Husband with FTD

[paulene]

Hi
My husband has FTD and has the "classic" behaviour problems, However in the last week he has been agitated and delusional, Convinced Govt are spying on us, that drs are policeman etc. He gets agitated to the point where I am concerned he will have heart attack or stroke, Nothing i say or do can reassure him. If it was not so tragic it would be funny at what he believes. Has anyone else had similar problems

 

[Izzy]

I'm sorry I have no experience of this. I know that several members have experience of FTD and I'm sure they will be able to help you. x

 

[Helen33]

Dear Paulene,

I would like to offer you a warm WELCOME to Talking Point. I hope you will find TP to be informative, supportive and friendly

My husband had a semantic dementia of the frontotemperal lobe and he did develop symptoms of paranoia. Fortunately, in our case Alan responded well to monitoring and managing this condition. It meant that he was able to be kept free from medication.

There is a very informative link which I will attach here. You might find it helpful to listen to the short video clips.
http://memory.ucsf.edu/ftd/overview

Love and best wishes

 

[Necion]

Hi Paulene, a very warm welcome to TP from me too.

My 58 yo husband is in very early stage FTD, and so far has had no delusional symptoms, so no personal experience i'm afraid.

How long have these symptoms been going on, and do medics know about them? I think they need to be kept up-to-date with what's happening, incase the behaviour presents any risk to himself or others.

Love, Necion. x

 

[Necion]

Hi again Paulene, may I ask something else, (just been reading through again) has your husband been given a diagnosis of any particular type of FTD? I understand there are 3 different types, depending on which areas are involved, with varying symptoms. We're new to this ourselves, so I hope you don't mind me asking. So far, John has only been given FTD doagnosis.

Take care, Love, Necion. x

 

[paulene]

husband with FTD and delusions

Hi just diagnosed with FTD but results came by phone after saw dr so have not seen dr since results. Been out am and roy saw car and dog like brothers and so convinced thay were his. thought friend who we met was a policeman so even though calmer today his mind is still not ok .paulene

 

[Necion]

Hi Paulene, I must say I'm shocked that Roys' results were delivered by phone! I'm guessing that Roy heard this directly, rather than you? As far as I am aware, certainly in Johns' case, this sort of information should be given by a professional, who can monitor and address the reaction. It's not a bad cold....it's a very serious medical condition, as you know.
May I ask if this diagnosis was given by his GP, neurologist, or heaven forbid....a receptionist?? This has been handled way wrong, no wonder you're both having to cope with such aftermath!

Paulene, please continue to post, you may find more friends are reading the general 'support for dem. patients and their carers' rather than Younger people with Dementia. I certainly found this the case, and the advice you need will also come from those who have dealt with patients in more advanced years. If you want this moved, I'm sure the moderators can do this for you, just send one of them a pm. (Sorry to sound like a bossy-boots, just my experience, and we all want to help as much as we can.)

I'd say get an aptmt with GP and ask for an urgent referral to whichever specialist can deal with this.

Please take care of yourself, you're having it tough just now.
Love, Necion. x

 

[Izzy]

My husband has AD not FTD but the way his diagnosis was delivered was totally different. We had the consultant, the social worker, and the CPN present. It seems awful to have delivered a diagnosis of such magnitude by phone. x

 

[seaurchin]

Hi Paulene,

My husband has young onset Alzheimers and we too have both behavioural and delusional behaviour to cope with. It is very difficult but my husband can be distracted most times. We have had some very odd things like blue otters running around and a time when he wouldn't drink water because he was adamant there was a goldfish swimming in the glass . It is both amusing but also VERY upsetting at the same time. For us it is something that seems to come and go.

I think it was dreadful the way you were given your husband's diagnosis. It sounds very different to our experience.

Kindest Regards,

Helen

 

[sparky023]

Hi Paulene

Just wanted to show a hand of friendship and support. My Mum was diagnosed with FTD last week and we're still reeling from it.
She's been ill for a long time although upto the past 6 weeks has remained independant.
Her memory and awareness is still very much there which is the most distressing thing because she firmly believes that there is nothing wrong.
Because of her reluctance to acknowledge these problems, we had to agree to her being sectioned for her own safety. She was assessed and scanned to get these results, which we had already predicted really.
My Mum has severe obsessions as one of her symtoms, and also has slight paranoia (sp?)

Thinking of you at this difficult time
x