Posted on 08/31/2021 12:07:55 PM PDT by LilFarmer
I would appreciate prayers for my FIL. He’s in his 80’s and has had dementia (vascular) for many years. Otherwise, he has been very healthy, fit, and active. He walks a mile/day. His main issues up have been memory loss and confusion.
He is in memory care and we’ve been told many times he is sweet and cooperative. We visit him 2-3 times a week and he’s been happy - he says he likes the caregivers, food, and the other residents. He has been very engaged in activities and with other residents.
But 2 weeks ago, he punched a resident out of the blue for no reason. He hasn’t been argumentative or difficult before or after that. He did not remember doing it immediately after it happened. They figured he must have been startled. Then, last week it happened again. No precipitating event and no recollection right away. He has memory loss but not like that - it was like a blackout. Other than the two random punches, they say he has been calm, cooperative, not agitated or anything.
The nurse sent him to the ER where they ran tests (CBC, urine, metabolic, hepatic, covid, ecg, drug tests, etc). All normal. The ER sent him to a mental health facility that specializes in dementia, and the doctor there already knows my FIL well (he’s also the doctor for the MC). We expected to hear that it was normal progression of dementia, but the doc said that it is unusual. He has been calm and cooperative there, and is not on any meds except an antibiotic in case he has a hidden infection. They are running more tests, neurological and scans. Another new symptom is he is dragging his foot, is unsteady, and can barely walk. He also has been very cold. This started around the same time as the first punch. He was scheduled to go back to MC this week, but the doctor is going to keep him over the weekend and try to figure out what is going on. Fortunately, they said he does know why he’s there. He still does not remember what happened but he believes them that it happened and he feels really bad.
Meanwhile, the MC just had their first case of covid, a staffer. So even if my FIL goes back he would be facing 2 weeks of being stuck in his room. Ugh. This facility normally allows family to come and go, and has not required vaccines for residents or visitors. I hope that doesn’t change permanently. The only requirement until recently is temp checks. Last week they started asking if visitors have been around covid and prohibited kids under 12 because covid has ramped up in our area.
Anyway, sorry, that is long. I appreciate your prayers.
Prayers and Pings going up for your FIL
7
Prayers up.
Will pray for your FIL. May I ask his first name to make the prayer more personable?
Frank. Thank you 🙏
Prayers for your father in law, and your family.
Prayers sent 🙏🙏🙏🙏 8
Sorry he and you have to go through all this.
Hopefully the doctors can find a solution.
Prayers up.
Praying.
Prayers for your dear father-in-law, and for your whole family.
It is possible that he may have had a mini-stroke, which has accelerated his mental decline.
I pray that he will not have to go back to the memory care home until it is safe to do so.
Prayers for your Father-In-Law and your family at this difficult time.
My prayers for your Dad. I might be wrong but has he been tested for deficiency of vit. B12? My FIL was bedridden, he couldn’t walk. Doctors were saying he is old and needs to be in a nursing home (he was only 70!). Another young doctor suspected the deficiency and had him tested. He was right, shots of the vit. restored his walking. My blessings to that young and caring doctor, he gave us back a father to love for another 15 years. Don’t give up, ask the docs to test for every possibility. God bless you and your family.
shots of b-12 are regularly given in mexico for a variety of problems.
I’m thinking it sounds like it could be a stroke, as well. :-(
Change in personality, dragging foot, feeling cold.
Prayers up for your dear FIL, Frank.
I know you are especially close to him, and, that you’d been his primary caregiver, up until recently.
Keep me posted 🙏🏻
I will ask about that for sure, thank you
My son has inherited that same deficiency, his doctor has recommended them to him, one shot a month. He did it for several months but he is slacking off...stubborn, he feels fine...
Yes, he’s very dear to me.
Rough time for all of you.
So very sorry.
Prayers for answers and improvement possibilities.
Prayers up in Jesus’ name.
Prayers up for your father-in-law and your family.
You have my prayers. I went through a long and difficult journey with my Dad who had dementia. I know this is hard.
It does sound like a stroke, but I’m no doctor. The times my sweet Dad would act up (and his balance/gait problems dramatically get worse), it always turned out to be a subclinical UTI (had to wait for culture, urine looked clean at check, but culture proved otherwise). After antibiotics, he was back to baseline.
I hope and pray the remedy for your precious Dad will be as simple. Hold fast to the Lord, He is with you.
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