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We realize what we witness if aging parents lives with us. My situation is a 90 year old. My problem has been….. Parent “Fine” on phone, at hairdresser, at doctor’s office, minimal visitation by one son.
On BAD days, only witnessed by myself and my son who lives here.
YESTERDAY, MAY 20, 2022…….WORST DAY EVER IN 4 YEARS. It began at 7 AM, never stopped until 9 PM…..
I wrote 5 pages of non-stop dementia. This happens every one to 2 weeks, but yesterday was beyond belief.
Many may say….TIME FOR PLACEMENT.
I think it is getting there. Bare with me, just need my attorney appointment to get all the facts.
I own my home with her. So, not cut and dried.



In any event, the hard part…… it doesn’t seem to be Alzheimer’s. She knows me and family.
The hard part, ALL the other people, scenarios, talked about during the course of a bad day.
1) Two Army guys who wouldn’t help her sit up first thing in the morning.
2) Llamas peeking in the windows
3) Dead relatives and others all going out to a restaurant.
4) Pictures painted on walls.
5) Little girl and newborn in our living room.
6) Photoghrapher outside our window taking her picture.
So much more……… My appointment with New Doc 6/2….I will tell her!
Anybody know, does Lewy Body dementia seem like this??

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Get her checked for a UTI, Pronto.

A sudden change in mental status is a medical emergency and should be treated as such.
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Vivid visual hallucinations are paramount in Lewy body dementia. However, advanced vascular dementia and Alzheimer's may also have hallucinations. A MRI could rule out vascular dementia. However, an accurate diagnosis of the type of dementia is mostly academic with little practical value. Any type of dementia is progressive and incurable. In many instances, more than one type of dementia coexist in the same person. Drugs to improve memory do very little to slow down the advance of the disease. They also have a lot of side effects. In my opinion they are of little value. UTI may cause an acute onset delirium (agitation, confusion, hallucinations), plus lower urinary symptoms (frequency, dysuria) and signs of infection bladder pain, fever, chills and tachycardia. From your description, this doesn't seem to be your case.
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Visual hallucinations with LB Dementia - yes I have seen.

Also all sorts of visual & audio hallucinations & strange beliefs from delerium. This can be from fever/infection. Pneumonia can have sudden onset, as does uti, but others too.
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My brother did have such hallucinations with his Lewy's Body Dementia. He would see a whole garden or pool party outside window. He would see an immigrant mother huddling in a corner protecting her child, and etc. He was diagnosed by his symptoms as he also hada wavering gait and a lack of sense of smell. His hallucinations were increased with any anxiety and were less when without it. He could also have troubled hallucinations when a rug pattern or a marbled wall pattern triggered same.
Can only give you my experience. Not an easy dementia to diagnose in early stage. He said he was aware that these "dreams" weren't real. Was glad to have a diagnosis to explain why he saw the world so different. Were much improved when he was in assisted living and I was handling finances and bills and etc.
Keep a diary.
Write everything.
Then to a basic physical with a U/A for sure. Speak with doc about referral for diagnosis with neuro-psych.
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There are 70 types of dementia. They aren't all vascular, Lewy Body, or Alzheimers. Don't jump the gun looking to self-diagnose her issues.

As was noted above, get her checked for a UTI first and foremost, then get the neurological check.
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BarbBrooklyn has the experience to know:
She writes:
"Get her checked for a UTI, Pronto."
"A sudden change in mental status is a medical emergency and should be treated as such."

You should not wait for 6/2. The symptoms you describe are a medical emergency due to the change in mental status. You are exactly right Arimethea, you need a diagnosis. Whether or not it is dementia, a Uti, or something else.

The symptoms you describe could be caused by so many other issues, ranging from schizophrenia, medication caused psychosis, drug abuse, UTI, and other
reasons.

However, the discussion is now the dementia, "as if" any of us could diagnose that from what you have described. "As if" you even stated the diagnosis is dementia. You said "dementia like symptoms" and do not have a diagnosis.

Will you please get back to us, as I am now concerned for your Mom, and you.
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Go. To. The. ER.
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OH God Girl! People don't just wake up and have dementia or Alzheimer's, it's a slow drawn out process. We have good days and bad days and over a period of time the bad days will out weigh the good days.

My dear mother was good at fooling people as she could carry on a conversation as if nothing was going on in her head but as time goes by it does get harder for them to keep up the acting.

Also, here is another twist to all of this, if this has come on quickly she may have had a stroke....which I recommend taking her into the ER.

Keep in mind that forgetfulness is common in older adults as is with repeating the same things over and over again and it's doesn't mean they have dementia.

My mother's doctors would always ask three questions when I took her to her appointments, What day is this? What year is this and who is the president? if she could answer 2 out of the three it was a good day.
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