Mom develops new ALZ manifestation

BassetHoundAnn

Several months ago my mom was evaluated in the geriatric clinic of a major medical center and the conclusion was that she was in Stage 5 with a few elements of Stage 6, namely incontinence. 

She can still dress herself impeccably well, take care of her hair and makeup, take care of hygiene, and feed herself by going down to the dining room at her residence at the appropriate times every day. I give her shower-baths because she hates bathing. She doesn't wander. She loves to socialize. 

Today when I was with her she collapsed on the floor because she was dizzy. She claimed her limbs felt paralyzed because she couldn't move them. She couldn't sit up without my hoisting her up. She couldn't get herself onto a chair or couch. She rallied after about an hour and was finally able to sit up by herself and hold her head up. Eventually I got her onto the couch and soon she was walking again. 

What do y'all think this portends? My understanding is that this is a late Stage 6, maybe Stage 7 symptom. But all her doctors insist she's not that far along.  

I'm hoping to get her into memory care within the next month. 

I had her at the doctor for a checkup two days ago. And because of a fall due to dizziness she was thoroughly checked out at an ER a couple weeks ago with every possible scan and blood test. 

Any advice from those of you who've been there? 

M1

BH, I wonder if it might be an inner ear problem--also known as vertigo or Meniere's disease--can do this, and it can be transient like that.  It's a terrible feeling.  Might be worth asking her doc about that.  Many times it's treated with antihistamines, which can have bad side effects for PWD--but small doses of Xanax sometimes work too.  Just a thought.  There's no diagnostic test, unfortunately.  Sounds like other things have been ruled out, which it typically the case.  Sorry it's happening.

dayn2nite2

This occurred with my mother when she was in stage 6 and it turned out to be low potassium due to a diuretic she was taking.  After her potassium was corrected and the facility knew they had to monitor that periodically and watch for that weakness-type symptom, her next walking issue only came when she was no longer able to walk, which pretty much signaled the beginning of stage 7 and her entry into the hospice program.

The steps are not the be-all and end-all, though.  My mother on any day could function anywhere from stage 5 level up to things in stage 7.

Also consider whether she could have been dehydrated, overheated when this happened.

RanchersWife

Low blood sugar?

BassetHoundAnn

M1 wrote:

BH, I wonder if it might be an inner ear problem--also known as vertigo or Meniere's disease--can do this, and it can be transient like that.  It's a terrible feeling.  Might be worth asking her doc about that.  Many times it's treated with antihistamines, which can have bad side effects for PWD--but small doses of Xanax sometimes work too.  Just a thought.  There's no diagnostic test, unfortunately.  Sounds like other things have been ruled out, which it typically the case.  Sorry it's happening.

Thanks, M1 for the suggestions! When we visited her PCP the other day we talked a lot about her vertigo and how it's progressed the past year. She described it as "my head and the world spinning around me." Her PCP said just what you did, that it was her inner ear and possibly Meniere's. He claimed nothing could be done for it. 

What concerned me was that she claimed that her legs felt "paralyzed" and would not move. And I had to help her sit up and hold her head up, lifting her into place. That didn't seem like the vertigo she's suffered in the past, but rather like advanced ALZ. She was in good cheer today and didn't fall or have any recurrence so I guess we'll just have to hold tight and see. 

BassetHoundAnn

dayn2nite2 wrote:

This occurred with my mother when she was in stage 6 and it turned out to be low potassium due to a diuretic she was taking.  After her potassium was corrected and the facility knew they had to monitor that periodically and watch for that weakness-type symptom, her next walking issue only came when she was no longer able to walk, which pretty much signaled the beginning of stage 7 and her entry into the hospice program.

The steps are not the be-all and end-all, though.  My mother on any day could function anywhere from stage 5 level up to things in stage 7.

Also consider whether she could have been dehydrated, overheated when this happened.

The potassium deficiency is an interesting theory. My mom was on potassium supplements years ago but her doctor(s) eventually discontinued them. She's had lots of bloodwork done in the past weeks (and months) and her potassium levels have remained normal and consistent. 

I also considered that she might be dehydrated and gave her a glass of lemonade to drink. She had just come from dinner and assumedly had fluids with her meal. It was a 90 degree day and although the building was thoroughly chilled by AC, she had turned off the AC in her apartment, shut the windows and was wearing sweaters. So overheating might have been an issue as well. 

Thank you for noting that the steps might not be strictly steps and that your mom functioned in stage 5 up to stage 7 on any given day. I didn't realize that was a possibility. But it makes sense. Today my mom was in high spirits, though she kept insisting that my dad golfed and trying to remember what she did with his clubs. My dad never golfed. 

Thank you for your kind reply!

BassetHoundAnn

RanchersWife wrote:

Low blood sugar?

It's a good possibility. That's what my DH thought was the problem. Although she had just come from dinner. But perhaps she didn't eat? She seemed to revive after I got her to drink a glass of lemonade, so wonky blood sugar is as much of a possibility as dehydration. She's 95 and I've noticed in her bloodwork that her blood sugar can be all over the map. I've also noticed that when she's "off" if I give her something to eat or drink she seems to revive and becomes quite cheery suddenly. But they don't treat late-onset diabetes in 95-year-olds for fear of accidentally lowering blood sugar too much with drugs. That's what I've read anyway. <sigh> Who knew that my mom's dementia would have me reading about diabetes in 95-year-olds late into the night.  

Thank you for the reply! And the best to you!