Zombie-like state

[Catherine H]

My dad was diagnosed with vascular dementia in Feb 2017 but exhibited symptoms long before then. His mobility is severely impaired, his speech has gone, sometimes he cannot feed himself, sometimes he sees things which aren't there, he can be very resistant - it's not uncommon or him to refuse to allow the carers to wash him for days...

However, we now have a new thing: In the last month or so, he has been suddenly going into what is a zombie-like state. He will be awake and relatively alert one minute and then it's like someone flicks a switch and his head will drop, his eyes will shut and he will be totally unresponsive. He's not asleep and not unconscious - he can still weight-bear on his legs, will still feel for the arms of the chairs to sit down and then lower himself, will still make growling/gutteral noises in vague response to things, will still hang on to eg grab handles with a vice-like grip.... It's like 'the lights are turned off but someone is still home'. Combine this with severe muscle rigidity and it's a flippin' nightmare.

These episodes can last 10 minutes or some hours and happen on the loo, in the chair, in bed, anywhere. Then the switch gets flicked again and he's back in the room. Is this normal? I've asked Google and can find nothing to describe what we're experiencing unless it's linked to medication, and he isn't on any medication for his dementia...

Thanks in advance for any words of wisdom.

 

[Cat27]

I wonder if he’s having TIAs? They’re mini strokes & very common with vascular dementia.

 

[Weasell]

could you ask the GP to provide a referral to the epilepsy nurse specialist?
Please do not confuse what I am saying. I am not saying it is a seizure, I am saying that the nurse may have some ideas to help you.

 

[Izzy]

I feel, as @Cat27 does, that these might be TIAs. I would definitely contact the GP and let them know what’s happening.

 

[Catherine H]

Thank folks. Mum has to all the GP about his muscle rigidity and 'getting stuck' anyway so I'll make sure she talk about this too.

 

[WeeDido]

Thank folks. Mum has to all the GP about his muscle rigidity and 'getting stuck' anyway so I'll make sure she talk about this too.

Hi @Catherine H my husband also suffers from rigidity and muscle spasms He's been on medication for years to help with it. so worth mentioning to the GP

 

[MorryLou]

Hi
I’m so pleased I’ve read your post. I started a similar one and only got one reply.
My mother is similar. I call it zoning out. She sits, leaning forward on a chair and closes her eyes and soon after her head and arms will drop and she appears dead. She is not asleep or unconscious as will hear and respond to stimuli and she is in control of her sitting position which is very precarious.
She says it is her ‘reminiscing’ time and she likes doing it, it’s very unnerving.
A recent bout of delirium for her had her unconscious for several hours and a doctor at the hospital described her as ‘just one of those!’
I’m none the wiser for it all, it just happens!

 

[AgilityGirl]

My dad was diagnosed with vascular dementia in Feb 2017 but exhibited symptoms long before then. His mobility is severely impaired, his speech has gone, sometimes he cannot feed himself, sometimes he sees things which aren't there, he can be very resistant - it's not uncommon or him to refuse to allow the carers to wash him for days...

However, we now have a new thing: In the last month or so, he has been suddenly going into what is a zombie-like state. He will be awake and relatively alert one minute and then it's like someone flicks a switch and his head will drop, his eyes will shut and he will be totally unresponsive. He's not asleep and not unconscious - he can still weight-bear on his legs, will still feel for the arms of the chairs to sit down and then lower himself, will still make growling/gutteral noises in vague response to things, will still hang on to eg grab handles with a vice-like grip.... It's like 'the lights are turned off but someone is still home'. Combine this with severe muscle rigidity and it's a flippin' nightmare.

These episodes can last 10 minutes or some hours and happen on the loo, in the chair, in bed, anywhere. Then the switch gets flicked again and he's back in the room. Is this normal? I've asked Google and can find nothing to describe what we're experiencing unless it's linked to medication, and he isn't on any medication for his dementia...

Thanks in advance for any words of wisdom.

My Dad has mixed dementia and he went through a phase of this - not perhaps quite to the extent of your Dad and the opinion I was given was that they were vascular episodes, a sort of mini TIA. these seemed to have stopped, now. sorry i cant offer insights further than that , but i guess im offering that it might not be a permanent state. i too had explained it as the lights being turned off.

 

[Ramblingrose]

My mother has these episodes and has done for a while. The doctor told me it is something that happens with dementia but we do realise now she has had TIA's in the distant past. After having a scan it did show evidence of brain damage. I feel one problem is that my mother has no concentration now. She cannot watch TV or read for example. She has no interests or ever really had so I reckon its just switching off as there's nothing to interest her. Music will perk her up for a while. When she first started having these "blackouts" we rang an ambulance to get her to hospital but the doctors could never find anything wrong. I've heard of so many others having these episodes.

 

[Reds]

My husband seemed unconscious one eve and I was very worried that he had lost all senses but eventually did come out of it and didn't seem to even realise what had happened. I panicked as first time and was worried about ringing an ambulance due to the virus as happened when it was very bad.

He also drops his head down toward his chest a lot but I don't know if its because the chair isn't perhaps just right for him. He is doing this more and more. Generally I feel he is in his own world and not really aware of all that goes on, doesn't realise how much I do or what needs doing. His short term memory is not good now.

Best wishes to you! Interesting to see this post. Take care!

Reds

 

[SarahJoyCare]

My mother has these episodes and has done for a while. The doctor told me it is something that happens with dementia but we do realise now she has had TIA's in the distant past. After having a scan it did show evidence of brain damage. I feel one problem is that my mother has no concentration now. She cannot watch TV or read for example. She has no interests or ever really had so I reckon its just switching off as there's nothing to interest her. Music will perk her up for a while. When she first started having these "blackouts" we rang an ambulance to get her to hospital but the doctors could never find anything wrong. I've heard of so many others having these episodes.

Hello, I called for help last night with my mother-in-law, as she was unresponsive and seemed to be ill?? I wasn’t sure but she had no bodily strength to do anything. The paramedics checked her over and she was fine and went to sleep! - all very unnnerving, I am calling the GP today.
This thread has been useful to me as it’s good to know that this happens to other people too.

 

[Weasell]

Hello, I called for help last night with my mother-in-law, as she was unresponsive and seemed to be ill?? I wasn’t sure but she had no bodily strength to do anything. The paramedics checked her over and she was fine and went to sleep! - all very unnnerving, I am calling the GP today.
This thread has been useful to me as it’s good to know that this happens to other people too.

It must have been very worrying for you. Don't forget those UTI’s can manifest in a number of ways.
It will be very interesting to see what the GP says! and how she is today.
Please post back and let us know.

 

[Shedrech]

hello @SarahJoyCare
just to offer a warm welcome to DTP
I'm glad you've already found the forums helpful .... and hope the GP takes your concerns for your mother-in-law seriously