Capgrass Syndrome

kjaymes · August 16

Hey folks,

Hope some of you are having a pleasant day.

I shared on an earlier post that my DW was forgetting who I am, mostly in the afternoon/ evenings. Now she is waking up not knowing who I am. The memory social worker mentioned that my wife more than likely has Capgrass Syndrome. She has been diagnosed with alzheimers (about a month now), but we are not sure if FTD or Lewy Body might be also part of her diagnosis without further testing.

Has anyone had a spouse with Capgrass Syndrome? Was there a way to improve or get rid of it. This is pretty hard when your wife of 33 years thinks you are an imposter.

Also, on another note. My wife had an appointment for a pet scan this past Saturday. No food or drink (other than coffee) 6 hours prior. I made sure my wife did not eat or drink ANYTHING.

As my wife was being brought in for the pet scan, the tech asked her if she had anything to eat or drink. My wife, because she has this terrible disease, says "Yes" I had a couple of sips of coffee. Long story short, after me telling the tech over and over, she did not have anything to eat or drink and she has dementia (which my wife denied), the tech adamantly continues to tell me that they have to go by what the patient says. I was livid! Anyone have any techniques or methods where that won't happen again?

Thanks so much!

Lethe · August 17

I’m sorry that happened. I’d be livid too and I’d also be reporting that tech who clearly has no understanding of this disease.

iowagirl1961 · August 17

A recent thread titled “need advice, Where is my husband?” has a link to a Careblazer video addressing a spouse not recognizing you that I thought was good. I have been in this boat for at least a year; my husband now regularly asks me who I am. I had not heard the name Capgrass Syndrome but have read that not recognizing a spouse is a pretty normal progression of this terrible disease.

dcare45 · August 17

@kjaymes my heart goes out to you. I don't believe my DW knows we are married but she still recognizes me. Can't imagine how difficult what you are going through is. As far as the issue with the tech, maybe if a procedure/test is ordered the Doc can make a note on the order about her dementia. Also, if you have the Medical POA get that in her records. Might help might not.

beachwalker5 · August 17

My DW recently diagnosed with AD and probably around stage 3-4 frequently expresses that there is a "good" and a "bad" versions of her siblings, each two separate people, all born by the same parents but not growing up together. I've been assuming that this is a form of Capgrass???? She also has a Jeckle/Hyde way of behaving with myself, our adult children and her friends which makes me wonder if she's also "Capgrassing" all of us???? What a weird weird disease…..

stananon · September 15

One evening, back in probably March or early April, DW and I went to dinner in a restaurant. At that time she was in mild stage, with some memory loss, some difficulty finding words, some loss of executive function, and was borderline (mild impairment / mild dementia) on the neuro-psychological tests. That evening, she asked me all kinds of questions like we were on a first date. I thought it was cute, I played along. Until we got home, and she thanked me, and told me I couldn't stay there…she is married, and its not appropriate for her to invite me in. besides her husband would get angry. I don't remember what I did, or said, maybe we called our son, or her brother and they were able to convince her that I was her loving husband. That was the night that she slipped from mild to moderate stage.

This is a recurring theme now, almost every night. At first, I would go out, drive somewhere close, change shirt or jacket and come home, and she would recognize me as her husband. Then she began falling, and I could not leave her alone. This causes some stress most late afternoons, with her thinking I am someone else. Most of the time she knows me again around 7:30 - 8 pm (bedtime).

tonight was very stressful…her delusions are much stronger and last longer, and start earlier. She wants to go "home" or "to 'work" sometime between 4 and 7, and she gets extremely angry with me for not letting her leave the house. (She is not oriented to time and place, and is very confused). She no longer accepts that " its stormy, lets go tomorrow morning, or they're closed we'll go tomorrow." I am at wits end. And 15 minutes ago she asked me where that other guy went…again knowing that I am her husband. She won't remember any of this tomorrow.

Bowerbird · September 15

Perhaps this website will have some helpful information for you.

https://lbda.org/capgras-syndrome-in-lewy-body-dementias-lbd-associated-with-anxiety-and-hallucinations

Capgrass Syndrome

Comments

Commonly Used Abbreviations

Community Guidelines

Categories