jsvn
03-02-2005, 07:44 PM
My husband has dementia. Still don't know if there is a difference between alzheimers and dementia. He's had a couple of strokes. Don't even know when they happened. He's only 68. Anyways, the doctor said he would probably not be able to control his urine. He takes medicine three times a day for urinary incontinence. It seemed to help, but the last two nights he wet the bed. Thank goodness I had some protectors! He takes Oxybutinin. Has anybody experienced loss of urine problems with alz? I was thinking of taking him to the doctor to see if there is anything else or another medicine for this. What do you think? Also, at night, not every night, he jerks a lot. His arms jump, his legs, his body. Is something going on in his brain? And, I noticed that he seems to snore loud now. He used to snore before but not that much and not that loud. I stay awake a lot just to keep an ear/eye out for him. Has anyone ever noticed this in your husband/mother, etc.? If I take him to the doctor I will mention this. It makes me nervous at night. Anyways, any thoughts from anybody appreciated. Thanks!
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Pat_S
03-02-2005, 11:13 PM
I hesitate to respond, because I don't know enough to give much advice, but neurological conditions definitely can cause urinary incontinence. If he was doing better with medication, and then it got worse, I'd look at the simple explanations first. Maybe too much liquid before bed (but you've probably already thought of that)? When my dad's symptoms have gotten worse, it was because of a urinary tract infection, although he felt no pain or discomfort.
I assume they diagnosed his strokes through MRI or CT scans???
Pat
I assume they diagnosed his strokes through MRI or CT scans???
Pat
jsvn
03-02-2005, 11:33 PM
Yes he's had mri and scan. Now that you mentioned it, I thought I read somewhere that alz patients get uti's. I guess I should take him to the doctor to have him checked, just in case? You're right, when he takes his pills at night I give him very little water. Thought it might help, but he still had an accident. I think I will call tomorrowr to at least get him checked. Thanks!
BJM04
03-03-2005, 12:57 AM
My FAther In law has either Demnetia or Alzhiemers..he refuses to go to the docor but has all the symptoms...he has ot wear depneds now cux he has diarreha alot and donest really know when he's going..he does know when he has to urianted however..so were dealing with a simlair problem..
Martha H
03-03-2005, 05:20 AM
Dear jsvn,
So sorry to hear about your husband and his problems, and yours. Incontinence is so hard. My ex husband went through it for 3 months after a prostate operation. He then went to a rehabilitation center for special training, where other muscles were trained to take over the functions of holding urine back. He also had some kind of electrical device.
It worked.
But for those 3 mnths he had to wear adult diapers, which was both embarassing and a source of rage and anger. He was never able to accept it, it drove him mad. At the same time he was also impotent, and that caused him even more rage and anger. I stuck to him throughout all that, believeing I was in it 'for better or for worse' but he rejected my help. My presence in his life reminded him of the time he was so weak and helpless. Eventually the marriage broke up.
Of course he did not have dementia. Yours is a different case. All I can do is sympathize with your plight, and say the adult diapers did work very well, the bed was never wet.
It was something we could have lived with physically; the psychological component was harder.
Love and prayers,
Martha
So sorry to hear about your husband and his problems, and yours. Incontinence is so hard. My ex husband went through it for 3 months after a prostate operation. He then went to a rehabilitation center for special training, where other muscles were trained to take over the functions of holding urine back. He also had some kind of electrical device.
It worked.
But for those 3 mnths he had to wear adult diapers, which was both embarassing and a source of rage and anger. He was never able to accept it, it drove him mad. At the same time he was also impotent, and that caused him even more rage and anger. I stuck to him throughout all that, believeing I was in it 'for better or for worse' but he rejected my help. My presence in his life reminded him of the time he was so weak and helpless. Eventually the marriage broke up.
Of course he did not have dementia. Yours is a different case. All I can do is sympathize with your plight, and say the adult diapers did work very well, the bed was never wet.
It was something we could have lived with physically; the psychological component was harder.
Love and prayers,
Martha
Martha H
03-03-2005, 05:26 AM
Dear Betsy
Soory about your father in law. He really ought to get a doctor's opinion. Maybe his condition is reversible. Sometimes the family has to trick the patient into getting a check up. Good luck!
Love,
Martha
Soory about your father in law. He really ought to get a doctor's opinion. Maybe his condition is reversible. Sometimes the family has to trick the patient into getting a check up. Good luck!
Love,
Martha
Pat_S
03-03-2005, 10:42 AM
Betsy, how old is your father in law? What are his other symptoms besides dementia? Don't rule out Normal Pressure Hydrocephalus as a cause.
Male pride and general stubborness baffle me. When my dad had chronic problems with urgency and incontinence, including complete incontinence, we never could get him to wear protection. Recently, when he had a urinary tract infection, he was having accidents and changing his clothes several times a day.
