Hallucinations: My husband has started to... - PSP Association

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Hallucinations

beau1988 profile image
31 Replies

My husband has started to talk of dogs (we only have one). Even describing the colour. Also that there are bugs in his room.

Is this normal for CBD? He still walks & can feed himself though needs help with everything else. These hallucinations don't seem to worry him & I just go along with it.

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beau1988 profile image
beau1988
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31 Replies
NannaB profile image
NannaB

My husband with PSP had similar hallucinations. It turned out to be the side effects of medication he was on; I read it on the leaflet in the box. The drugs caused more harm than good so I stopped giving them to him and the hallucinations stopped.

beau1988 profile image
beau1988 in reply toNannaB

Thanks NannaB. He has been on the same meds for a long time. Would they start affecting him differently now?

NannaB profile image
NannaB in reply tobeau1988

It is possible. My husband had patches behind his ears to reduce saliva for 6 months before he developed a nasty blistering rash and had to stop using them. I’d speak to your husband’s GP and see what he says. I hope it gets sorted.

XxxX

Kevin_1 profile image
Kevin_1

Hi beau

Agreeing with NannaB.

Every once on a while it is good idea to have a thorough going meds. review anyway. This might involve stopping some or all of them and seeing if there is any change. It's called a medication holiday. It's essential to do this under clinical supervision.

Having said that I have read quite a few posts here where PSP/CBD folk go through periods of hallucinations. Hopefully they will see your post and respond.

I hope they are not too distressing.

beau1988 profile image
beau1988 in reply toKevin_1

Actually at the moment it's not distressing at all. Hope it doesn't change.

Larry says he see things periodically. So far he knows they aren’t real. He isn’t on any medication. It seems to happen when he is tired.

beau1988 profile image
beau1988 in reply to

My husband doesn't seem to realise it's not real & I don't correct him. But you could be onto something about the tiredness. It always seems to be at the end of the day.

in reply tobeau1988

I did see a video by a woman who’s husband had Parkinson’s and she said she never argued with him about whatever he put out. I took that piece of advice to heart. It’s come in handy more than once.

in reply to

This may be schizophrenia. Pls consult ur doctor. Don't let it go out of control.

in reply to

It’s not schizophrenia. I have a brother with that. I’ve seen that upclose. This is just an hallucination.

in reply to

It's only a concern. Good to know he is ok.

Marie_14 profile image
Marie_14

Could it be that when he was younger he had a dog like the one he describes? Just a thought. Tiredness seems to be what people have picked up on though. As long as he's not distressed I wouldn't be too worried although as someone suggested a medication review wouldn't go amiss? My husband had a couple of occassions where he was confused but they were related to the medication. The medication gave him relief so I just didn't mind that he was confused for a couple of days. In fact he was quite happy!

Marie x

beau1988 profile image
beau1988 in reply toMarie_14

Thanks Marie. I think as long as he is not distressed I will just go with the flow.

Satt2015 profile image
Satt2015

My dad has Psp and regular hallucinations, has been cats, rats, ants and more recently small children, I just go with it too. Some put it down to medication others down to Psp. I found it a trifle worrying at first, I don’t anymore. X

in reply toSatt2015

It’s amazing what becomes “normal”.

beau1988 profile image
beau1988

Thanks Satt

HilsandR profile image
HilsandR

Hello beau1988 - my husband is post diagnosis of PSP 3 years 4 months but realise now that he has had it for at least 7 years if not much longer. He has had hallucinations on a regular basis, and long before any meds were involved in his disease management. We have had everything from boa constrictors on the patio, polar bears, a gorilla who is pretty much resident here, elephants, and little girl who plays at the bottom of the garden who he describes down to the socks she is wearing, we have had spiders, lizards - it's like living in a zoo. To start with I corrected him on what he thought he was seeing but soon realised it was best to just agree and go with the flow. None of these visitors have ever concerned him in the slightest and his neurologist said to pick it up with him again if the hallucinations start to frighten my husband. Just another symptom of PSP that doesn't affect all and if fact is rarely referred to in the generic list of symptoms - hence I firmly believe that there can be an overlap of another neurological illness, say for example Lewy Body dementia. You are doing right by going with the flow because they are seeing what they believe to be there. Best wishes, HilsandR

JCRy profile image
JCRy in reply toHilsandR

Thanks for this reply, HilsandR! Your wonderful turn of phrase made both Ian and I laugh out loud! I shall remember the resident gorilla for years to come. I don't mean to make less of a worrying situation, but if you don't laugh, you cry.

Juliet.

