Directions for patient in war zone

Ola.Nonani

First, sorry for my terrible English.

Second I'm from Damascus, Syria and here we don't have proper Medicare for Alzheimer's patients. We suffered a lot because of the war.

My mother was diagnosed with Alzheimer's 7 years ago and according to what I have read and researched online, I think she is in her late stage. The doctors prescribed different medications, I can write their names if needed. She started to have seizures 4 months ago and the second one happened 15 days ago. the seizure happened to her while she was going up the stairs so she fell and bumped her head. She was hospitalized for 3 days. At the hospital she mostly was asleep for the first day the second and the third day she was more active. After she got out the hospital the first day she was more active but after 3 days she started to sleep the whole day. I'm struggling to feed her because she is asleep all the time. I'm wondering if anyone had the same case with their patients..I'm worried and I don't know what to do

SusanB-dil

Hi Ola.Nonani - Was anything checked out as to what may have been causing the seizures? How bad did she bump her head?  Sleepiness to that degree could have a lot of causes, but was a concussion ruled out?  Does her doctor know she is this sleepy?

M1

Your English is excellent, welcome. I'm so sorry for your troubles, I read recently that 10-20% of late stage patients with dementia will have seizures.

Do you have any hospice organizations there who can help provide care at home? It sounds like she may be reaching the final stages, and that's likely what would be recommended here in the States.

Good luck, you've come to a good supportive group, we all understand what you are facing.

MN Chickadee

Your English is great! I'm glad you found us. My mother also developed seizures during Alzheimers. Did they start your mother on an anti-seizure (anticonvulsant) medication? In the US a common one is Levetiracetam. When my mother started the medication it took her body a while to adjust. She was very sleepy and lethargic for a couple weeks but then improved some. The seizure itself also took its toll on her body and it took a while to rebound. 

It could also be your mother's Alzheimers has just declined and won't she improve. Sometimes in later stages of dementia medical events can be too much and it starts the final decline. It could be she is at the end. Don't force eating. If she isn't prepared to swallow it can get into the lungs and cause pneumonia. And when a person is nearing the end the body doesn't want food for good reason. It is shutting down and can't process the food. Try small bites of soft food when she is alert. Soft things with high calories like pudding or ice cream may be appealing to her still. In the US we have special care at the end of life called Hospice. Hospice nurses come to the home and provide the family with things the person will need as they die. Is there anything like that in your community? Is there a doctor you can call to find out how to handle end of life care? Most people need morphine and other medications to be comfortable. The phase of hospice care can last anywhere from a few days to many months, everyone goes on the journey in a different way. If it does turn out she is nearing the end and you would like more information on what to expect please do come here and start another question, there are lots of knowledgeable people here. 

Ola.Nonani

Hİ SusanB-dill 

She had a seizure before. We went to the hospital at that time because we thought that she was having a stroke. The doctor said it was because she is moving to late stage and seizures are expected. 

She bumped her head really bad so we rushed to the hospital, had CT scan and we found out that she has a minor hemorrhage but needs to be under surveillance for 3 days at the hospital. So there must be concussion, right?! 

Doctors can't say definitely what's the cause and that's what makes me worried

Ola.Nonani

Thank you M1 

Unfortunately, no hospice organization in here. Doctors just tell you what to do and you have to do it your self. So I'm on my own.I try to search online to keep my self up to the next step.

I'm really glad I have found this supportive group. It very difficult to be a caregiver where no one can lead you through the right path, so I'm thankful that I would find some help here 

Ola.Nonani

Thank you MNChikadee 

I'm glad I found you..

Yes she started on (Ralvic Chrono) *300 mg sodium Valporate*

2 pills aday. 

Lots of her medication I have trouble with finding them and some I can't find.

No hospice care in here. There used to be, but since the events started all good doctors and nurses fled the country. I try my best to take care of her. I quit my job.  

I only feed her when she's really alert, and what made hear more inactive is that she hurt her knee when she fell. She was active and moving most of the time. 

Doctors won't help you really. Just give you some idea about what to do and then you're on your own. 

So I think I'll keep this group my source of information and what to do next.

Thank you for your help and patience