Delusions..again. Help appreciated.

Zaellan

I know there are other posts on this topic but I need help with this situation.

My LO seems to be immersed in delusions.  If we dispel one she will just come up with another one. She creates story scenerios with the delusions.  I could help with one particular delusion.

She has the delusion that a man is after her, he would appear in her room at times.  She gets very upset at me because how could I allow stuff like this to happen.  She says he comes in through the basement (we don't have one).  She doesn't sleep well as the result. She gets so wound up that she starts crying and getting mad because I don't believe her.

I've tried staying in her room.  Doesn't work.  I've tried telling her that she is safe I would not let anything happen to her (trying to live in her world), she doesn't believe me most of the time. My approach (and my sisters) is to say we believe that he is very real to her and that we will take care of anything that comes up.  Is this too confusing for her?  My sister's belief is that if we buy into it and tell a fiblet that she will just get worked up and think that the person is real.  It is her thought that by telling her its not real, it isn't.  This delusion is an everyday thing.  We have gotten days that she believes me (I'm primary caretaker) but it comes back a couple days later. She remembers the man..I was hoping that she would forget but she doesn't.  Is this an unreal expectation?

We just got her on Seraqual (wrong spelling), that has been a couple days.  How long until it would help?  She is on 25 at night and then 1/2 pill only when needed.  We also upped the patch rivastine (wrong spelling on that too) from 4.5 to 9.5.  The new patch was only on for one day. 

My question is how do I handle this delusion?  As I said this happens everyday.  She always ends up crying because she is so scared. She has threatened to call the police.  Any help would be appreciated.  It has been very tiring. Thank you!

harshedbuzz

Zaellan wrote:

I am sorry you are dealing with this. 

She has the delusion that a man is after her, he would appear in her room at times.  She gets very upset at me because how could I allow stuff like this to happen.  She says he comes in through the basement (we don't have one).  She doesn't sleep well as the result. She gets so wound up that she starts crying and getting mad because I don't believe her.

A couple thoughts come to mind. 

This could be a conflated memory triggered by something in her past. It might not even be a past scenario that happened to her, but something she is dredging up that she might have witnessed or been told about. It could also be related to something she is seeing on TV; at a certain stage I had to block the channels that showed mom's favorite crime dramas because dad took on the victim's role and was terrified. This kind of amazed me that he'd could recall the emotional content of SVU but not whether he'd had lunch or not.

Eventually, I had to cut off access to news (I wonder if your mom is following a crime story- perhaps the Gaby Petito murder which is getting wall-to-wall coverage) and even the weather channel (dad believed all weather was just on the other side of the door- floods, hurricanes, blizzards, fire- and all at once)

I've tried staying in her room.  Doesn't work.  I've tried telling her that she is safe I would not let anything happen to her (trying to live in her world), she doesn't believe me most of the time. My approach (and my sisters) is to say we believe that he is very real to her and that we will take care of anything that comes up.  Is this too confusing for her?  My sister's belief is that if we buy into it and tell a fiblet that she will just get worked up and think that the person is real.  It is her thought that by telling her its not real, it isn't.  This delusion is an everyday thing.  We have gotten days that she believes me (I'm primary caretaker) but it comes back a couple days later. She remembers the man..I was hoping that she would forget but she doesn't.  Is this an unreal expectation?

Sometimes it can work to play along with the delusion- rather like using "Monster Spray" with a preschooler. Mom did this when dad heard kids upstairs playing past their bedtimes- she'd leave the room and come back announcing she told them to go home or go to sleep. 

I wonder if telling her the police have been called and have taken care of it might help her settle in the moment along with a redirection to happy music and a sweet snack.

We just got her on Seraqual (wrong spelling), that has been a couple days.  How long until it would help?  She is on 25 at night and then 1/2 pill only when needed.  We also upped the patch rivastine (wrong spelling on that too) from 4.5 to 9.5.  The new patch was only on for one day. 

It might take a few days before you see the complete impact of the Seroquel on board. IME, it was better to keep dad on 25mg twice daily to take the edge off this symptom proactively rather than reactively trying to get a second dose in once he was upset and waiting for it to kick in. YMMV.

My question is how do I handle this delusion?  As I said this happens everyday.  She always ends up crying because she is so scared. She has threatened to call the police.  Any help would be appreciated.  It has been very tiring. Thank you!

See above. Good luck. This is hard stuff. 

M1

Zaellen, I would keep asking about increasing the Seroquel dose until her delusions are controlled.  I would also ask whether the rivastigmine is worth it at this point or whether it could be contributing to the delusions and confusion.

Caring-for-2

I am following to see what answers you get. Thank you for being it up. I am dealing with very similar hallucinations with my husband.

KellieK

Not much help from me either!  I am following as well. I am new here!  I am taking care of my 87 yo father who has just begun to really show signs of dementia. Last night he was positive he was downtown in a hotel and wanted to see a manager or someone that could get him home. He was talking to my husband and my mother. It wasn’t until I got home and got him settled down that I convinced him he was at home. But he sees people all the time. Last week someone was in the house trying to steal my moms Christmas tree (which is not up yet). And there is often a little boy wondering around the house. We have an appointment with his doctor on Nov 2nd. So hopefully we will get some more answers!  Best of luck to us all!

Zaellan

Let me know what either of you find out.  The seraquel has helped with the sleeping problem but hasn't done anything for the confusion or the hallucinations.  If your LO is prescribed something different can you share and tell of the results?  We are still looking for the combination.  

@kellieK-Your dad sounds exactly like my mom.  I will be interested in hearing how your journey progresses and if you are able to make any headway.

sueclarkpt80

My sister has early onset Alzheimer's disease and had hallucinations and delusions back in June. She is now on Risperdal that has helped up until now. She is now getting angry and aggressive and we are hoping to increase her meds or find another to add to the Risperdal. Hang in there, this is the most difficult thing I have ever dealt with. 

bboop217

So sorry for what you are dealing with. I'm new here, finding so many similarities and I appreciate everyone posting their experiences. Mom is being cared for at home of my brother. Her current rantings, delusions, paranoia upsetting household, brother at wits end. I am 500 miles away with the POA bill paying, banking responsibilities but feeling oh so useless. 

Mom started seroquel this past weekend, 25 mg trying to figure out when or if it will "kick in"

Annabelle49

What type doctor is prescribing these medications for delusions and hallucinations? I believe my sister il is only being treated by her family doctor and can get an appointment with a neurologist until January (2-3 months). She needs help now.

harshedbuzz

Annabelle49 wrote:

What type doctor is prescribing these medications for delusions and hallucinations? I believe my sister il is only being treated by her family doctor and can get an appointment with a neurologist until January (2-3 months). She needs help now.

Ideally, a geriatric psychiatrist (or neurologist if no geri psych is available) should prescribe meds. Have you reached out to her PCP? There are some who will prescribe for a patient they're actively treating. 

grammyteacher

When my mom had these types of dilutions, I tried to say something that brought her peace... there was a lost boy at the house, she was so concerned about him... "it's okay mom, I found his parents and they picked him up. " We used whatever worked, but never argued with her or told her it wasn't true, because to her it was. 

If I were you, I would try things like another posted said... "we called the police and they are taking care of it"... "I bought and installed new security locks, doors, on the basement, windows, etc." 

Finding a way to make her feel heard and safe. That what will help.