Hi, my name is David, I've looked after my 78 yo mother since 1992, as she has severe arthritis.
Mum always had the odd memory lapse but earlier this year it was july, I put her to bed as usual, but in the morning she was very confused and feeling ill, stayed in bed for about 2 weeks.
I called our doc and she thought it could be a minor stroke, but she didn't come out and see her.
I finally got her to come out in august and she got the hospital consultant to come and see her too. Mum went in hospital for a week, and apart from physio, and counting 20-1 a few times they did nothing else.
I asked them to scan her head but they refused.
They just said 'oh its mild senile dementia'
But they dont see what I do.
Having read some threads on here I see a lot of what she does.
She goes through boxes of paper hankies, folding and hiding them.
She get the names and gender of the dogs wrong, and has little or no memory of the prev day.
Today, i came from a nap, this afternoon, to find her thirsty looking for her glass, when she was holding it in her hand, took me 5 mins to get her to realise it was her drink, she kept wanting her 'other glass'
The other day she asked to be put to bed, I said I'll just go to the toilet, 2 min later, I am in the bathroom, and she starts shouting, can she go to bed. She'd forgotten I'd gone to the toilet.
Her long term mem is affected too, from getting my and my bros age and birthdate and day wrong, to the same for her parents.
I am glad I've found somewhere to talk as its like the person I knew as mum is gone, and we used to talk a lot.
Am annoyed with medical support, or lack of it, but at least have managed to arrange regular respite care for her to give me a break.
Thanx for any reply in advance
David
Mum always had the odd memory lapse but earlier this year it was july, I put her to bed as usual, but in the morning she was very confused and feeling ill, stayed in bed for about 2 weeks.
I called our doc and she thought it could be a minor stroke, but she didn't come out and see her.
I finally got her to come out in august and she got the hospital consultant to come and see her too. Mum went in hospital for a week, and apart from physio, and counting 20-1 a few times they did nothing else.
I asked them to scan her head but they refused.
They just said 'oh its mild senile dementia'
But they dont see what I do.
Having read some threads on here I see a lot of what she does.
She goes through boxes of paper hankies, folding and hiding them.
She get the names and gender of the dogs wrong, and has little or no memory of the prev day.
Today, i came from a nap, this afternoon, to find her thirsty looking for her glass, when she was holding it in her hand, took me 5 mins to get her to realise it was her drink, she kept wanting her 'other glass'
The other day she asked to be put to bed, I said I'll just go to the toilet, 2 min later, I am in the bathroom, and she starts shouting, can she go to bed. She'd forgotten I'd gone to the toilet.
Her long term mem is affected too, from getting my and my bros age and birthdate and day wrong, to the same for her parents.
I am glad I've found somewhere to talk as its like the person I knew as mum is gone, and we used to talk a lot.
Am annoyed with medical support, or lack of it, but at least have managed to arrange regular respite care for her to give me a break.
Thanx for any reply in advance
David