NEEDING SOME HELP WITH MY PATIENT

[PattiRN]

I am caring for a 65 y/o female patient with CBD. I have been with her in her home since 2015. I had no prior personal or clinical experience in working with disease. As my or. Has progressed, I have noticed subtle changes (mainly because I am with her almost everyday). Lately, she becoming upset with me and we (the family and myself) can not seem to figure out why?

Does anyone have similar situations or suggestions.

Thank You! Patti

[easterncedar]

I wish I could help, but sorry to say this sort of thing is not uncommon for CBD and PSP. Antianxiety or antidepressant meds may help. Massage, music, sweets, any distraction you can muster can sometimes offer temporary relief. It may be just a phase in the decline of cognitive function. It may be a symptom of emotional distress. Sometimes it passes and sometimes it escalates. For better or worse, nothing lasts forever.

Best wishes, Ec

[Kevin_1]

Hi Pattie

I know this is dumb, but... Have you asked her? Have you asked one of the family members to have a chat with her and find out?

I know that can be threatening. However sometimes folk with CBD do take against the person closest with care. It can be part of the condition. However you may be in for rough ride if you don't try to resolve it. Remember with PSP and CBD folk loose a lot of their ability to initiate and that can involve simple things like, "I wish you wouldn't do ***."

I hope this helps a little.

Have you got previous CBD experience? If not you may want to read the briefings for professionals on the PSP Assoc. Website (They cover CBD too. Very closely related illnesses.)

I do hope this helps a little.

Best

Kevin

[easterncedar in reply to Kevin_1]

I really appreciate your reply here, Kevin, more than a simple "like" can convey. There are so many things I wish now I had just talked to my guy about, and your point about the inability to initiate rings so true.

[raincitygirl]

Hi Patti, Welcome to the site

I agree with both Eastern cedar and Kevin. Changes in emotional attitude can come with CBD. Have there been any other strange behaviours lately? Outbursts or repetitions or unusual behaviours?

If she is increasing in anxiety, as Kevin says an anti-depressant might help her regain some calm and emotional balance. With this disease so often you just have to try something to see if it works - even the doctors can't guide you much.

Wish we could help more - this disease just sucks!!

Hugs for strength and patience XX

Anne G.

[HilsandR]

Hi Patti

We are all in the same boat I'm afraid in having no experience of caring for someone with one of these neuro degenerative diseases until we are faced with it and then we bumble along trying to address, as best we can, each new situation as it manifests itself. From my own experience, my husband has PSP, we have certain times of the day when he can get very upset with me, agitated and his behavior can get very difficult. Due to his cognitive decline he is unable to explain what is wrong. Sometimes distraction might help him, other times it will make things worse. It may last 5 minutes it may last for several hours. I've been through the scenarios with his medical team and they just nod knowingly cos to be honest they just don't have the answers themselves. Best wishes. HilsandR

[LuisRodicioRodicio]

Hi PattiRN!

Traditionally the patient usually downloads his frustrations in the nearest caregiver. The family. if it has not gone through a similar experience, can not understand what is happening. It's sad but real. In the family there is usually a principal responsible who should take charge of the situation and talk to the patient about.

The solution is difficult. The patient usually gets back on track despite the reprimands . Or the caregiver takes a distance and a very professional position that is effective but does not affect him sentimentally, which is difficult, or the caregiver must be replaced for the good of the caregiver and the patient.

In my case we are going to substitute "orderly" the main caregiver who is "burned", and we have someone else "scorched".

Hugs.

Luis