Crying Everyday + Increased Anger

MCaretaker30

Hello. I've posted before about this but it's still going on and looking for some guidance. My mom with EO (diagnosed early 2016) has been waking up and crying/sobbing for about a couple months now. This can go on for a couple hours or on and off throughout the day. She also has been increasingly angry/agitated (fighting me and my dad on everything like taking a bath, going to the bathroom, etc.) 

She did have a UTI at the beginning of the year that was pretty bad. She was on antibiotics for it for a week and we think it's gone. She hasn't seen a doctor in a while. We are likely going to take her to her PCP this week to get blood work, urine culture, etc. It will be tough though. 

She was on Zoloft (25mg a day) and the neurologist suggeseted we switch her to Lexapro (10mg a day). She's been on that for about 4 or 5 days now. Maybe it's just a matter of waiting another week or so to see if it works. 

Just wondering if others here have experienced non-stop crying in their loved ones. Anything that you tried that was successful? I knew agitation/anger could come, but I wasn't prepared for the daily crying...

Thanks in advance for any insight.

Cynbar

I haven't experienced the crying in my DH, but I suspect it's related to the agitation you also describe. Talk to her doctor about some medication to try and take the edge off.  Zoloft and Lexapro are anti-depressants, not the same thing. Zyprexa worked well for my DH, but I know other posters have had good luck with other medications. He also takes an anti-depressant, the Zyprexa is for his agitation.

MCaretaker30

Thanks Cynbar. When you say agitation, what exactly did that look like for your husband? I feel like with my mom it's anger, swearing, not cooperating AT ALL. I guess an anti-psychotic would apply to those behaviors as well?

M1

Yes mcaretaker I think that's correct. Seroquel, zyprexa, and risperdal are the three most commonly prescribed and will probably help her more than a serotonin antidepressant at this point in her disease. If her primary care or neurologist is not comfortable prescribing them, ask for a geriatric psychiatrist.

Cynbar

My DH was (still is) a sundowner. Every day around 6 pm, you could see him start to fire up. He would generally fixate on an issue or delusion ---- he had to leave right away for a meeting for instance, or the other dog was missing when we only had one. Anyway, he would perseverate on this and be difficult to redirect, would be angry at me, often yelling and swearing. I remember a couple years back, as winter was heading into spring, I was genuinely worried that the neighbors would call the police once the windows were opened and people were outside in the evenings. This wasn't pleasant for either one of us, he was unhappy during these episodes and I was worn out. His PCP started him on Zyprexa and upped the dosage once. It has really taken the edge off, he still fixates but is nowhere near as angry and upset as he used to be. The yelling, the insults, the swearing are pretty much gone. Now, I realize the dementia journey is different for everyone, but that was our experience.

BVFTD2020

My mom had begun doing that, crying for hours upon hours early on, even before her diagnosis. She goes in waves where that is more routine and then other times, maybe when her medicine is working to regulate her more, its not so much. It's so disheartening to see her so sad. I know her medicines have been adjusted recently to try and accommodate the new symptoms but its obvious that her FTD dementia is progressing rapidly. She also was on zoloft and switched to lexapro. It did seem to help. Sometimes it can take a few weeks for it to really make the adjustment with a new medication. Good luck with everything.

MCaretaker30

Thanks BVFTD for sharing. That's exactly what we are experiencing too. The waves of crying and then at times not so much (mostly when she is relaxed/dozing off on the couch). That's what I read too about the Lexapro. Hopefully your mom is doing better.

Cromeke

Hello Everyone,

Already it feels better to see that there is a community of caregivers experiencing what I have seen over the last month.  The background is long, but here is the summary.

We live several hours away from our aging LO, but over the last couple of months we had noticed a mood shift that seemed more generally down and manic and have been arranging to be here on a regular basis.  Last month there was a "mixup" with medications that landed her in the hospital where she spent several days in the mental health ward trying to get better, but they did not provide a diagnosis, just a referral.

Now the denial has set in and we cannot get her to go to the psychologist.  I am trying to not be the medically professional as she has not been diagnosed, but the symptoms all seem to align to the beginning of a dementia disorder.  The morning starts rough with depression and not wanted to get up or bath.  If we can get her to eat, we have some good hours during the day although sprinkled with some random crying episodes.  But by dinner time the agitation and anger is in full swing.  Tonight s declared that she wants a divorce (after 55 years), she wants my wife and I to go back home, we can't turn on the lights in the house, she threw the dinner plate across the table tonight....just crazy.

We have a Dr appointment for Monday, but I have a strong suspicion that I will need to turn to this forum for continued help, answers and support going forward.

M1

Welcome cromeke though sorry you are having a difficult time. Fyi you may want to start a new topic by looking for the green button at the top of the forum, you'll get more views and replies that way.

It sounds like your mother may have fairly advanced dementia, not early disease, and she may be sundowning if the symptoms are worse in the evening. I hope the appointment Monday can help rule out any treatable causes. You need to think about getting power of attorney for her and your dad, and sad to say you probably need to think long and hard about relocating them to be closer to you, caregiving at a distance is not easy. 

I would go Monday prepared to have her readmitted to the hospital or to a geriatric psychiatric ward if necessary to get her stabilised and diagnosed. Good luck-there are many experienced caregivers here. Read widely to get yourself educated.