Well, it's been an interesting night (and morning)!
All was good when hubby went to bed around 9pm last night - he was in particularly good spirits, laughing and happy. The only thing that had been particularly marked about his day was that around 4.30pm he had started to get irritated and wanted to go for a walk (in the cold and dark).
It wasn't even that much to talk about - we are quite used to the whole sundowning thing now. Fortunately my son was home so he took his dad for a walk around the block and to buy some sweets and papers while I finished off things for work.
As I said, hubby was happy and laughing going to bed and sleeping soundly when I went up at midnight.
Around 2am I became aware of him fidgeting, huffing and puffing. He didn't want to go to the loo, but he couldn't explain what the problem was.
Each time I asked he just replied "something".
After about an hour of fidgeting and sighing he drifted back off to sleep. It started up again at 7am.
As it was time to get up anyway I pulled the cover back gently for him so he could get up - but he just lay there looking confused. He seemed to have forgotten how to sit up, swing his legs around to the floor etc. It took 30mins of gentle coaxing before we got him sitting up. It dawned on me that all the fidgeting and huffing in the early hours was probably because he wanted to change position but couldn't.
He looked extremely confused as he sat on the edge of the bed. It almost looked like he was in pain from just thinking, his face all screwed up and saying "What do I do?" over and over.
After another 20mins, with my help, he managed to get to his feet and walk slowly to the toilet, with me close at hand. However, when he had finished on the loo he was totally lost about how to stand up again. The grab rails meant nothing to him. Mostly he sat with his head in his hands or looking at his legs, not quite sure what to make of them.
Another 10 minutes of gentle coaxing went by with me trying to gently support him into some standing position (and him complaining that I was hurting him) - and eventually he was on his feet.
He slowly walked to the bathroom and surprisingly was able to step into the bath for his usual shower (though of course I was there just in case he needed support). I helped him get dry afterwards and it was as if he had lost his centre of gravity. The lightest of pats or touches with the towel made him sway back and forth uncontrollably to the point where I though he would fall down altogether.
He was able to shave and clean his teeth after I set things up, and I helped him dress (which is normal). By the time he was dressed he seemed more 'with it' and I am glad to say he was able to walk downstairs.
He has now had breakfast, meds and a cuppa and seems his normal self. I thought I might need to cancel him attending a Christmas party today but he says he feels fine to go.
It's all come and gone so suddenly - maybe it will happen again, maybe not. This disease certainly keeps us carers on our toes!
All was good when hubby went to bed around 9pm last night - he was in particularly good spirits, laughing and happy. The only thing that had been particularly marked about his day was that around 4.30pm he had started to get irritated and wanted to go for a walk (in the cold and dark).
It wasn't even that much to talk about - we are quite used to the whole sundowning thing now. Fortunately my son was home so he took his dad for a walk around the block and to buy some sweets and papers while I finished off things for work.
As I said, hubby was happy and laughing going to bed and sleeping soundly when I went up at midnight.
Around 2am I became aware of him fidgeting, huffing and puffing. He didn't want to go to the loo, but he couldn't explain what the problem was.
Each time I asked he just replied "something".
After about an hour of fidgeting and sighing he drifted back off to sleep. It started up again at 7am.
As it was time to get up anyway I pulled the cover back gently for him so he could get up - but he just lay there looking confused. He seemed to have forgotten how to sit up, swing his legs around to the floor etc. It took 30mins of gentle coaxing before we got him sitting up. It dawned on me that all the fidgeting and huffing in the early hours was probably because he wanted to change position but couldn't.
He looked extremely confused as he sat on the edge of the bed. It almost looked like he was in pain from just thinking, his face all screwed up and saying "What do I do?" over and over.
After another 20mins, with my help, he managed to get to his feet and walk slowly to the toilet, with me close at hand. However, when he had finished on the loo he was totally lost about how to stand up again. The grab rails meant nothing to him. Mostly he sat with his head in his hands or looking at his legs, not quite sure what to make of them.
Another 10 minutes of gentle coaxing went by with me trying to gently support him into some standing position (and him complaining that I was hurting him) - and eventually he was on his feet.
He slowly walked to the bathroom and surprisingly was able to step into the bath for his usual shower (though of course I was there just in case he needed support). I helped him get dry afterwards and it was as if he had lost his centre of gravity. The lightest of pats or touches with the towel made him sway back and forth uncontrollably to the point where I though he would fall down altogether.
He was able to shave and clean his teeth after I set things up, and I helped him dress (which is normal). By the time he was dressed he seemed more 'with it' and I am glad to say he was able to walk downstairs.
He has now had breakfast, meds and a cuppa and seems his normal self. I thought I might need to cancel him attending a Christmas party today but he says he feels fine to go.
It's all come and gone so suddenly - maybe it will happen again, maybe not. This disease certainly keeps us carers on our toes!
