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More and more these days my bedbound MIL is always awake. She stares a lot but never seems to sleep. Her bed is in my living room/kitchen area and if I enter or leave the room, she starts talking a bit - well sundown-like behavior.
She used to take Seroquel for combativeness and it worked for a while but then the results reversed on us. So no drugs now for over a month. She is still able to talk - but fewer words.
I feel bad that she is laying there staring at nothing. I try to interact with her and play music and tv and we have therapists come 3 days/wk with hospice.
But, she NEVER seems to sleep.
Is that okay?
Sometimes she is very restless and nothing seems to satisfy her.

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More than one caregiver has found a warm Epsom salt bath helps. If you can't get her in the tub, mix a tablespoon of Epsom salt in 4 quarts (liters) of hot water until it dissolves. Use a clean dishtowel and apply warm moist compresses to the head, hands and feet, with a gentle massage. Do this just before sleeptime. AND while you are at it, wrap one across the back of your neck and shoulders. Then toast each other with just a shotglass of red wine. It is a vasodilator with lots of antioxidants in it. Good Luck.
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Oh Razzleberry that's doesn't sound like a wise decision.. Speak with her Dr about her anxiety.. I would think your husband will resent your Mom sooner or later..
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I want to add, I truly appreciate your concern. It is good to know we are all looking out for each other. I am very grateful for that. :-)
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We sleep in the same room with my mom and I think that helps her to feel comfortable and safe. So it is me, my husband, our three dogs and my mom all piled up in the family room. She has her own room (with new mattresses that were supposed to be "just right") and sometimes she go sleep in there on her own but the standard arrangement is all of us together. My husband and I have been crashing on the floor with our sleeping bags while she gets the sofa with one dog at her feet and the other two dogs share the recliners.
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Actually we are both totally onboard with it. He says he has never felt better. It helps his back. She does not have anxiety, whatever she had years ago is long gone. We have been doing this for five plus years. Not for everyone but it works for us.
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Marijuana will help as sleep aid.
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To each his own! If it works for you :)
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My MIL had problems sleeping too. With all her other meds we did not want her taking more prescriptions with more side effects so we give her 30 mg of melatonin a day. She gets 10 mg in the evening and the other 20 at bedtime. This has worked very well for her. Her doctor is aware of this and approves it.
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When her doctor started Mom on Seroquel, he cautioned that dosage increases would be necessary over time and that some people take up to 800 mg. a day. At present Mom is on 150 mg morning, 100 mg noon and 200 mg evening. We worked up to that, starting with 50/25/75 last August.

But if that drug doesn't work, ask her doctor to keep trying. Surely hospice can help. Are they convinced she's as comfortable as possible for her last days?

And does anyone respond when she speaks? Perhaps verbal communication is garbled, but the language of the heart remains the same. Sometimes Mom makes no sense at all, but hugs and kisses always work in reply.

Good luck and God bless.
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I found that just good old benadryl helps. I learned that while Mom was in Palliative care. Soft music and the lights turned down low and the warm Epsom salt sponge down with a clean gown.
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