Can Alzheimer’s cause a rapid decline?

[Lucielu]

Hi - I’m a newbie here and generally feeling overwhelmed in supporting my wonderful mum (who is also my Dad having raised me single handed since I was a baby) following her diagnosis just a fortnight ago.

The last 9 months has been full-on (to say the least) and Mum has declined quite rapidly. Two family GP’s disagreed with me when I told them I thought she had Alzheimer’s - they told me they thought my mother was suffering with extreme anxiety not a type of Dementia.
Apparently people with Alzheimer’s don’t decline as quickly as my Mum has appeared to. Anyway, aside from feeling smug that I was actually right having no medical degree I’m actually on my knees in despair.

My poor mum is fading before my eyes; she is paranoid and her anxiety is through the roof. Her confusion seems to be worsening and she is saying things that are really out of character. She calls me around 20 times a day and wants me with her all of the time. She has called me Mum a few times and I’m finding her demands far greater than of a needy new born baby. I have 3 children under 10 and am currently signed off from work due to stress and exhaustion.

I really would like to know if anybody knows of symptoms worsening quite quickly? Can the symptoms then settle and slow down? Or is this how it is now? I’m so overwhelmed in my mind that I’m losing Mum and fretting so much about the future.
I’ve never really experienced real grief but guess this must be something close to it.
Thank you so much for reading - and apologies for the essay! X

 

[maryjoan]

Do please check that she has not got a UTI? An infection such as that will cause rapid confusion and worsening of symptoms.

Your post was not an essay - you are welcome here and we all look after each other as best we can. That is the beauty of TP.

Generally, you will experience a grieving process for what should have been and what you wanted for your Mum, it is normal, and you will work past it. You need to get social services onboard, as you cannot do all you are trying to do yourself, you need help for yourself and for your mother. You need to do several things - they may seem daunting at first, but once done, your life will be a little easier.
1) Get Power of Attorney organised if Mum still has capability
2) Contact Social Services for help for Mum
3) Get a Carers Assessment for yourself
4) Apply for what ever benefits you can for Mum - Attendance Allowance?
5) Apply for Carer's Allowance for yourself - you need to look at this as the hours/ wages you work affect it - but you might see it as a way of reducing your hours.

hope some of this is useful.

((((hugs))))

 

[Hazara8]

Determining dementia, or let us say in your own situation, Alzheimer's disease, requires quite intensive diagnostic methods. One of the problems here, when you as a family member or very close relative living with a loved one, is that you see any changes or decline in behaviour first-hand. As a rule, GP's do not. Therefore one sometimes has to go through a whole 'history' of events, say over the past few months, in order to set out a clearer picture of what has taken place, in order to home in on what might be dementia. Of course it just might be depression, anxiety or a host of other things which are NOT dementia. Thus, this is why a proper evaluation needs to take place, usually by a specialist in, say, Alzheimer's. This is quite complex in all truth, as diagnosis is not a tick box affair. You really want to be able to rule out things which might be the underlying cause of your mother's symptoms. It turns out that your instincts were correct and Alzheimer's has been diagnosed. That warrants a gentle pat on the back. As a general rule, Alzheimer's disease moves through 'stages', which can encompass either decades in some cases, or just a few years in others. Every case is different, as we are all different - personality, background, education, health history and so on. All of these affect how dementia behaves. And symptoms can arise at differing times too. I see residents (in a Care Home) with Alzheimer's, who can become agitated, quite severely during periods throughout the day, whilst others - presenting with the same form of dementia - remain calm for the most part.. It is complex. And that is why constant monitoring is important.

The wise suggestions above (maryjoan) should alleviate some of the pressure weighed upon you at the moment, as any association with Alzheimer's, especially in a family member, is a major task in itself - albeit not one that should make you fearful. You join literally millions worldwide, engaged in such a task and here on TP you will find genuine solace, in respect of 'hands on' experience with dementia, something that can NEVER be imagined, but perhaps retold by way of that direct 'truth' found in many of these posts.

Finally, maryjoan raises the possibility of a UTI - notorious with regard to exacerbating dementia. So, something to consider. And forget 'apologies'. You are not alone here and be assured, that there are folk lending a genuine ear to your 'essay' and who will, in turn, gladly respond in kind.​

 

[Amethyst59]

Hello, @Lucielu, welcome to Talking Point. You really have got your hands full and there is so much to organise after a diagnosis. I wonder if it might be helpful for you to ring the helpline, to talk through priorities...
National Dementia Helpline
0300 222 11 22
Our helpline advisers are here for you.

Helpline opening hours:
Monday to Wednesday 9am – 8pm
Thursday and Friday 9am – 5pm
Saturday and Sunday 10am – 4pm

 

[Lucielu]

Do please check that she has not got a UTI? An infection such as that will cause rapid confusion and worsening of symptoms

Do please check that she has not got a UTI? An infection such as that will cause rapid confusion and worsening of symptoms.

Your post was not an essay - you are welcome here and we all look after each other as best we can. That is the beauty of TP.

