delusions

With my DH, I have concluded that there is always some semblance of truth in his delusions. The idea of twisted memories or the delusions being affected by past experiences seem to ring true. He will constantly say “we’ve been here before” when we go to places I know we’ve never been, but I’m assuming there is something about the place that looks like something we’ve seen before.

My DH also suffers from delusions, but I can’t think how they might be rooted in some past experiences or something he saw on TV.  For months he has been quite certain that people are getting into the house and moving his things.  That he thinks this is perfectly logical from his point of view.  He hides his stuff and frequently moves things to new hiding places.  But he doesn’t remember that he was the person who moved his belongings, so naturally his view is that someone from outside is playing tricks on him.  He does seem to realize that I’m not doing it, nor is our adult child who is staying with us.  Then he became convinced that the person or people doing these things was/were maybe living in the attic because he never actually saw them in the house. 

Finally, in desperation, I ordered and installed a home security system so nobody could get in without our being aware of the entry, and I completely blocked access to the attic.  Then before he went to bed for a few nights, we took a complete tour of the house, making sure there was only one point of access to the attic, which was blocked, and that every entrance into the house was locked and guarded by entry sensors.  At this point, he seems assured that he’s not the victim of mischief-makers.  I haven’t heard him complain about “someone” moving his stuff.  But this whole thing has been awfully tiring, and I'm sure this isn't the last issue we'll face.

My husband of 36 years keeps forgetting that we’re married. Je seems to know that I am in his life and that he loves me but is shocked when I tell him we’ve been married for 36 years. Has anyone else experienced anything like this ?

My mom's delusions were often blends of what she saw on tv and people who were in her life at the time. She once told me she had been asked to organize a baby shower for one of the staff at her AL. Another time she had an entire made-up history for a man who moved in down the hall - I don't know that she ever even spoke with him. Some amazing dreams - or night time delusions? - when she would call me and spin elaborate stories about going on vacation or being on a cruise, and when was I coming to breakfast and what were we going to do that day? I was always grateful that most of her delusions were neutral or even happy things, and rarely was she afraid and only sometimes angry.

There are meds that can tamp this down. I would talk to his MDs

I saw a movie many years ago about alcoholism. The protagonist had terrifying visual hallucinations, called delirium tremens. Those hallucinations are caused by prolonged alcohol intoxication that prevents dreaming. Since the brain has to dream, it begins to dream while awake, thus the hallucinations. Researchers have found that prolonged sleep deprivation can cause hallucinations as well, for the same reason.

One of the reasons I don't drink is nightmares. If I go to sleep intoxicated, I don't dream until the alcohol wears off. Then my dream world comes back and takes revenge on me.

I have no idea if hallucinations and delusions in dementia are at all related to inability of the PWD to dream. It is just a thought.

Early on in our journey I kept asking why, needing answers. But the reality of the horrors took over my every waking (and sleeping) moment and I was simply in survival mode. Knowing why this-or-that didn't help at all because he was not to be reasoned with. Fearing he might hurt me took center stage. Figuring out how to stay safe became priority and main focus. I still don't know how I survived the dark times. This disease, especially Lewy Body, is pure evil.