First experience with DH hallucination

Cathy coconis

Hi all, after his typical afternoon nap my husband awoke saying, “ I just saw someone laying right here next to me. “ My DH looked surprised but happy. He then said it was “pretty cool”. And …”I think it was you”- which it was not.

Is this what a hallucination can be like? First time so no scary stories please.

harshedbuzz

@Cathy coconis

I'm not one to sugar-coat, but the good news is that sometimes hallucinations are nicer than real life. Early on, dad's hallucinations were pretty benign later on he had old buddies drop by to see him. I recall being snapped at when attempting to sit in a chair in dad's room because I didn't see his golf partner already seated there. My aunt's hallucinations were consistently pleasant— she'd look out her window at a stand of trees and describe the view from her bayfront cottage in Maine.

That said, dad's delusions, (false beliefs) which are different than hallucinations, tended to have either a dark side centered on people doing him dirty or fantastical in which he was the hero in a dangerous situation. For a while there he believed he was the Tom Selleck character from Blue Bloods. Auntie's delusions remained lovely throughout.

HB

jgreen

Yes @Cathy coconis That was a hallucination.

And like @harshedbuzz, My DH sees and talks with people when he is dreaming. He also sees kittens and puppies and pats the bed for them to jump up on the bed!

So sorry you are going through this. We understand!

Call me Gram

My FIL had Alz. In 2018, when he was still alive, my DH and I were visiting him in MC. My FIL was at the point where any words he would utter did not make sense, and he certainly couldn't string a sentence together. But the lucidity of this day shocked DH and me.

My FIL was smiling and said to DH, "I saw my father last night." He went on to say that his father told him he would meet him on the other side of the stars. Wow! My FIL also said healing things to my DH that day… "I love you, Son." "You're a good man." "I'm sorry."

My DH was so glad I was there to witness this, as it was quite hard to believe. I just kept writing things down as my FIL was talking, so I wouldn't forget a thing. What a blessing this was for DH! 💝

harshedbuzz

https://alzconnected.org/discussion/comment/262450#Comment_262450

The day my dad died we had a conversation about a nice visit he'd had from my sister. She was sorry she'd been remiss in visiting but she was busy as a single mom and her recent promotion at work. She promised she'd see him again soon which made him happy.

FTR, my sister died in 1994 and throughout the later stages of the disease he struggled to remember her. She'd been his favorite and it pained him that he couldn't recall whether she'd died or not. Dad was in MC in what looked like stage 6 except still verbal, ambulatory, self-feeding, etc. But the visit freaked me out enough that I stopped by mom's house to encourage her to visit even offering to drive. She said she would tomorrow. I even called dad's brother, who was about my least favorite person as the result of playing armchair quarterback around our care decision, to suggest a visit asap warning dad had progressed since his last visit. He also promised "tomorrow".

Dad was found unresponsive at the 10pm bed check.

HB

Cathy coconis

https://alzconnected.org/discussion/comment/262438#Comment_262438

https://alzconnected.org/discussion/comment/262438#Comment_262438

https://alzconnected.org/discussion/comment/262438#Comment_262438

thanks for helping me see the positive side! Something about the word hallucination is so scary- all I could think was Here’s another step down. I’ve seen the opposite type when my FIL saw The Enemy. He went to attack his wife.

Cathy coconis

https://alzconnected.org/discussion/comment/262447#Comment_262447

thanks for sharing. My DH has been talking with people and laughing in his sleep also!

sandwichone123

My grandmother would see "the children," and they seemed to bring her joy. We could never figure out what children she was seeing, though. She had to sleep on the couch because they were on the bed. :-)

My dh (in memory care) may be having hallucinations that appear to be someone in trouble or being threatened (he was in the military) and he has to come in and rescue them.

Cathy coconis

https://alzconnected.org/discussion/comment/262447#Comment_262447

I am sorry you had to go through this.

https://alzconnected.org/discussion/comment/262462#Comment_262462

https://alzconnected.org/discussion/comment/262462#Comment_262462

sounds like a nice hallucination- seeing the grandchildren. Thanks for sharing

Cathy coconis

that sounds like a sweet memory, seeing the kids. Yes that military thing wth your dh sounds familiar

Cathy coconis

thank you everyone for your helpful responses. We are in this together aren’t we?