Sometimes mentally better, but is it really better?

RunningWorried76

Until earlier this year, mom's dementia seemed to be progressing. She was mostly almost catatonic. Barely talked most days. Slept a lot, extremely inactive and disoriented when awake. Then we come to find out she had some medical diagnoses that cause increased cognitive impairment. The surgeon said after we fix her up, we should notice some cognitive improvement (just some, these issues were not the cause of her dementia, they just were making it worse). Two surgeries later, yes, we do see some improvement. On her good days anyway.

As usual, it's a roller coaster ride. She still has those bad catatonic type days. But now on her good days, she's too alert. How can that be, one might ask? Well, she is back to that obsessive behavior, talking about how she wants to cook this or cook that or buy a car so she can start driving again. Trying to walk without her walker even though she is a serious fall risk. She's just alert enough to get herself into trouble, but not enough to be left alone at all.

So I don't know what is worse. The bad days, which are depressing to see her just completely inactive. Or the good days, when I have to worry about her doing something dangerous.

😔

Klako

Interesting you write this as I just went through a period like this with my dad. He was kind of out of it, ordered dinner asked five minutes later if he had ordered. Then all of a sudden he was like he was 6 months ago. Asked where my sister sho had passed car was. Told her court was selling it and he said but I planned to drive it? Noe he is back to kind of the withdrawn quiet person who forgets if he ordered dinner again. I was wondering the same as you if this is normal?