Obsessive Behavior - Alzheimer's Disease & Dementia Message Board

mamaduck4 · 08-10-2006, 05:00 PM

My hubby has beeb obsessed with the mailman, going out to meet him everyday even though our mail slot comes right in the house. Now it seems like he is obsessed with just about everything. Things change so fast....because one day he seems pretty good and the next day he doesn't understand anything. Has anyone else seen this behavior?? He is also roaming all night long and doesn't want me out of his sight. This is really depressing. I can't make a move without him looking for me even though he doesn't call me by name. Can't remember it but he knows that I am his caretaker! It has been a really bad day today and I guess I just needed to vent.

Thanks for listening!
Jan

LuvMyLilDoggie · 08-10-2006, 05:43 PM

Ahhh, obsession....

It's something I've seen in my dad many times. "Fixing" things that don't need fixing just because it doesn't seem quite right to him (I'd go around re-fixing when he went to asleep). Then he lets the dog out 5x in an hour. Then he doesn't let the dog out till she pees up the kitchen floor. Then somebody must have spilled something because he just let the dog out....

Been there, done that....

Some days seem almost normal while others are so off the wall it makes you wonder if YOU'RE the one who's lost it

.....at least that's how I felt when dad was with me.

I had a nickname that my dad (and only my dad) called me. Just after he began showing signs of AD, he started calling me Barb. Now he doesn't call me anything anymore. I was thinking just yesterday how I'd love to hear him call me by my nickname just once more. Then I'd know that he knew who I was.

Anyway, such is the progression of AD. Sad, but true....

Love, Barb

Martha H · 08-10-2006, 06:54 PM

My Mom wandered around at night. She rearranged thngs in the kitchen. Moved everything to an illogical place. Sometimes I moved it all back the next morning. But she would rearrange things again the next night.

Just before the fall that took her into the nursing home, she started 'shadowing' my brother. It was uncanny. Whatever he was doing, she was right behind him. If he was at his work table in the basement, fixing Lionel trains, which he does on a part time basis, she was right there watching. He couldn't make a move without his 'shadow.'

Wandering at night is what eventually caused her fall. Along with her forgetfulness and irrationality - she turned out all the lights he deliberately left on so she would be able to see while wandering around, then went down the stairs for a drink of water although a water bottle was right next to her bed and wham! Fell, broke a hip.

She had been with him only 3 months. And he was already beginning to pull his hair out from all the bizarre happenings....

This is all part and parcel of the disease.

Love,

Martha

mamaduck4 · 08-11-2006, 03:59 PM

This is really an on going thing. He "fixes" the lawnmower that doesn't need fixing and we have to put it all back together again. When he gets up at 12:00 - 1:00 am he uses a flashlight. He goes out and eats breakfast! This morning he said we had no milk...so he put water on his wheaties. We had a full gallon of unopened milk in the fridge.

His anger is really starting to come out because he is unable to express himself or find the word he is looking for. Then he tells me I am mean to him because I don't know what the heck he is talking about. It all seems so hopeless!!!!!
Jan

Choquis · 08-11-2006, 05:23 PM

I know it is so frustrating!

So sorry you are having to go thru this!

My mom wouldn't know night from day and would tap my dad's shoulder all night as she was afraid he would be late for work. She also had the speech problem...couldn't think of the right words, interchanged words, used the wrong word, (aphasia).... etc. Also, put crackers in the fridge and milk in the cupboard. She would get frustrated too, but didn't act out....became depressed and sad as she lost herself piece by piece...

My FIL who is in the first stages....(actually he might be in stage 4 or 5, but what do I know)

...is getting very mean! He not only takes apart the lawn mower, but buys more at garage sales! I'm talking riding lawn mowers!! He has 4 now and none of them work!!! He doesn't know how to fix them anymore....and can't mow his own lawn anymore... (Then what's he doing driving, you ask?)

With my mom I would try to put myself in her shoes.....she hated not being able to do things. And it was easier as she was a female and she wasn't aggressive.

With my FIL, I pretend I'm a deaf mute and try to ignore inappropriate behavior. I try to steer the conversation to something pleasant.

I pray alot!!! You'll be in mine!