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Camille - 17 Jun 2004 19:11 GMT

I just returned from visiting with my Mother who lives in an Alzheimer's
Assisted Living facility. In the past several months, she has slept most of
the day and was sleeping through the night also. All of a sudden, she is
now awake during the day. Nothing else has improved, she still doesn't
recognize me and just sits and stares and twists on a napkin or something,
and says very little. I was wondering if anyone had experienced this and if
it could be a real improvement.

TIA

Camille

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Tumbleweed - 17 Jun 2004 19:21 GMT

> I just returned from visiting with my Mother who lives in an Alzheimer's
> Assisted Living facility. In the past several months, she has slept most of
[quoted text clipped - 7 lines]
>
> Camille

Is she on new drugs? Otherwise, very unlikely, unless your mother has a rare
condition that isnt Az related but mimics it, such as severe B12 deficiency,
because people dont improve from Az.

Thats not to say that changes wont occur, or that momentary flashes of the
original person wont suddenly come through like a clear signal on a radio
that was mostly distorted, but the path is basically downhill all the way
I'm afraid.

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Tumbleweed

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Camille - 17 Jun 2004 20:06 GMT

She has been prescribed and they started applying a pain relief cream for
her knees which are just bone-on-bone now. She recently started using a
wheelchair most all the time.

I'm sure you are right and this will pass.

Thanks,

Camille

> > I just returned from visiting with my Mother who lives in an Alzheimer's
> > Assisted Living facility. In the past several months, she has slept most
[quoted text clipped - 18 lines]
> that was mostly distorted, but the path is basically downhill all the way
> I'm afraid.

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Mare - 18 Jun 2004 03:04 GMT

Hi Camille,
The pain meds might be helping her more than you know. My Mom was
in pain that I seemed to be the only one that noticed. After a
year of trying different things the Dr suggested I asked for a
hospice evaluation because he wouldn't prescribe anything heavy
duty which I felt she needed. Hospice accepted her and
immediately put her on Vicodin and she perked right up. She
started smiling more and not wiggling in her Geri-chair as much.
In fact she perked up so much she started gaining weight and
hospice "graduated" her after the 3 months. She's still on the
Vicodin(I won't let the Dr take her off) and has been on a very
nice plateau since last summer. So I'm guessing she was in much
more pain than even I thought and now she's much happier. There
have been a few studies about how pain in the elderly in very
much UNDER treated but the Dr's are reluctant to treat.

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Mare
mfcoleman@THEOLEmindspring.com
http://www.muggsmulcher.com/kstuff/a.s.a/intro.htm
alt.support.alzheimers' FAQs and Stuff Pages

> She has been prescribed and they started applying a pain relief cream for
> her knees which are just bone-on-bone now. She recently started using a
[quoted text clipped - 34 lines]
> > that was mostly distorted, but the path is basically downhill all the way
> > I'm afraid.

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Camille - 18 Jun 2004 12:39 GMT

Thanks, Mare.

I hadn't considered the pain meds but it sure seems to be happening at the
same time. We decided on full use of the wheelchair because getting up and
down and walking caused her so much pain. I hope this continues.

Camille

> Hi Camille,
> The pain meds might be helping her more than you know. My Mom was
[quoted text clipped - 68 lines]
> all the way
> > > I'm afraid.

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