DH has been home from the hospital for a week and a half. He is very worried that this will happen again. He is having memory issues. We are still adjusting his medications from what the hospital physician set up to what he really needs. It is a daily or weekly process.
We are must closer than before. Today is our 15th wedding anniversary. This time around he didn't spend a lot of recovery in rehab and therefore we are recovering together. This is very special in our marriage. I think we have taken a major step forward and it feels good.
Please continue to pray for all dementia patients, their families and friends and their care givers. They need all the prayers we can make.
Friday, December 4, 2009
Tuesday, November 17, 2009
We just spent another weekend in the hospital
DH collapsed Thursday while in a local auto repair shop. He had a temperature of 103.7 and his blood sugar count was 47. He was rushed to the hospital and put into intensive care. He was very combative and between trying to sit up and get out of bed they had to restrain him. Friday he managed to pull out all of the IV ports so they had to install a pic line.
He doesn't remember much until Sunday morning. They moved him from ICU to a semi-private room late Monday evening.
He wants to come home. He called earlier and said they may send him home today. They still are not sure what caused the whole thing. I think it was like last October when he had a massive infection that went undiagnosed. This lead to his blood sugar doing amazing things and ended up with him in a diabetic coma. I have already talked to our family doctor and suggested that we need to keep an eye open for future infections. Either test him regularly or just put him on a broad spectrum very intense antibiotic.
Yesterday the doctor in ICU told DH that he had almost died. Dear doctor did not give much information about that statement and I am not really happy about that.
The doctor this morning said that he thought DH had a seizure. We will see what the future brings.
One thing I do know is that we are not leaving the hospital until we have total copies of all the doctor and nurse notes as well as the results of all the tests. This will go to our family doctor to be available when (God forbid) we need them in the future.
Please keep praying for all dementia patients and their extended network of friends, family and care givers.
He doesn't remember much until Sunday morning. They moved him from ICU to a semi-private room late Monday evening.
He wants to come home. He called earlier and said they may send him home today. They still are not sure what caused the whole thing. I think it was like last October when he had a massive infection that went undiagnosed. This lead to his blood sugar doing amazing things and ended up with him in a diabetic coma. I have already talked to our family doctor and suggested that we need to keep an eye open for future infections. Either test him regularly or just put him on a broad spectrum very intense antibiotic.
Yesterday the doctor in ICU told DH that he had almost died. Dear doctor did not give much information about that statement and I am not really happy about that.
The doctor this morning said that he thought DH had a seizure. We will see what the future brings.
One thing I do know is that we are not leaving the hospital until we have total copies of all the doctor and nurse notes as well as the results of all the tests. This will go to our family doctor to be available when (God forbid) we need them in the future.
Please keep praying for all dementia patients and their extended network of friends, family and care givers.
Tuesday, November 3, 2009
Doctor Releases DH
We had a visit with the neurologist last Wednesday. He said to stop all Namenda. But he also said not to throw it away for a while to see if it truly is not needed.
DH is grumpy and still himself. I see no signs of dementia at all.
He keeps telling everyone that he never had dementia. He is correct as far as that goes. He had all the symptoms and failed all the dementia tests that were given to him. He was literally a basket case a year ago. He still doesn't remember things that happened while he was so ill. It is hard to believe that a Staph infection can cause so much damage and give such strange symptoms. We are lucky he is still alive.
I may not have any updates for some time on this blog.
Please keep praying for all patients who are diagnosed with dementia, for their families and caregivers. They need these prayers from moment to moment.
DH is grumpy and still himself. I see no signs of dementia at all.
He keeps telling everyone that he never had dementia. He is correct as far as that goes. He had all the symptoms and failed all the dementia tests that were given to him. He was literally a basket case a year ago. He still doesn't remember things that happened while he was so ill. It is hard to believe that a Staph infection can cause so much damage and give such strange symptoms. We are lucky he is still alive.
I may not have any updates for some time on this blog.
Please keep praying for all patients who are diagnosed with dementia, for their families and caregivers. They need these prayers from moment to moment.
