his pajamas and went to bed about 7:30, much as always. His blood glucose was slightly high but not like has been. Tomorrow he is going over to my brother's.

I'm sitting here watching the start of Numb3rs on TV, and Dad walks in, all
dressed, and says, "are you ready to take me to your brother's?"

I told him it is 10 at night, I haven't been to bed yet. He says, "do you
really hate your brother THAT much you would tell me that?"

I got up to get a reading with him. I can't figure what is going on, I figure
he must be low. He gets into a pushing match with me, I am NOT going in his room, I am NOT taking a reading he doesn't need one, I will just try to kill
him.

WHAT???!!!!

Well, we get in and I take his reading and that is fine. I keep saying, "look
out the window, it is dark, you need to go back to bed." So he finally says he will put on his pajamas again and go to bed. I come back out here. Next thing he walks past.

"Where you going?"

He replies, "I'm going to take a walk in the park."

"What, NOW?!!" Now I am REALLY alarmed. "Which park?"

" The one in Boston."

Well we have ANOTHER set to and I get him sitting in his recliner. He has some iced tea. He is still all dressed.

Would someone PLEASE tell me what the heck is going ON here???!!!!

I have no idea what is going on, either on the TV show or here in my own home. My heart is pounding a mile a minute, he is sitting here all dressed and
drinking his iced tea. Maybe I better go get dressed?

ARGH!!!
--
Sandie

[kimlovescats]

Sandie, has he had any dementia spells before? Could this be Alzheimer's starting? Did you get to test his BG again? I'd be worried too! I guess you'll just have to keep a close eye on him. Be sure he doesn't sneak out on you after you go to bed!

Edit to add: Can you check his BP? Maybe it is really high?

Hugs,
Kim

[Freedom]

He hasn't had anything even close to this. He mixes up the names of the pets, and of the flowers in the garden this past summer. But I just figured that was old age! This is way too extreme.

It was only a matter of minutes, I didn't really see any point in testing again. Especially since it was such an ordeal. Sigh.

I keep askin ghim if he knows what time it is, he is getting sick of my asking that. Gotta think of something else to ask I guess.

[caseysmom]

I don't think alzheimers would come on that suddenly and intense, my dad's came on gradually.

I had a friend at work on a liver transplant list, his liver was ruined and something would build up in his body that he took meds for. One time at work he was like that because those things had built up, I called an ambulance for him, it was pretty scary. He got a liver transplant eventually and is doing really great.

[dukedogsmom]

That does sound awfully scary. If he isn't better soon, I'd call an ambulance. With him in that state, sounds too dangerous to try and drive him there. I'm thinking it might be dementia but he really does need to see a doctor soon. I'm so sorry you're both going through this.

[kimlovescats]

I don't think alzheimers would come on that suddenly and intense, my dad's came on gradually.

I had a friend at work on a liver transplant list, his liver was ruined and something would build up in his body that he took meds for. One time at work he was like that because those things had built up, I called an ambulance for him, it was pretty scary. He got a liver transplant eventually and is doing really great.

I agree that Alz. wouldn't just show up that quickly but I thought maybe she had seen a few signs beforehand.

Maybe you should check his Blood Pressure? Maybe it is really high?

[caseysmom]

I agree with Val, this probably needs medical attention right away and could be dangerous if he tries to leave. My father got lost a few times and it was really scary, luckily good people found him and called us.

[dukedogsmom]

If it is mini strokes, that's nothing to wait on. I think you need to get him help right away. This is nothing to try to figure out on the internet. Keep us updated.

[Sparklecoon]

He is not really exhibiting the signs of a TIA (Transient eschemic attack) AKA a mini-stroke. But if it's still very much out of the ordinary I'd take him to an ER immediately for a work up. With a TIA you'll see alot of the signs of a stroke with the difference being they only last a couple minutes. Signs of TIA include

Sudden numbness or weakness of the face, arm or leg, especially on one side of the body
Sudden confusion, trouble speaking or understanding
Sudden trouble seeing in one or both eyes
Sudden trouble walking, dizziness, loss of balance or coordination
Sudden, severe headache with no known cause

It sounds alot like sundowners.

Sundowners syndrome, also known as sundowning, is a condition often associated with the early stages of Alzheimer's, although a definitive connection has not been made. Sundowners syndrome can also be considered a mood disorder or even a sleep disorder. Sufferers experience periods of extreme agitation and confusion during the late afternoon or early evening hours, leading to irritability towards caregivers or hospital staff. It was once believed that sundowners syndrome was a result of missed day/night light cues, hence the sudden onset at sundown. Current research points towards more organic causes such as drug interactions or stress associated with lower cognitive function.

Caregivers and nursing home staff members can often anticipate an elderly patient's bout of sundowners syndrome. A period of irrational thoughts and irritable behavior might begin after the last meal of the day and last until bedtime, for example. One theory concerning sundowners syndrome is that the constant daily mental processes for normal living can become overwhelming for the elderly during evening hours. They simply have too much incoming information and their restricted cognitive abilities become overloaded. The result is a period of irritability and negative thoughts.

In the hospital we see it alot. An older adult will start to become confused when the sun goes down. It sounds like a load of garbage but it's a genuine phenomenom. If you don't end up going to the ER tonight I'd make an appt. with his physician to talk over what happened this evening. If it is some sort of alzheimers/dementia there are ways to slow the progression.

Other questions of mentation to ask are if he knows the date, where he's at, the current president.

[Lizzie]

Mini-stroke is my guess, though it is only a guess. I worked with a woman who was about your father's age and she would occasionally get totally confused at work, not knowing the time or date or what she had done. It turned out that she was having tiny strokes. They don't cause any paralysis, mainly real confusion. It's been a long time since I was a nurse, but in your place I would call for a cab to take him to ER.

[Pam]

You must be so frightened!

Mini-stroke is my guess, though it is only a guess.

I would tend to agree. My father had a major stroke and while it was occurring he was talking a lot of nonsense and seeing things that weren't there. I would try and get him to a hospital tonight. If it is a major stroke coming on there are things that can be done early on to prevent permanent damage from occurring. ((((hugs))))

[Karen]

Sandra, how old is your Dad? How recently has he seen a doctor? Has he shown other symptoms of short-term memory loss?

[Freedom]

Sandra, how old is your Dad? How recently has he seen a doctor? Has he shown other symptoms of short-term memory loss?

Dad turned 81 at Thanksgiving. He has some issues which his doc says are just the normal part of aging, nothing dramatic. His last primary doc appt. was in November, his last diabetes doc appt. was 3 weeks back.

[Sparklecoon]

The more I hear the more it sounds like a sundowner related issue. Mention it to the Doc when you go for the visit.

[Freedom]

the one thing about sundowners - our sunset was about 4:45 -- many many hours back! But I will mention it.

Dad is in bed, and doesn't want to discuss it with me anymore. (I keep trying)

Guess that is it. Thans much for all your thoughts. Just having someone to 'talk to' helped.

Men! Parents! Aging! Geesh!