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skinonna Asked October 2014

Can Alzheimer's symptoms include TIA or stroke like symptoms?

MIL had a spell where her speech become garbled, she couldn't sit up or walk. A hospital stay showed nothing conclusive, no stroke. Symptoms were bilateral. Her balance is off so she went to rehab to see if some PT could help. She was totally uncooperative and they wound up sending her to hospital again. She is totally out of her mind now, hitting, biting etc. She keeps escaping (with people right next to her) falling. she acts like an injured animal and we don't know what to do next.

justsue Jun 2017
I am wondering this same thing! My 88-yr-old mother, with mid-range dementia, had a spell where she had been up and dressed, but sat down (she might have felt it coming) and went into something like a deep, deep sleep. I couldn't get her to answer and she lost bodily function, slumping over, unable to move arms or legs. Her speech, when she finally "woke up", was slow and garbled. She finally came to enough to walk, albeit unstable. The ER ruled out heart attack and UTI. Their final diagnosis was slight dehydration. I just cannot believe that's all it was, although she is back to her "normal" after a day or so, even though she does not remember the ER visit at all--not altogether uncommon.

gladimhere Oct 2014
My Mom showed these symptoms and it was a UTI. But possibly some other type of infection? Does she have a temperature.

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gladimhere Oct 2014
I would ask about getting her to a geriatric psychiatric facility for an evaluation and to try to get her meds right. It is trial and error and the right combination could be very elusive.

skinonna Oct 2014
Been reading up on delirium. Not uncommon for someone as old as my MIL with dementia. She's had a fall in June with broken rib and other bruises, then was moved to assisted living, needed eye surgery after another fall (1st hospitalization) needed hospitalization after stroke-like episode (2nd hospitalization), then to rehab, and now back in hospital (3rd hospitalization). But I am not very optimistic that she will recover very well. It's like her mind broke.

pamstegma Oct 2014
Suddenly stopping all meds would be serious. Possibly lethal. wow.

skinonna Oct 2014
Her previous admission was under the supervision of neurologist. Currently they are saying delerium. Since she will not take meds, I think she might be detoxing. But the complaints of back pain seem not to be happening for now. Now just im meds. Just one I think.

pamstegma Oct 2014
Have they done an EEG or a PET scan of the brain in addition to imaging? I would definitely want the head of Neurology on board.

BarbBrooklyn Oct 2014
I'm so sorry! What an ordeal for all of you! Have they tried WITHDRAWING some of her meds in case any of them are actually causing delerium or hallucinations?

Countrymouse Oct 2014
TIAs and small strokes can be hard to spot. My mother has vascular dementia and, yes indeed, had a spectacular presentation of aphasia one unforgettable evening…

But these symptoms must be really upsetting and frightening for all concerned and I don't know what to suggest that you're not already doing. How long has this been going on? The panicky aspect that you're describing does sound a bit like delirium - what's her blood work like? Any other possible infection going on? I'm afraid I'm purest guessing now.

skinonna Oct 2014
No uti. 2 geriatric psych, can't seem to find the right med combo. Depression and anxiety. Ran her world and everyone in it.

BarbBrooklyn Oct 2014
Has she been tested for a uti? Have you had a consult with a geriatric psychiatrist? What are her current docs recommending? What was her mental health like prior to the Alz diagnosis
?

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