Excessive Sleeping

LongBee2021

Of course I am taking him to the doctor and consulting them about this. Still, I have found other people's experiences helpful on this dementia journey we are on. 

My dad recently fell, luckily he didn't hit the floor hard, I was able to slowly lower him to the ground. His legs became noodles and he couldn't hold himself up at all so I just helped him slowly lower to the floor. He was in rehab for about 3 weeks. 

For a few weeks prior to his fall, I started to notice he was sleeping a lot more during the day and night. We kept him awake as much as we could but after a while it's pointless to even try. He still sleeps all through the night no matter how much he sleeps during the day. His doctors aren't too concerned about the change since he still sleeps all through the night and won't be making any changes or recommendations anyway until his appointment in a couple weeks after they run tests, etc. 

What I am wondering is if your loved one with Alzheimer's/dementia had at any point started to excessively sleep? If so, what did their doctor say?  What came next for your LO after the excessive sleep stage?

Rescue mom

In my experience, and what I’ve heard in support groups, it’s a common thing. Many dementia patients do sleep a lot, and during the day. As long as doctors found no medical problem, I would not be too concerned.  Many say it’s better that they sleep than get into “trouble.” It may not be a “stage” that passes, but what comes next, or what else may happens when he’s awake, is impossible to say, it varies so much with the person.

King Boo

Sleeping can be a way the body heals.  If Grandpa had a recent infection or illness or sleep distruption.   Urinary track infections of course, a common medical issue.  Rule this out.

Sleeping a lot is also a hallmark of the disease.  In later stages, they may only be awake for limited hours during the day.  Does he wake and eat for meals?

Sleeping a lot in later stages can also be a signal that the end, while not necessarily imminent, is approaching.  The final 6 months of my LO's life involved a whole lot of sleeping.

Generally, trying to wake them for daytime activities beyond eating is not productive.

It's how the symptoms go - once underlying medical cause is ruled out.

Never try to feed an asleep PWD.

What comes next?   More sleeping, less rousability.    It is probably a good idea to ask (not wait for an MD to recommend, because most MD's have little understanding of hospice)  to ask for a hospice evaluation.  It adds an extra layer of services that are very helpful for quality of life provided the family is ready to let go of excessive (but not all) medical intervention.

LicketyGlitz

We went through the same thing with my mom, LongBee, after she came down with COVID. It made sense when she was first sick, but then a month or two later she was still having 16 - 18 hour days/nights of sleeping. Her doctors said the same thing as your grandpa; they weren't worried, she was still healing, etc.

Eventually she got back to a normal sleep schedule for her, but those odd weeks when she's sleep her life away concerned us for a bit. Then, if I'm honest, we kinda enjoyed the freedom!

I hope you and your grandpa are doing well now.

jfkoc

Did they rule out an UTI done with culture?

I would go to a site like drugs.com to investigate the side effects of all drugs including OTC and possible interactions. 

MN Chickadee

It very well could be progression of the disease and a sign that he is taking a final decline. I don't want to give advice if it's not relevant, but since it was a factor for my LO it feels worth mentioning - you could ask the doctor to asses whether all current medications are necessary as a precaution. Especially ones that fall in the psychotropic category. My LO was on a carefully concocted cocktail that worked really well for years, but then she started sleeping all the time. And falling all the time. Even though we figured it was likely an inevitable dementia decline we worked with her doctor and tinkered with the meds  a bit. Turns out her brain chemistry had changed, and the meds needed to as well. We cut her SSRI down and it woke her up. She became far more alert during the day and even started walking a bit better. That combined with a physical therapy evaluation for some things to get her stronger bought us some time, as it were. So it may be worth making sure the current drug regime is appropriate for current circumstances. I would also echo that any health event, such as UTI, falls, infection, minor colds etc did result in a lot of sleep to recover. 

However if drug interactions/effects are not at play, and it sounds like he has a a medical team looking at blood work for infections and other things, it may be time to bring in hospice. If he continues to sleep all the time it is likely that he is in a new phase of the disease and you will need to change the approach to comfort care. The hospice team can offer services to make him comfortable and help you make decisions, understand what is to come, and assist with tangible services for physical, spiritual, and emotional needs. 

Mobile AL

My daddy had been sleeping a large part of the day and night but then started getting up at night so I had to stay up with him. He was getting his days and nights mixed up. His PT suggested I wake him up and make him get up during the day, not just at mealtimes.  

The doctor agreed that he should be woken up and for me to walk beside him if he was stable but otherwise let him sleep or doze in a recliner during the day with the TV on to try to avoid him sleeping too deeply during the day. Doctor also said it was a progression of the disease and would eventually worsen. 

Battlebuddy

Excessive sleeping is going on at my house. DH is on Hospice and they are monitoring it. I just called them today because my DH is beginning to sleep through lunch. He is also falling asleep at the end of meals.Before that he was at least awake for meals and a little more after that.Hospice said to let him sleep. I’m now keeping a journal ,not of how many hours he sleeps, but how many he is awake. It’s down to about 3 or 4 hours a day .In that time I have to feed, do hygiene, and meds.

Lanatori

I am experiencing fatigue lately and want to sleep all the time. I don't know what can be the cause..

Brigv

I had the same question when my dad started sleeping more than usual. At first, I thought it was a side effect of medications, but having checked the description on the Canada Drugs site https://www.canadadrugsdirect.com/, I understood it wasn't the reason. Then I asked a doctor. He told me that sleeping excessively is a common feature of later-stage dementia. Also, I asked him about a sleeping schedule (I noticed in the posts above people faced this problem). Patients with dementia might be tired during the day, but not be able to sleep well at night. It is best to keep the same sleep/wake times and routine as before dementia began. Some drugs used to treat dementia may also affect sleep. It is good to nap during the day and the best time for this is before lunchtime.

toolbeltexpert

Lanatori wrote:

I am experiencing fatigue lately and want to sleep all the time. I don't know what can be the cause..

 Lavatories welcome to the forum it hard to do very much without  proper sleep. You will probably get more replies if you start a new topic a. It's at the top of the message board"add topic"  I am hoping you'll get better sleep. Feel free to vent or rant. It's part of caregiving sometimes.

ChHodge

You should see a doctor if you feel tired all the time, if excessive daytime sleepiness affects your daily life, or if you think this may be a sign of an underlying disorder.

May flowers

I would definitely get checked out, Lanatori. So many possible causes, vitamin b deficiencies, stress, chronic fatigue, Lyme disease, seasonal allergies, etc. My sister has long Covid syndrome, has been unbelievably fatigued since having Covid in January. Her doc has put her on supplements that have helped her turn the corner, thankfully. Hope you get answers soon.

Mobile, my FIL was sleeping all day (we thought he may be near the end) and now he is awake all day and cannot sit still. I never know what to expect.