Hi to all and God Bless. I want to know if AD patients have days when they don't know anything and then other days when they seem almost normal?? This happens to my FIL a lot. His memory is always bad, but sometimes he has a day or a few hours when he doesn't know what's going on at all, i.e. he forgets how to work his VCR, he is looking for is tricycle, he thinks the year is 1943, etc , etc. Then, the next day is okay and has no memory of what has happened with his memory the day before. Oh, and when this happens, he says he feels funny, like in a fog. :rolleyes: He hasn't been diagnosed with AD, but mini-strokes, but I'm beginning to wonder if he has AD as well. This blanking out every now and then has been going on for 6 years. We've had all the tests done on him and all they said was mini-strokes. I know that can take your memory too, but does it also cause you to have amnesia like symptoms at times, or could this be a sign of AD - have any of you ever seen this behavior before?? Please reply, Thanks, Cindy

Dear Cindy,

Mini strokes are one of the most common causes of dementia. Alzheimer's disease is only one of the many kinds of dementia.

I have experienced AD for the past 5 years as my Mom deteriorated more and more. YES, the patient can seem quite 'normal' and lucid for an hour, or a day or even a couple of weeks, especially to a person who does not see him/her every day. But there are unmistakable signs of Dementia. Look at the message near the top of the list on this site, and you will find "The 7 Stages of Alzheimer's." There you can see what symptoms apply to each stage.

They vary and often a patient slips up and down between 2 stages for long periods of time. My Mom was at Stage 3 when we first noticed "something was wrong" and by now I place her in 5 to 6 ... she needs constant care and currently lives with my brother. Yet, at times she sounds 'almost' normal when I talk to her on the phone. (I am in Indiana, they are in New York,) and she has been able to present an almost normal appearance to my sister who does not yet believe she has dementia, "just old age." However there are 100 year olds who still know how to make coffee, or what a key is for ...

So I hope you can figure out what your FIL has. There are some drugs out there which help for a little while ... in Mom's case they did not help but she was already very old (now nearly 97) and beyond help.

Meanwhile it is important for the caregiver not to argue with the patient or try to persuade or convince him of anything .. not even what year it is. On days when he thinks it is 1943, nothing will convince him it isn't so. Mom recently told my brother she is worried about my underweight ... a condition I left (far) behind me at least 40 years ago ... but he, in his wisdom, just says, don't worry, she will be OK.

(I would have spent hours and found recent pictures and talked myself hoarse trying to persuade her M is NOT THIN! That's why my brother now has her in his care and I don't ...)

God bless you, and I hope you and the rest of the family learn coping skills to deal with this sad disease. Help each other and find (make) time for yurself too ..an important lesson for all caregivers.

love

martha

Oh yes, for sure don't argue with them ~ I've been in that boat, and let me tell you it's not pleasant. However, I volunteer at a local nursing home and when a gentleman came up to me and asked me where the train left, I pointed up the corridor and said "Just up that way ..." and he said "do I go left or right?" and I said "Right" ... where would that lead him? Into a common room which then leads out to the garden. Lots of diversions for him out there. When I checked at College (I am training to be an Assistant in Nursing) I was told that YES, you go along with them. Because it keeps them calmer (It's called validation) and that's the most important thing. It keeps their blood pressure down, doesn't raise tempers (and therefore sometimes violence).

Anyway .. I digress, something I'm good at.

Take FIL to a doctor who specialises in the elderly. Better to be safe than sorry. Signs of dementia could be a simple Urinary Tract Infection or diabetes that's gone unchecked ... at least cross out any other problems !!

In the meantime, keep him safe, keep YOU safe too and get the family involved in the care of their father .. that's THEIR JOB !!! (speaking from one who's been left with most of the eldercare of her in-laws)

Hugs
Sally

Hi Cindy,

What is your father's age?

As the others have said, it's important rule out treatable causes of odd behaviors. One thing I'll add is that since your father's orientation is unpredictable, he should not give himself any medicine as he could overdose himself or underdose himself. Either way can really cause problems. He should also not drive.

Someone in the family needs to have Durable Power of Attorney if that hasn't been dome yet. An elder care lawyer can help with the legal paperwork that makes it easier.

Come back and talk any time you need to. You are welcome here.

Wishing you well - Barbara :)

Hi Cindy,

You will find lots of answers and lots of help on this board. There are many helpful people - mainly ladies - that will console you and listen to you and help you to understand and cope with this illness.

I think that most AD patients have what you describe, to some degree. My father does that, but usually stays the same most of the day. Whether bad or medium... But he does go down (or up a level/stage) when he is tired or hungry or has been mentally taxed! We just upped his Aricept to 10 mg. about 2 wks. ago. It has helped somewhat. Can now (again) write his name on a line. Before, he could write it somewhat, but who knows where on a check. We both pay the bills together!

He was on 5 mg. Aricept, which kept him about the same for 1 yr. So, this up to 10 mg. will probably only last 6 - 9 mo. Unless he has a traumatic event in his life! Then he will get nothing. I know this is sort of off the subject, but just wanted to let you know there are options, for some AD patients. Some cannot take Aricept. Bad side effects!

My dad has not gotten to where he thinks he is in the past, yet. If he does, he does not say anything. A lot of the time, he does not talk. But, he does talk a lot to me, my mom, my sister and my husband! He knows we do not mind if he messes up! Or if he needs help saying what he is trying to say.

I have learned a lot from the above ladies (or below). They have taught me to be more patient with my dad, to try not to convince him that what he is saying is not right, and to pick my words when talking to both of my parents! I am learning, but slowly.

Do come back and talk as much as you need. Take care. Wannabe