HilsandR profile image
HilsandR in reply toJCRy

Hi Juliet, so pleased you and Ian saw the amusing side of my little tale, it's good to start the day with a smile as let's face it, we have all cried buckets along the way. Whatever my day holds I always try to find the funny side of something, I guess that's the legacy of living in a house that was always so full of laughter until PSP did its best to rob us of that as well. Humour is part of my survival kit. What worries me more than anything, who is my husband really getting confused with when he sees the gorilla daily and sometimes chats to it - especially as only the 2 of us in the house!!!! Just off to check myself in the mirror. Have a pleasant day. HilsandR

beau1988 profile image
beau1988 in reply toHilsandR

My husband asked me if his reflection in the mirror was him. He thought it was his uncle. I asked if he'd been talking to him. We had a bit of a chuckle over that. We often get the giggles over different aspects of this dreadful condition. It is also our coping mechanism. It will be a sad day when he no longer gets the humour.

HilsandR profile image
HilsandR

Honestly Beau I could write a book on some of the stuff that goes on in our house, not to mock R's inability to function normally, more to capture the hilarious moments that we have both been able to share that has reduced us to tears of laughter. R is unable to do anything much for himself, including showering and dressing. One morning I had just got him sitting on the bed with his clothes all ready to out on when the phone rang. It took my attention for no more than a minute and I came back to find him with his underpants on his head. I asked him if he intended wearing anything other than 'that hat' for our trip out later and held a mirror in front of him. At first he looked confused but then dissolved into fits of laughter, which then set me off, especially when he then told me that I am the mad one! I do treasure those times and long may the laughter continue. That said, I do gauge what can be laughed at and what requires discretion but R always had such a wonderful sense of humour and I am sure that will always be tucked away even if his response diminishes as time goes on. Laughter is a great healer during times when everything seems so dark and impossible. Keep smiling. HilsandR

JantheNana profile image
JantheNana in reply toHilsandR

Thanks for starting my day with a laugh! Blessings to you! Janet

beau1988 profile image
beau1988 in reply toHilsandR

Yes HilsandR I too have many funny moments as hubby also had a great sense of humour & was the funniest man I've ever met. He does take particular pleasure in the times I stuff up ie; put his shoe on the wrong foot. Or button him up wrong. But that's ok he can laugh at me all he wants.

JantheNana profile image
JantheNana

When my husband was hospitalized toward the end of his life,he had hallucinations of having gone home.One day when I arrived he told me in detail of having been home.I asked him if he really believed that (as he was always joking around ) and he said he did believe it. In retrospect I am glad he got to make that trip home because he wanted to and never in reality got to go home again. Janet

HilsandR profile image
HilsandR in reply toJantheNana

That's bitter-sweet Janet but I have no doubt that hallucinatory trip home that your husband took gave him great comfort and now, with hindsight, a comfort for you as well. Hope you are doing ok. HilsandR

JantheNana profile image
JantheNana in reply toHilsandR

Thank you. I am approaching the one year anniversary (July 12] of my new normal. It has been hard but is beginning to seem real. As I learned the lesson of taking ONE DAY AT A TIME as a caregiver,I have transferred that philosophy to the present and I’m doing OK.

HilsandR profile image
HilsandR in reply toJantheNana

That's good to hear, Janet. It took me a long time to accept my husband's diagnosis and I spent many heartwrenching times worrying about the future. I am now comfortable with 1 day at a time, what happens tomorrow gets dealt with tomorrow. Like you, I hope I can apply that when the time comes for me to embark on my next journey. One thing that has come out of this is that I have more strength than I ever imagined. Wishing you peace and good memories as you approach the first anniversary. HilsandR

Kevin_1 profile image
Kevin_1 in reply toJantheNana

Hugs to you Janthenana :)

I hope you find a good way to mark the anniversary.

Pls consult psychiatrist.

Hallucinations r very strong. In course of time it can make u do weird things. It is the main thing in schizophrenia.

I'm suffering from it. After 2 years of medication I have come to realize and started accepting the illness. It was like a real thing to me. It's hard to accept that it is not real.

It is vicious to the person. I haven't yet admitted to my family or doctor, that I get hallucinations. Though doctor knew.

I have only told out a little. Pls take care of him. It's embarrassing for me to tell out. May the good Lord helps him come out of it.

Kevin_1 profile image
Kevin_1 in reply to

Hi Extha

Thanks for having the bravery to post. Sadly hallucinations and working to control them is something some of us have to face and schizophrenia is a dreadful thing in its active state.

However I would say that hallucinations with PSP CBD do seem to be different from those of psychoses such as schizophrenia. Unlike schizophrenia they don't run out of control if left untreated. They also don't seem to carry the paranoia component. Thank goodness.

But I do agree with you, a discussion with the doctor is a good idea.

Wishing you the best

Kevin

in reply toKevin_1

Thanks

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