does my nan have dementia ?? can anyone please help?!


Question: Does my nan have dementia ?? can anyone please help?
i was wondering if anybody could help .. i am really confused about my nun as she has been displaying a major personality and behavioural change that is completely off character.

Me and my nan get on so well and i love her to bits i go and see her every day, give or take a few, as she is my best friend and looked after me when i was younger, she is honestly amazing and the best person i have ever met shes great.

my nan, 84, is not like the typical old lady she still has the mindset of her younger self that i have always known and loved she is very independent, happy and cheerful. over the past 10 years she has been suffering from parkinsons , diabetes, has problems with her legs and lives on her own as her husband died 35 years ago and she is often lonely due to this. she has her moans about things , and no wonder really but still even during her little moans she is still her funny self and gets on with things and is still herself.

however everything has changed!

last week i visited my nan and she asked which number bus i was gettiing home as i crashed my car, i replied but nan i came in my car its nots crashed , i have never crashed it, and she was a little confused and said sorry i could have sworn you crashed it and a few people told me you did. i replied well i havent are you sure you didnt dream it and she said she must have. .. at first i didnt think anything what so ever of this as people do get confused. my nans long term memory is spot on and a lot better than most peoples she tell me hundred of stories from the past and its great.

this past week she has been staying in bed all day long not even getting up for food and drink and when i go and get her up she has been confused about the time and day. i finish work and went to get her up, it was 5 pm and she said .. what are you doing here its 5 in the morning.. i tried to reasure her that she had just slept in and it was 5 pm but she was adiment that it was 5am .. i got her up and but the tv on to prove the time and she still didnt believe me. despite the confusion she was still herself but a little bit down.

the next night i went and same again she was in bed.. this tuime i was speak to her and her whole persona and speak has changed towards me and she seemed annoyed i was there and spoke in a different tone i asked if she was ok and if anything was up and she said well im upset about you calling me a ******* ******* last night. this was a awful language and i would never call her that or anyone else, its not in my vocab. i tried to tell her i didnt say it and that i never would but she would not believe me she was really nasty towards me and its almost as though she hated me, it was so upsetting as she is my nan and we are so close, and always have been. she has never been like that with me and also it didnt seem like her. i let her know when i was going and she said well dont come back. that really hurt as it was just not my nan.

the next day (today ) i rang her and said hello are you okay and she repiled in that unusual harsh nasty tone .. yes i am but its not like anyone cares! .. i say nan you know i care i loveeee ya as we say to each other .. she said no you dont you never come round her no one does.. but we all do i go everyday and so doe my mum and dad .. often 3 times for a brew.

im so confused and we dont understand this complete personaltiy change and behaviour. can anyone help?

thank you xxx

Answers:

Hello,

How very upsetting for you.

I think your nan may have had a Stroke, that is to say some bleeding inside her head, damaging her brain. It is all a bit too sudden, in my opinion, for it to be Dementia, - that tends to creep up on older people over time, very gradually.

I suppose another possibility is that she is suffering from a sudden Depression illness.

There are other lesser possibilities like her having eaten something poisonous, or having a reaction to her medical tablets, or the gas boiler in her house leaking poisonous carbon monoxide gas.

Because there are just so many possibilities, I agree with others that you need to make sure she gets a doctor's advice as soon as possible. The doctor should make a home visit, if possible.

I think it is certain that your nan will not remember what she said to you, - the nasty things, - the next time you see her. She will not remember that she told you "not to come back." She surely does not mean these things, anyway, - she is not in her right mind, as you say. I hope there is some good medicine or treatment for her now, to make her better.

You clearly have had the great blessing of such wonderful times with your nan, over a long period of time. No-one can take that away from you, or from her. You will always love her, no matter what, and she will always love you. I think that love is all that matters, in the end.

I hope this is of some help.

Best wishes,

Belliger
retired uk gp



sounds like old age and loneliness, as long as age knows where she is and who you are, she is ok



It does sound like she has dementia. Try to get a social worker to come around and make some recommendations and for sure get her to go to her primary care physician as soon as possible. I am sorry you are all going through this and it sounds as though she may have to move into a place where someone can care for her around the clock or stay with family from now on. You should start making some plans. I know how hard this can be, I work with seniors many of whom have Alzheimer or other forms of dementia. Best of luck and warm wishes to all of you.



i think its wise to get a dr involved here this could be related to her diabetes her blood sugar may be out of kilter

equally it could be a type of Alzheimer's but honestly no one an diagnose here only her dr could do that

she may be dehydrated or have an infection she is not aware of
she is very tired or depressed
get a dr to go round on monday when you or your parents can also be there

best wishes




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