Generally, you will experience a grieving process for what should have been and what you wanted for your Mum, it is normal, and you will work past it. You need to get social services onboard, as you cannot do all you are trying to do yourself, you need help for yourself and for your mother. You need to do several things - they may seem daunting at first, but once done, your life will be a little easier.
1) Get Power of Attorney organised if Mum still has capability
2) Contact Social Services for help for Mum
3) Get a Carers Assessment for yourself
4) Apply for what ever benefits you can for Mum - Attendance Allowance?
5) Apply for Carer's Allowance for yourself - you need to look at this as the hours/ wages you work affect it - but you might see it as a way of reducing your hours.

hope some of this is useful.

((((hugs))))

Your post was not an essay - you are welcome here and we all look after each other as best we can. That is the beauty of TP.

Generally, you will experience a grieving process for what should have been and what you wanted for your Mum, it is normal, and you will work past it. You need to get social services onboard, as you cannot do all you are trying to do yourself, you need help for yourself and for your mother. You need to do several things - they may seem daunting at first, but once done, your life will be a little easier.
1) Get Power of Attorney organised if Mum still has capability
2) Contact Social Services for help for Mum
3) Get a Carers Assessment for yourself
4) Apply for what ever benefits you can for Mum - Attendance Allowance?
5) Apply for Carer's Allowance for yourself - you need to look at this as the hours/ wages you work affect it - but you might see it as a way of reducing your hours.

hope some of this is useful.

((((hugs))))

Thank you for your really helpful pointers Mary. Unfortunately, mum only told me today she “wasn’t on deaths door” and refused to discuss POA. Mum has been tested for UTI’s recently which have been ruled out. Unfortunately I’ve found SS to be really unhelpful which is ironic seeing that I work for SS in neighbouring local authority and support people just like my mum and their families. I’ve been hugely disappointed with both MH and SS lack of support over the last few months. It’s been a real case of He who shouts the loudest to be heard x

 

[Lucielu]

Determining dementia, or let us say in your own situation, Alzheimer's disease, requires quite intensive diagnostic methods. One of the problems here, when you as a family member or very close relative living with a loved one, is that you see any changes or decline in behaviour first-hand. As a rule, GP's do not. Therefore one sometimes has to go through a whole 'history' of events, say over the past few months, in order to set out a clearer picture of what has taken place, in order to home in on what might be dementia. Of course it just might be depression, anxiety or a host of other things which are NOT dementia. Thus, this is why a proper evaluation needs to take place, usually by a specialist in, say, Alzheimer's. This is quite complex in all truth, as diagnosis is not a tick box affair. You really want to be able to rule out things which might be the underlying cause of your mother's symptoms. It turns out that your instincts were correct and Alzheimer's has been diagnosed. That warrants a gentle pat on the back. As a general rule, Alzheimer's disease moves through 'stages', which can encompass either decades in some cases, or just a few years in others. Every case is different, as we are all different - personality, background, education, health history and so on. All of these affect how dementia behaves. And symptoms can arise at differing times too. I see residents (in a Care Home) with Alzheimer's, who can become agitated, quite severely during periods throughout the day, whilst others - presenting with the same form of dementia - remain calm for the most part.. It is complex. And that is why constant monitoring is important.

The wise suggestions above (maryjoan) should alleviate some of the pressure weighed upon you at the moment, as any association with Alzheimer's, especially in a family member, is a major task in itself - albeit not one that should make you fearful. You join literally millions worldwide, engaged in such a task and here on TP you will find genuine solace, in respect of 'hands on' experience with dementia, something that can NEVER be imagined, but perhaps retold by way of that direct 'truth' found in many of these posts.

Finally, maryjoan raises the possibility of a UTI - notorious with regard to exacerbating dementia. So, something to consider. And forget 'apologies'. You are not alone here and be assured, that there are folk lending a genuine ear to your 'essay' and who will, in turn, gladly respond in kind.​

Thank you and yes, it makes sense that adding anxiety and depression into the mix would exacerbate Mum’s symtoms. A UTI has already been ruled out.
Thank you for your reassuring message. Of course it’s totally rubbish that people are having such a tough time but VERY reassuring having seen some of the posts on here that I’m really not alone.

 

[maryjoan]

Thank you for your really helpful pointers Mary. Unfortunately, mum only told me today she “wasn’t on deaths door” and refused to discuss POA. Mum has been tested for UTI’s recently which have been ruled out. Unfortunately I’ve found SS to be really unhelpful which is ironic seeing that I work for SS in neighbouring local authority and support people just like my mum and their families. I’ve been hugely disappointed with both MH and SS lack of support over the last few months. It’s been a real case of He who shouts the loudest to be heard x

Re PoA - it is not up to Mum really. If you explain (?I know?) to her that it is not to do with being at death's door - you could even tell her that you are doing one as well, just to make sure things are as you want them to be....... it has to be done while the person still has capacity to understand what it is about. We did it last April for my OH and I could not even envisage using it for years - then- and we are already using it as his dementia has rapidly advanced.