Prayers continue for all.

BARGOO -- yes, it just gets better & better, doesn't it??? Well, sadly DH had a breakdown of sorts and is in the hospital for the next few days while they try and find some meds that will help his hallucinations and fears. They'd better do something. They gave him a shot as soon as he got there to calm him down; it worked too, but I don't have that kind of thing available to me at home. When he is in a super-agitated state, he won't take his meds. Does this sound familiar, Ronni???

Sometimes I think that all these mental/brain disorders are related; now we just have to find the right meds to manage the worst symptoms. I had to get the police to take him to the hospital as he was yelling in the street at 6 am that our house was going to blow up from a gas explosion. Oh boy....

They were very helpful and kind; did a great job in handling him. He respects them so much, that made it easier too. We are going to visit him again right now to take some slippers and such. Hopefully tonight, he'll get some rest and I can get some sleep without being frightened.

THANKS for your prayers everyone ...

rosebud, a number of years ago I had an elderly neighbor man. I thought he was just a mean, nasty old man. He would yell at me about watering my lawn or washing my car , stuff like that. Turns out that this was a man with Alzheimer's and sadly came to a very tragic end. I don't want to alarm you , but is it time to make a change ? Your life is so difficult right now and you don't deserve all the trials you are getting. I continue to pray for peace for you and wisdom as you go through these battles. God Bless You.

Could you expound on what ideas you had about this. Here I had the police take him to the hospital to keep him there until they find a way to manage his symptoms better becuz he is not only scaring me and the neighbours, but it is so stressful for me to live with him like this.

Now they say that they will only keep him there for 3 days for observation and look at other meds. H E L L O ............ people. That isn't long enuff to do a drug trial and gee, thanks for the long break. One nurse said that the hospital is going through some kind of crisis presently; so hopefully that can be straightened out soon so they can do more for people like him and me. There is a terrible shortage of beds here; and about 2/3 of the hospital has very ill long=term elderly people in it (including those with terminal cancer and other conditions). The government hasn't planned this out well enuff at all -- we need more licensed beds NOW ...

rosebud, I have relatives that live in assisted living situations. They are safe and can't harm anyone else , I have no idea what a situation like this would cost. He may not need to be hospitalized but he does need care, and I am afraid it is getting to be too much for you, physically and emotionally. Is there day care available ? I know some friends that have done that with their spouses. I am not at all familiar with what Canada has to offer , but I think it would be worth it to check it out. Any senior organizations that can give you info ? I am not any kind of an expert but getting as much information as you can seems to be called for. I know you are doing your best but you are under a lot of stress.

Rosebud I'm sure Bargoo is right. I had to put my aunt in a nursing home years ago because she had alzheimers. She wasn't dangerous to others, but I was concerned for her safety. I had to work and had total responsibility of her. I would feel impressed that I needed to check on her and find her doing things like getting into the bath tub when alone. I was so worried about her. Many times I would go to see her everyday because I didn't want her to feel alone. Although they told me that she didn't even know I was there, I told them "I know I was there". I had promised never to put her there, but I had no choice so tried to compensate by going to see her every day.

Those decisions don't come easy, there comes a time in certain circumstances that we have no choice. I will be praying for our Lord to give you wisdom as He gives you direction on how to handle this. I agree that you don't deserve all that you are going through, but we have to remember Satan NEVER plays fair. He throws a lot at us, but God gives us the victory. It difficult to believe anything good can come out of these type of situations, but He did promise that it would and this is when we have to just put our trust in Him.

Prayers continue for you and you DH and all you are going through.

Bargoo I am praying for you and your situation as well.

I appreciate all the prayers for me. I am feeling much better. Not sure why I was so depressed but I've spent time in the word and praying and it seems to have lifted. Thanks everyone.

Prayers continue for all.

THANKS TRISH & BARGOO -- yes, I discussed that with the doctor as well; actually, he mentioned to me at first. We are trying to get the right drugs to give him peace of mind for now, while we search for the best living arrangements for the future too.


EDIT2ADD: we have very limited services up here in the north. The only places we have are the hospitals and nursing homes or manors as some are called; and they are overwhelmed at this time. I wish we had more senior group home-type places like they have in the south. These house maybe 20 or so residents in a home-like setting (like a large home with many bedrooms); and require less staff to run them. I worked in two such places for seniors & mentally ill patients when I was younger (they combined them together). One is down south and still operating and the other was here but sadly, closed down when the owner retired. I wish we had one here again as the patients preferred them to the nursing home type; and that would be good for seniors like my DH. I may be able to get some support work, but I don't know how much or what they would help me with. I am looking into that presently. If the cost isn't covered that would make it impossible for us to afford.

I know our town wants to build a senior's complex but I think it is like an apartment type; and it still isn't built yet. I guess it takes a lot of research and finding the funds and so forth before anything gets done; so it has been in the works for at least a few years now, but no dirt has been turned over yet. It would be great if the town could add a manor with that for those that need assisted care; then they could just transition from one place to the other as needed. Ok, I'm dreaming again; but you never know -- maybe it could happen some day with a little vision.

Rosebud-Yes, your situation sounds very familiar and I do know that many of these mental illnesses and other diseases of the brain can be related or very similar in nature. Sometimes, one illness will morph into another, like my mom's bipolar disorder changing over the unmedicated years into schizophrenia. And, yes, 3 days is the general procedure here, as well, unless there's some evidence that the person is an 'imminent danger' to themselves or others. That's how Mom ended up in the hospital with meds ordered each time-she tends to threaten people when she's in the middle of her delusions. She also has a history of suicide attempts. I was advised that, here, in our county, sometimes the delusion itself is enough to get a court ordered committal for treatment, as, in mom's case, the delusion includes the belief that her foods have been poisoned and she won't eat. I feel for you, Rosebud, in fact, my heart breaks that you and your DH are going through this. You're in my prayers daily and more often when God brings you to my mind.

