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Sudden mental changes

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Trgdm
Trgdm Member Posts: 2
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in Caring For a Spouse or Partner

My spouse (70) was recently retested using the MMSE test, her score went from 19 a year ago to 11. Over the past 6 weeks we have experienced significant shifts in personality and overall happiness. Before very generous, she has become very me/mine focused. She does recognize that we are married (48 years), last night yelling at me to get out her bedroom. Yelling is very out of character. She does not remember our children and grandchildren. This has happened over the same period. We exploring the possibility of a day program and wondering if anyone has thoughts or suggestions.

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  • Gator1976
    Gator1976 Member Posts: 47
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    While we are in the beginning stages with my LW in stage 4, anger can be a part of Alzheimer’s. She needs to be tested to find out exactly what’s causing her decline. Then a plan can be put in place. A psychiatrist can formulate a plan and help manage the meds she is on. It will be your job to monitor her side effects and work with the doctor to make adjustments.

    Overall you must get professional help and support. At a minimum a neurologist to make the diagnosis and proscribe medications, psychiatrist (meds) psychologist ( counseling) and include your primary doctor.

  • Quilting brings calm
    Quilting brings calm Member Posts: 2,845
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    Has a UTI been ruled out? Because that can cause a significant drop in cognition, a significant rise in confusion, anger, delusions etc. often there are no other symptoms - so there might be no burning when urinating, etc. Early in mom’s dementia, she exhibited a quick change like this. We kept telling her doctors she had a UTI, and they kept saying she didn’t. We all thought she needed to go straight to a nursing home, and brought her back to our home state. We took her directly to the hospital and she was diagnosed with urosepsis in an hour. A weeks stay in the hospital, a month stay in rehab. She lived 5 years in assisted living after that.

  • midge333
    midge333 Member Posts: 536
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    She needs a detailed evaluation for dementia if it has not been done.

  • H1235
    H1235 Member Posts: 976
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    Welcome. Medication can help. It takes a while to find the correct medication and dose, even to find the right doctor to prescribe it. I also agree that it would be a good idea to rule out a uti.

  • Trgdm
    Trgdm Member Posts: 2
    First Comment
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    https://alzconnected.org/discussion/comment/247558#Comment_247558

    She has had extensive testing at a major university and scans are consistent with Alzheimers.

  • midge333
    midge333 Member Posts: 536
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    @Trgdm : Thanks! It wasn't clear from your initial post if you had a dementia diagnosis for your DW. I agree with comments from others. My wife's agitation suddenly increased about 17 months ago necessitating the addition of an antipsychotic to her antidepressant. It took over a year to find the right dosage of drugs but the last 3 months have been much better. Best of luck!

  • Iris L.
    Iris L. Member Posts: 4,789
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    Check for a "silent" urinary tract infection or other medical problem first. Insist on this.

    Iris

  • Timmyd
    Timmyd Member Posts: 133
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    Regarding UTI's. I got some good advice from this group. You can get disposable "nun's cap" online or from medical supply store. Our PCP gave us specimen collection containers. Now I can easily collect a urine sample at home and bring it in for testing. This is so much easier than having to schedule a PCP visit each time I think DW should be tested.

Commonly Used Abbreviations


DH = Dear Husband
DW= Dear Wife, Darling Wife
LO = Loved One
ES = Early Stage
EO = Early Onset
FTD = Frontotemporal Dementia
VD = Vascular Dementia
MC = Memory Care
AL = Assisted Living
POA = Power of Attorney
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