Dementia or something else

[SummersBreeze]

Last autumn I began thinking that maybe dementia mught be happening with my mom. There were a few things not sitti g well with me. I used to find her eavesdropping outside doors. Then she was easily bored and agitated. So much so she went into town in torrential rain when I think it could have waited for a better day weather wise. I started piecing together these little things with episodes of anger that made no sense.

Then in recent months I witnessed an episode of confusion. Over the past few weeks there has been other incidents too.

Over the past weekend there has been more confusion from her and I also witnessed an episode of forgetfulness from her too. She was prescribed antibiotics from her GP last week but she forgot about them and what they were for. The antibiotics was for rosachea.

I really think this is the onset of dementia. She is 70. I know dementia is progressive. I hate to think this may get worse and what's in store for the future.

I am clutching at straws so badly now. I wonder if stress would cause these symptoms too. There was a lot of stress at home over the past 4 years.

Her ex husband who she didn't divorce is a dickhead of the highest order.
One of my siblings is estranged and harassed the family.
Another sibling went down the hole of drugs but thank goodness that's turned around now.
I work hard but sometimes too hard and too long.

So there was a lot of stress at home over the past few years. None of it was of our own making. All of it was due to other people in our circle being greedy and selfish.

I wonder would the changes that I am seeing now be dementia or would it be stress related?

Have you raised these incidents with your mum?
Could you go with her to the GP and help explain what has been happening or is she resistant to that or would even be appalled by the suggestion? They could do a basic assessment and make a referral to a memory clinic if appropriate.

My Great Aunt used to get very confused, had falls and was irritable when she had undiagnosed UTI's. My father had a strange reaction to some medication that was added into the cocktail of meds he was on. But my mother did actually have early onset dementia when she started to become confused about some things such as putting fridge items in the cupboard and took an irrational dislike to a neighbour. It really needs to be handled by a professional.

She's still somewhat independent and I think she would be appalled with me trying to micro manage her. She had some episodes of anger from 2020 that didn't make sense and these episodes came into me thinking about the possibility of dementia along with the other stuff.

We attend the same practice and I mentioned it to the GP that I have some concerns about my mom. The GP rang her within an hour asking her to come down for an appointment. My mom went. The GP did some work - bloods, blood pressure. The results of those tests came back and mom had to attend in person for that. I asked my mom about it and she said everything went well at her appointment. The gp is very happy. She didn't tell me anything else. I would have expected maybe a referral but mom never said anything about a referral. Unless if she forgot or she's trying to pretend there's nothing wrong. I don't know.

I haven't talked to my mom about my concerns because it's so hard. It's because of episodes of anger and from her that really doesn't make any sense. There's no point telling her that I think there's something not right. She's not going to take it well.

Get GP to refer her for a memory test

Can easily be recurring UTIs so she can be prescribed prophylactic antibiotics

Hello @SummersBreeze .
My mum's dementia started off with a personality change, she became very suspicious of me especially and one of my brothers. We'd always had a loving relationship and it was horrible being the butt of her paranoid accusations!that we were stealing money, making accusations about her own father's will being altered (I was five years old when he died, so obviously complete nonsense)

She also got lost in the local small park and couldn't find her way out, but this was a one off.

Her GP put it down to old age, but I knew it wasn't that.

She was referred to the memory clinic after I pursued with the GP.
Brain scans showed Alzheimer's and vascular dementia.

Anyway, long story short.. trust your instincts. Your mum will probably fight back against you trying to get a diagnosis.

Plus don't rule out a UTI or bowel impaction causing confusion, it's well known that both can upset the apple cart.

💐