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in stage 8 after a fall

My wonderful husband passed last Thursday near midnight. He had been experiencing some episodes of lashing out toward the staff of his memory care home (utterly unlike any behaviors before) and I had met with executive staff who thought because he'd had a week with out of town visitors, being taken to golf range, etc. he was 'overstimulated'. The MC has two doctors…a psychiatrist and a primary care doctor, both coming on site a few times a month. The primary care ordered depakote and noted it was causing some side effects. Gary had some other incidents, they called me at night and my son and I took him to ER who gave us seraquil…The primary care doc doubled his depakote and the psychiatrist was alerted. When I visited him he couldn't walk easily and was mentally confused and his fine motor skills were gone and I had to help him dress. I alerted staff. The psychiatrist ordered respiradone, but didn't review the other meds. which were many. The next day I got a phone call that he had fallen and hit his head and an ambulance was being called. I rushed over and rode with him in the ambulance. They did some assessment and got him to pee for a UTI screen. He had a UTI. He continued to decline and the CT scans showed brain damage from the fall. He never regained consciousness and after a few days it was clear to the hospital staff he was not getting better. I had been researching other placement options so it was overwhelming to be told he would not regain what he had just a few days earlier. The two compassionate female doctors who were attending at the hospital were clear. I agreed to palliative care. My two grandsons flew in and with my son and his wife we organized around the clock sitting with him until he passed. The hospital called hospice. The hospital was excellent in his care as were the medical staff who treated him there. I am grieving and entering stage 8…Gary was in stage 5 when he was overmedicated, undiagnosed with a UTI and fell. - clear

Comments

  • ronda b
    ronda b Member Posts: 317
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    Im sorry for your loss.

  • harshedbuzz
    harshedbuzz Member Posts: 5,947
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    @Jo124c

    I am so sorry for the loss of your dear husband.

    HB

  • tonyac2
    tonyac2 Member Posts: 126
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    So sorry for your loss.

  • Chance Rider
    Chance Rider Member Posts: 122
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    @Jo124c I’m so sorry for your loss.

  • midge333
    midge333 Member Posts: 616
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    I am sorry for your loss. Please be kind to yourself.

  • CindyBum
    CindyBum Member Posts: 570
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    I am so sorry for you loss. I'm so glad you have your family gathered around you.

  • Biggles
    Biggles Member Posts: 575
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    That is all so sad. Your care and understanding is so evident. No matter how, when or where the time comes, after such a caring relationship for each other it’s going to be traumatic. He will be sadly missed and you will grieve. Thankyou for sharing I am afraid of the end and reading your journey strangely gives me a little bit of courage.

  • JeriLynn66
    JeriLynn66 Member Posts: 1,294
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    I’m so sorry for the loss of your dear husband. Holding you close in prayer ❤️

  • suvi
    suvi Member Posts: 14
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    I’m very sorry for your loss.

  • jgreen
    jgreen Member Posts: 64
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    God bless you @Jo124c and your family.

  • Metta
    Metta Member Posts: 85
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    My heart breaks for you and your family. Everything about dementia is so cruel. Wishing you strength and peace.

  • wose
    wose Member Posts: 292
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    I’m so sorry for the loss of your DH. It’s so very traumatic when you weren’t expecting it. Please go easy on yourself. Wishing you and your family peace and strength.

  • SDianeL
    SDianeL Member Posts: 2,509
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    so sorry for your loss. My thoughts and prayers are with you and your family. 🙏💜

  • Victoriaredux
    Victoriaredux Member Posts: 64
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    edited 10:38AM

    I'm so sorry at the loss of your husband and the whirlwind at the end….no loss is without heartache …sounds like he was physically active fairly close to the end- the driving range etc —I hope that, in time, is a tiny comfort he didn't linger for years bedridden . Nothing will remove the sudden shock of his passing but watching stage 7 is brutal. There is no good time to lose a loved one , but sparing pain ... I am grateful the hospital encircled your family with kind understanding and support.

  • cdgbdr
    cdgbdr Member Posts: 283
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    I am so sorry for your loss. There are no words to express it well. I pray that you find some comfort in the presence of your family.

  • Marla13
    Marla13 Member Posts: 46
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    I am so sorry for your loss.

  • White Crane
    White Crane Member Posts: 1,083
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    i’m so sorry for the loss of your dear husband. Please try to take good care of yourself in the coming days.

  • marier
    marier Member Posts: 126
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    My thoughts and prayers are with you, your family and your DH. As others have stated please be gentle with yourself during this time of grief. I am so sorry for your loss.

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
Read more