I can't imagine preferring to have the world know you wet your pants...not to mention all the upholstered furniture, the mattress, etc., but there's no reasoning with him about this.
Pat S
Male pride and general stubborness baffle me. When my dad had chronic problems with urgency and incontinence, including complete incontinence, we never could get him to wear protection. Recently, when he had a urinary tract infection, he was having accidents and changing his clothes several times a day.
I can't imagine preferring to have the world know you wet your pants...not to mention all the upholstered furniture, the mattress, etc., but there's no reasoning with him about this.
Pat S
BJM04
03-04-2005, 10:04 AM
My father in law is 83-84 yrs old..his symptons are n and off..Diarrhea being one(thats why he wears the depends) it drips right outta him,he has a terrible memory..seems confused easliy..doenst recall much..and lately he;s been claiming to see bugs..which there arent any)also seeing cats...they have none..MY Mother in law she's 79 cares for him moslty and tell sme all this..he also has very bad legs..Knee problems he never got fixed..he is so stubborn I've never met anyone like him..he has sufferded for yrs and still refuses to see a Doctor..his legs are full of sores that he picks non stop..and they also swell up due to not being used much ..very hard for him to walk and get aroudn with his bad knees(we got him a walker)He wakes up in the middle of the nite thinking its the middle of the day..cant remember how to fill out the checkbook turn the TV on etc..he's called me before talking nonsense..the list goes on..I'm conviced he either as Alzhiemer's or has sufferd small strokes in his sleep..some days he's fine..
BarbaraH
03-04-2005, 02:26 PM
Hi Betsy,
Sorry to hear about your family's difficulties with your FIL.
I'm no doctor, but among the possible undiagnosed problems he could have are diabetes (leg sores) or congestive heart failure (swelling in lower legs). If he has to sleep propped up on a few pillows, then congestive heart failure is likely.
Have you read the 7 stages of Alzheimer's thread on this board? It's very informative. I found it on-line early in my mother's Alzheimer's experience. She also became unable to write a check, do simple math, and write a fraction. She forgot how to make coffee and to work her washer and dryer and forgot a million other things, too. One night she went to bed at 9pm and was up, dressed, and ready to go out at 11pm. She had her purse, face cream and shower cap, too, so I was concerned from the first look! She refused to believe the clock or that a black sky meant night. With effort I got the car keys away from her (not fun) and did get her back to bed. She finally took off her shoes, but slept in her clothes. She was angry. The next morning she remembered nothing about it. The car keys stayed in my purse and in my room from then on. That's when I knew she could no longer live alone.
I hope the family can get your FIL to the doctor by hook or crook. There are medicines that might help him feel better and think better. It's not fair to your MIL that he neglect himself so she has to work harder. As I've said before, it becomes more important to keep the person safe and healthy than to keep them happy every minute. As you know, it's time for FIL to go to the doctor!
Good luck! Barbara
Sorry to hear about your family's difficulties with your FIL.
I'm no doctor, but among the possible undiagnosed problems he could have are diabetes (leg sores) or congestive heart failure (swelling in lower legs). If he has to sleep propped up on a few pillows, then congestive heart failure is likely.
Have you read the 7 stages of Alzheimer's thread on this board? It's very informative. I found it on-line early in my mother's Alzheimer's experience. She also became unable to write a check, do simple math, and write a fraction. She forgot how to make coffee and to work her washer and dryer and forgot a million other things, too. One night she went to bed at 9pm and was up, dressed, and ready to go out at 11pm. She had her purse, face cream and shower cap, too, so I was concerned from the first look! She refused to believe the clock or that a black sky meant night. With effort I got the car keys away from her (not fun) and did get her back to bed. She finally took off her shoes, but slept in her clothes. She was angry. The next morning she remembered nothing about it. The car keys stayed in my purse and in my room from then on. That's when I knew she could no longer live alone.
I hope the family can get your FIL to the doctor by hook or crook. There are medicines that might help him feel better and think better. It's not fair to your MIL that he neglect himself so she has to work harder. As I've said before, it becomes more important to keep the person safe and healthy than to keep them happy every minute. As you know, it's time for FIL to go to the doctor!
Good luck! Barbara
BJM04
03-04-2005, 06:54 PM
Hello Barbara and others..YOur MOm sounds just like my father in law..as in the symptoms.. We've tried tricking dad into going to the doctor he know refuses to even get in the car..he has such a hard time walking he would almost need to be transported by a paramedic.he cant really bend his legs..we were thinking maybe he suffered from a few small strokes but i think its alzhiemers..mom said she thinks he has cancer..perhaps in his legs she said their lumpy and bumpy very hard..he picks the sores profusely...he cnat write checks..do simple spelling or math either..he can still feed himself..but doenst have much of a appetite lately...mom does her bet but feels so depressed by all this..Dad is starting to tell her shes nuts now and that really bothers her..