Hot? Cold? How can you tell?

Mobile AL

Daddy started Sunday acting agitated. He tossed and turned all day, kicking off the covers, taking off his diaper, trying to get out of his bed. He's in stage 7 and is bedridden. He didn't know if he was hot or cold (don't know why I asked him).  

Monday morning I woke up to a strange sound and rushed in to check on him. He had vomited on his bed and had been laying on his back but somehow turned his head to the side at some point. For the rest of the day I kept him on a bland diet and plenty of liquids. I have to puree his food so I don't think he even noticed a difference. But other than a little more agitated than usual he seemed okay. 

Tuesday morning he seemed fine, ate well but was more agitated than usual. Kept trying to get out of bed so I was checking on him almost every 15 minutes and I was shocked when I walked into his room and saw that he had one leg hanging out between the hospital bed rails. I would catch him trying to take off his shirt or getting tangled up in it and at least a half dozen times he took off his shirt and diaper. He wouldn't keep his covers on, even just a sheet, and was getting tangled up in them. 

He's been coughing, a dry cough, and sneezing, but no noticeable congestive sounds. He looks flushed and sometimes feels warm but the ear thermometer shows no fever. 

I spoke with the nurse Monday morning and will be calling her again later this morning before the aide comes by. Hopefully I can get some sleep. 

A week or so back I read an article about fevers in people with alzheimers. The article said that taking their temperature was not always reliable because of the brain damage from dementia. From what I understand, the brain cannot always relay the information that there is an infection. That is something I'm having a hard time understanding. Do any of you have any knowledge or experience with this?  

RanchersWife

I’m sorry your father is so uncomfortable! Our hospice nurse said to feel their ankles and see if they are warm.

harshedbuzz

Mobile-

Is your dad receiving hospice services? If so, you might reach out to them about this. My friend's mom behaved similarly and her hospice nurse described it to her as "terminal restlessness" as end of life approaches. This might also factor into the vomiting episode. They increased morphine to lessen the distress and potential pain. (Her mom also had breast cancer, so pain was likely)

HB

mommyandme (m&m)

To me it sounds like he’s pretty uncomfortable, either physically and/or mentally.  

May be time for morphine to ease whatever discomfort he has. 

So sorry for the heartache.