The PCP said he’s getting worse

Quilting brings calm

My step-dads pre op physical for his eye surgery was today. He’s cleared for that and for twilight anesthesia. It was an ‘interesting’ appointment. Dad did his usual blustery posture of ‘ nothing’s wrong with me’… but then pivoted to the ‘ there are bugs living inside me’ theory that he’s had for a couple years now( it’s the stuff he coughs up because of his COPD). The doctor told him he’d give him something for it.

Then dad went on about a particular arthritis cream he can’t find at Dollar General or Walgreens( I had to prompt the names of the stores for him). Doctor suggested he have me order it from Amazon. ‘No, no Dollar General has it, they told me they’d keep stocking it, I will just get it there’.

I asked the PCP to watch him walk. PCP agreed he’s leaning forward and taking small steps. Dad then had to show off by walking without his cane( a fall just waiting to happen). I asked the PCP to explain to dad why he should see the neurologist - dad had me cancel the appointment last month. I was so impressed- the PCP laid it out there about possible hallucinations in the future, about his balance and walk, about possible treatment before things get too bad to treat ( all without mentioning dementia). I don’t think dad will go to the rescheduled appointment either, but he’s now been advised by the PCP.

Aa we were leaving, I noted the visit summary didn't list a new medication, so I turned back to the nurse’s station. PCP was there and he will give him a placebo if dad continues to ask for something. The specialist has to be the one to prescribe the medication he really needs for the delusion. He then looked at me and said ‘he’s getting worse’. It was so nice to feel validated.

M1

Qbc, the delusions about bugs are fairly common and almost impossible to treat. I've had people bring me pieces of lint scotchtaped to paper to show me their "bugs." I had one woman who had delusions of mice in her house. Zoloft/sertraline made them quieter, she said, but they were still there.

Quilting brings calm

@M1 thanks for the info. He hadn’t mentioned the bugs recently - maybe I just hadn’t given him the opening he needed to do so. I was surprised when he brought it up today. He was a little argumentative with the doctor today about certain things too. That’s new. He usually acts like he and the doctor are buddies

His weight is steady, he’s dropped an inch in height. I think he looks a little shrunken/ thinner / pulled into himself somehow. I don’t exactly how to describe it . My MIL had that body appearance about a year before she died, .

SDianeL

this might help. It says just make the appointment and tell him right before you get there. https://dementiasherpa.com/doctorappt/