Bargoo-You're very wise and giving good advice to all of us. Prayers continue for you and your treatment. How are you doing? for you, too!

Ronni, I do appreciate your prayers and concerns. I may not mention you by name every time but I do remember you in prayer as I do all requests.

RONNI -- thanks for explaining that to me (the 3-day drug trial rule); I wasn't aware that's how they did it these days. So I guess we'll hear something from the doctor on Monday AM when we go. Most of the workers in our hospital are wonderful; sadly, there is always one that takes their position a little too seriously. Thankfully, things were OK today.

DH was much more coherent today; and although there were some of the minor issues still there, he was a lot calmer for sure. He seemed a little obsessed with one subject while we were there which was very embarrassing, and I hope that stops once he is back at home. These drugs will not reverse his Alzheimers or other related symptoms, but we just want to see him calmer and more at peace on a daily basis while we look for and arrange long-term care for the future (that takes a long time here). My biggest concern is whether these drugs will help him in the long run or will the old symptoms just reappear? I guess only time will tell, so we'll have to wait and see. It makes me nervous to bring him home again for that very reason. I feel like I am walking on eggshells all the time.

THANKS for your prayers everyone; they mean a lot to me ...

Well, DH started the day out in a good mood, then had a nap in the afternoon. I got him up to have his dinner which he enjoyed, then I gave him his homemade muffin and pop that I brought for him as well. Then other visitors came, but I noticed that he was a little ornery tonight; and some of the old symptoms were back -- being contrary, arguing things we said, being a tad flippant, and the sexual mashing returned towards both me and my friend. That concerned me as he seemed a little out of control IMHO.

His doctor finally came by in the afternoon, and said that he may be able to come home in a couple of days, but my friend and I were concerned about him returning home so soon. He was making some violent overtures once again; and that is the most concerning for me, then the inappropriate sexual behaviour and talk second. That is one step away from the hallucinations and such. He was talking to the mirror again too; all the peculiar stuff he does at home.

On the positive side, he was more coherent, and could talk better -- finishing his sentences and responding correctly to our comments some of the time. I just hope that the difficult behaviour goes away but am concerned that life at home will be just as stressful as before if that doesn't improve. His sister put him in time-out in a Geri-chair for about 30 minutes and that helped for a little while. I tried to get him to brush his teeth but he was not interested in that; just something else ... oh dear!

This only proves I'm right that 3 days are not enuff time to tell how a drug will be for a patient in the long term. By the 4th day, old symptoms are already reappearing, just as I suspected they might. His doctor is going away on holidays tomorrow so my doctor may be taking over. When his doctor retires, my doctor may take him on as a patient and it should help having the same doctor for us both, esp since my doctor is already aware of his issues.

So we'll see how he doing tomorrow; thanks for your prayers ...

Went up to see DH at noon to help him with his lunch, but he was too tired to eat (just had a mouthful so the nurse said he'd bring him something later when he woke up). He confirmed that he was agitated all last night and didn't sleep; they finally had to give him something to settle him down. The signs were there all last evening.

So hopefully after a good sleep, he will feel better tonight. A friend took me there and back; she is the hospital's new chaplan. We had a great talk while we were there. GOD bless them: she and her son have offered to help me and DH out as needed. Her son cut our grass this week and it looks great; and offered to help look for some stuff in the basement the next time he comes. He will keep DH busy while she takes me out for a break -- that is so nice of them to do that.

Now the doctors just have to find a way to help DH with his moods and hallucinations. We'll see what happens; they may have to try different meds to find out which ones work best for him. That may take longer than they think and I will be talking to my doctor about this when I see him next week.

I came home and did a few loads of laundry indoors as it has been ing all afternoon; but my flowers and bushes sure love it and are looking so lush this year. Bit by bit I am getting things sorted out and all the laundry caught up; just have some blankets and a comforter to do now.

I have a whole chicken roasting with baby new potatoes, green beans, and cauliflower for dinner and it will be ready any minute now. Can smell it all through the house today and it sure smells good. Time to go enjoy the fruits of my labor or the ovens in this case ...

^PRAYERS^ continue for you and yours ...

Rosebud-
You and your husband have been in my prayers. Everyone else here, too. I haven't been posting much, but I check the thread every day and pray for you all.

THANKS DEE -- I appreciate that a lot. I never got to talk to any doctors the whole time DH was in the hospital, but my SIL talked them into letting DH come home this afternoon before I ever had a chance to see him or them. That concerned me somewhat as I wanted to see how he was but she said that she was tired of going to the hospital to look after him. So I told her that meant he would then just come home where I would have to look after him by myself 24-7.

Thankfully, DH wasn't as groggy today, but the first thing he said after they left the house was that there were people in the basement and he had to get them out. I tried to assure him and had him go check for himself. He had a coffee and a snack then decided that he wanted to have a nap.

I am so glad that someone has offered to help me with him at least a little bit in the future; and I will look for some more help from the public care agencies tomorrow. I have to go to my lawyer to arrange my POA and will, and discuss the Trusteeship as well. I couldn't get an appt before now. So I have been walking my poor legs off and they are so sore and tired.

THANKS FOR YOUR PRAYERS EVERYONE; let's pray that the new meds they have DH on will help ...

Rosebud I'm surprised someone else could talk the doc into sending your DH home. That is a decision that could never be made by someone other than the spouse here. Is she listed as a person able to do that? I pray that the meds will work and things won't be so difficult for you. I hope you get the help you need with him and also the help you need from your lawyer. Prayers continue for you.

Prayers continue for all.