It is 2.52am and I have just registered to try and find info that will help. My Mum has been living with me since Nov 2019 when she had a mini stroke, changed overnight and couldn't possibly go home after being discharged from hospital. Since first weekend in March she has not been sleeping at all - night or day - and in the last week the shouting and chanting and repeating has increased and is constant all through the night. She doesn't stop really. I am in and out of bed like a zombie. She is totally exhausted and nothing I am trying to help her to sleep is working. She is shouting now. I spoke to the doctor about her sleeping problems before things became worse but was told I should wait to hear from the memory service but I think it will be a long time before I hear from them now. Any suggestions would be much appreciated. Lack of sleep has had a massive effect on her and prior to 1st March although significant memory issues, she was still quite lucid but so confused now.
Shouting, chanting and talking all night long.........
- Thread starter annie*
- Start date
Welcome to DTP @annie*
Neither you or your mum can continue like this and your mum's lack of sleep will only add to her confusion. You need to go back to her doctor and ask for urgent help. You can't wait to see the memory clinic. I can't help wondering if another mini stroke has caused this deterioration.
Neither you or your mum can continue like this and your mum's lack of sleep will only add to her confusion. You need to go back to her doctor and ask for urgent help. You can't wait to see the memory clinic. I can't help wondering if another mini stroke has caused this deterioration.
The memory clinic here gave me a small amount of lorazepam for use in emergencies, to break a behaviour cycle. Usually that was anger related, but these days it's lack of sleep which is most likely to make think about sneaking half a tablet into a piece of fudge.
Weariness becomes a carer's constant companion at the best of times, but when it gets bad, as you're finding, it can be very bad indeed, and your ability to care... and love, suffers. So if I were you I'd be on the phone to the memory clinic seeking some fast track help. This weekend might be or problematic, but there ought to be someone manning staffing the phone who can at least note your situation and perhaps have a specialist look at your case a bit more quickly.
My experience though is that such help can be thin on the ground, especially during holidays, and it sounds like you're early in the process with them. If you're waiting for diagnosis then they will probably be very reluctant to intervene anyway, and may point you back to the GP. It'll do not harm to ask though, and don't be afraid to sound desperate. Sounds like that won't take much effort.
I'm sure someone will have other suggestions later, (possible UTI, helplines which might be open this weekend, etc) but I've had very little success with my mother when she gets into a sleepless phase. Infinite patience, and coffee, are the carer's best friends. And, of course, Talking Point.
Try cutting down fluids in the evening to limit bladder discomfort that might contribute to restlessness. Try gentle music in the background (I find The Adams Singers can help relax my Mum if she's starting to get weary under her distress). Try decaffeinated drinks during the day. Try clutching at straws!
I hope you and your mother managed took get a little sleep in the end. All dementia phases pass eventually, but sometimes our ability to cope alone runs out first. Good luck... which sounds about as helpful as a mattress made of nails! But you will get through this, eventually.
Weariness becomes a carer's constant companion at the best of times, but when it gets bad, as you're finding, it can be very bad indeed, and your ability to care... and love, suffers. So if I were you I'd be on the phone to the memory clinic seeking some fast track help. This weekend might be or problematic, but there ought to be someone manning staffing the phone who can at least note your situation and perhaps have a specialist look at your case a bit more quickly.
My experience though is that such help can be thin on the ground, especially during holidays, and it sounds like you're early in the process with them. If you're waiting for diagnosis then they will probably be very reluctant to intervene anyway, and may point you back to the GP. It'll do not harm to ask though, and don't be afraid to sound desperate. Sounds like that won't take much effort.
I'm sure someone will have other suggestions later, (possible UTI, helplines which might be open this weekend, etc) but I've had very little success with my mother when she gets into a sleepless phase. Infinite patience, and coffee, are the carer's best friends. And, of course, Talking Point.
Try cutting down fluids in the evening to limit bladder discomfort that might contribute to restlessness. Try gentle music in the background (I find The Adams Singers can help relax my Mum if she's starting to get weary under her distress). Try decaffeinated drinks during the day. Try clutching at straws!
I hope you and your mother managed took get a little sleep in the end. All dementia phases pass eventually, but sometimes our ability to cope alone runs out first. Good luck... which sounds about as helpful as a mattress made of nails! But you will get through this, eventually.
Go back to the GP , see him yourself about you..... as well, let him know he has two patients here.
The memory clinic will be long term and will take time. You need help
now. Call the doctor when she’s shouting etc so they know it’s for real.
Good luck. Your GP may be open on Easter Monday, ours is.
The memory clinic will be long term and will take time. You need help
now. Call the doctor when she’s shouting etc so they know it’s for real.
Good luck. Your GP may be open on Easter Monday, ours is.
This is more, much more, than the usual sleeping problems associated with dementia. Id get back to the GP or memory clinic and, rather than saying that she is not sleeping at night, tell them about the constant shouting and chanting all night and that your mum is not sleeping at all.
I can't thank you all enough for posting messages to advise. Mum is still shouting now all these hours later. I have just called the surgery and they will get back to me. I had avoided calling due to current crisis but feel no option now. Thank you everyone and I will let you know how things go. Thank you for being there, it's such a lonely isolating experience as you all know