Tuesday, September 22, 2009
Another Infection
DH is on antibiotics again. His symptoms are lack of appetite, sleepiness, lack of energy and a horrible temper. He is still on 1 Namenda per day. I don't know what to do! He is showing the same symptoms from January, 2008. If it is just the staph infection, we can deal with it. If it is something more I don't know how much strength I have left.
Please keep praying for all dementia patients and their extended family and friends. We really need it!
Please keep praying for all dementia patients and their extended family and friends. We really need it!
Tuesday, August 18, 2009
Maybe it's not dementia
Over and over DH says he does not have dementia.
The neurologist said to take him to 1/2 the dose of Namenda. Since the change there has been no change in his memory. No more and no less.
DH saw his psychologist last week. I was present. The doctor gave DH the standard 30 question test for dementia. He passed 28 out of 30. He had the wrong month and couldn't remember the third item in a list of words. I passed 29 out of 30. I couldn't remember the third item in a list of words. The psychologist strongly feels that the staff infection was messing with DH brain and cause symptoms that everyone took to be dementia.
We go back to the neurologist in three months (sometime in October) and then we will see if he is willing to stop the Namenda entirely.
It is a waiting game, but the results could be fantastic. I refuse to get my hopes up. It is very hard not to.
Please keep praying for all dementia patients, their extended families and friends and their caregivers. You have no idea how these prayers help.
The neurologist said to take him to 1/2 the dose of Namenda. Since the change there has been no change in his memory. No more and no less.
DH saw his psychologist last week. I was present. The doctor gave DH the standard 30 question test for dementia. He passed 28 out of 30. He had the wrong month and couldn't remember the third item in a list of words. I passed 29 out of 30. I couldn't remember the third item in a list of words. The psychologist strongly feels that the staff infection was messing with DH brain and cause symptoms that everyone took to be dementia.
We go back to the neurologist in three months (sometime in October) and then we will see if he is willing to stop the Namenda entirely.
It is a waiting game, but the results could be fantastic. I refuse to get my hopes up. It is very hard not to.
Please keep praying for all dementia patients, their extended families and friends and their caregivers. You have no idea how these prayers help.
Tuesday, August 4, 2009
After Doctor's Visit
We visited DH neurologist and he said to cut the Namenda back to once a day. I did pills Sunday and cut the Namenda to morning only. Only time will tell if this makes a difference or not. I will have to be most observant of behaviours.
Otherwise everything is status quo. No real changes other than DH trying to force me to do things that are not budget wise and me saying no. If you are a yes person then you know exactly how I feel. Saying no to someone you love is heart breaking.
Please keep praying. We all need your prayers.
Otherwise everything is status quo. No real changes other than DH trying to force me to do things that are not budget wise and me saying no. If you are a yes person then you know exactly how I feel. Saying no to someone you love is heart breaking.
Please keep praying. We all need your prayers.
Tuesday, July 14, 2009
Update
DH had a very bad time with post surgical pain last night. I have never seen him deal with so much pain.
Today he had an appointment with the nurse practitioner that works for our primary care physician. The outcome was that DH has to return to psychological therapy. Right now I am waiting for the therapist to call back and say she will see him after such a long absence. I expressed the urgency. I hope she really understands it.
This morning DH thanked me for helping him through the pain episode. That was a first. He usually doesn't say thank you for anything. He was brought up to know what things he is supposed to do and not to expect any (and I do mean ANY) recognition for what he has done. What a miserable childhood!
I am doing better. No more wanting to run away, but the idea is still tempting.
Please continue to pray for all dementia patients, their caregivers, family and friends.
Today he had an appointment with the nurse practitioner that works for our primary care physician. The outcome was that DH has to return to psychological therapy. Right now I am waiting for the therapist to call back and say she will see him after such a long absence. I expressed the urgency. I hope she really understands it.
This morning DH thanked me for helping him through the pain episode. That was a first. He usually doesn't say thank you for anything. He was brought up to know what things he is supposed to do and not to expect any (and I do mean ANY) recognition for what he has done. What a miserable childhood!
I am doing better. No more wanting to run away, but the idea is still tempting.
Please continue to pray for all dementia patients, their caregivers, family and friends.
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