Paranoia - Here We Go Again! Help!

[Nebiroth]

Some while ago I wrote on here about my Dad's paranoia. He became convinced that the neighbours were waging a campaign/vendetta against us. This was because "water is coming off our roof onto their path" so they were taking their "revenge". Every day we had tales that the neighbour was sneaking out late at night and damaging our house either by "scraping out paint off" (it was very old and peeling - I have since repainted it) or by "reaching out of their upstairs window and moving our guttering" (there was of course nothing wrong with the guttering). This got worse and worse and the tales grew taller and taller in the telling (I think this is called "confabulation"?). Things got so bad that Dad wouldn;t talk to me in our hallway because the neighbours had "listeners on the wall" and he carried a fake "recording device" so that he could tell the neighbour "if you say anything to me I can take the evidence to the police". If our cat was sick it was because the neighbours was poisoning him.

Thankfuly Dad had a regular checkup with his Doctor (who is also my and mum's GP) - the doctor managed to bring this situation up tactfuly (Dad thinks the nurse who was visiting us at the time reported him - it was in fact us). The GP gave Dad a good talking to saying "you must realise that you are ill, it's affecting your judgement, these things are not true and you cannot accuse people like this).

Dad didn't like it...but it worked! We didn't hear anything more.

So imagine my horror when this morning I got pulled outside the house with "someone's had a go at the guttering, it's been damaged". Oh dear Lord, not this again!!

We think its because the neighbour's son has moved back in after being at University (for some reason the son is "evil").

I just don't know what to do. Dad is due to go to the surgery next week to see the nurse for a regular healthcheck.

I am thinking that I could go and see the GP now, and see if he can call Dad in whilst he's seeing the nurse for a "checkup"...?

I know Mum and I can't go through the months of paranoia we had before. It almost drove us into nervous breakdowns.

I think it would be worse this time, because Dad has become more agressive recently and flies into a rage if you try to reason with him or don't agree with him over anything.

 

[connie]

.Dear Neobrith, feel for you with this latest situation with your dad.

As you mention it might be a good idea if you can talk to the GP beforehand.
It may be time that the paranoia was treated with drugs. This can help to make dad more settled in himself, and make life a little easier for you and mum.

I am not talking a chemical cosh here, but there is a lot of medical help outside, if only to help balance life all round.

 

[Nebiroth]

Thanks Connie.

I have made an appointment to see the GP on Monday . I will explain the goings on and will ask the doctor to say he wants to see Dad for a "checkup". As I said, Dad is seeing the Practise Nurse on Wednesday anyway for his annual heart check. I'm sure the GP can just put a note on there "please see me after the Nurse".

It sounds awful to have to "conspire" like this, but if Dad is there anyway he can't really avoid it. If he knew beforehand it would be an awful fuss and bother, we'd get the usual "Nothing wrong with me" "Don't want to see the doctor" etc etc.

I know from past experience that left unchecked the paranoia will just get worse and worse and our lives will be made hell. Dad is already wanting to put a sign up saying "This house is under police surveillance".

Not that this bothers me that much I am used to his doing daft things in public and all of the neighbours "know".

The sad thing is that the neighbours he thinks are so awful are terribly nice and understanding and don't complain when he wanders up their path or peers into their windows!

Last time he saw the GP he was prescribed Olanzapine but we didn't have to use it as the GP's words seemed to have a big effect.

I also need of course to mention the agression - plus the latest habit of waking up at 3am...

Oh dear, it sometimes feels like climbing up a path that gets steeper and more treacherous every day.

It makes me sick to my stomach to think that under the new rules Dad would have been denied Aricept.

 

[Sandy]

Hi Nebiroth,

Just to say that I agree with Connie, this time medication may be necessary.

You might want to take a look at this link on evidence-based treatment for demenitia as it has some worrying advice about avoiding the use of Olanzapine:

http://www.besttreatments.co.uk/btuk/conditions/10095.html

I would also keep in the back of my mind the possibility that, at some point, your dad may need to be admitted to hospital to properly sort out the right medication(s).

Take care,

Sandy

 

[kindheart]

Hi,

I do understand about 15 years ago long before mum was diagnoised with AD she had simular paranoia.

The pigeons were bring fleas into the house, I had to hang bits of tin foil on strings from the upstairs windows to scare the birds away, I had to have the house fumagated by the council. Someone was shooting hole in the brick work etc, stealing apples from the tree etc. About 7 years ago mum moved closer to me and things got better as I could visit more in the eveings. About 3 years ago mum started again with the neighbours instructed solicitors to take action against them for damage done whilst redoing their driveway. Photos became real and she became very agressive if you tried to explain that they were photos. I would visit and every photo in the front room would have cups of tea and biscuits. She was most concerned they would not eat or drink. Eventually mum ending up in hospital and is now on medication. She still talk to photos buts seems to understand that they are not real.

 

[Grannie G]

Dear Nebiroth, When mental ill health causes such unhappiness by demonstrating such unreasonable behaviour, I firmly believe any form of subterfuge is acceptable in order to get help. You have to do whatever you can to help your dad, your mother and also yourself.
I wish you luck. Sylvia

 

[Nebiroth]

Hi Nebiroth,

Just to say that I agree with Connie, this time medication may be necessary.

You might want to take a look at this link on evidence-based treatment for demenitia as it has some worrying advice about avoiding the use of Olanzapine:

Sandy

Hi Sandy - I was aware of the warnings about Olanzapine. And the leaflet that came with the tablets terrified us with warningas about not being prescribed for elderly people with dementia, with side-effects including death!

I instantly queried it with the GP but he said that the dose was so low (it was just one tablet of the smallest type) that we shouldn't be concerned.

However I will discuss it with him again on Monday. It might be that there are alternatives available - even GP's cannot be right up to date with everything! - or it might be that we need a visit from the specialist who did the original diagnosis just over a year ago. He might be better placed to prescribe something.