My Mom, Alice, is 88yrs old. She had a heart attack & stroke on May 15. She was in hospital for a week and has been in Nursing/Rehab Ctr. across street from my house for 3 wks now. Last week she started getting REALLY agitated at times. She would hallucinate really bad, tried to punch my sister, spit her meds out in the nurse's face, tried to hit me with her oxygen tube, etc. Mom has always been a warm, funny, thoughtful person and this was soooo not like her. They were going to put her on Seroquel but decided to use Zyprexa 2.5mg instead (lowest dose possible)...here we are 5 days later and she is back to her old self. She is cooperative, really making attempts to start using her right hand/arm again...can now hold her fork somewhat and does pretty good with a cup and drinking. Now that she is calm, Therapy is working with her to get her to start standing up again. I've told the nursing home once she can stand up and take just a couple of steps to her bedside commode she is OUT of there. I can't wait to get her back home...she would be much happier there and really wants to come back home. Yes, I am tired being up there about 4hrs everyday before I go to work, but I know it's helping her. I pray she will be back home in a few more weeks.
lostinspaceboy@hotmail.com Ft.Worth,TX
Posts: 3 | Location?: Ft. Worth, TX | Registered: June 16, 2008
Rob, This is good news! My father is becoming very aggressive and still being at home, takes everything out on my mom. I will look into Zyprexa for my dad when he sees his doctor next month.
Keep me posted on her progress!
If He brings you to it, He will bring you through it.
http://myjourneying.blogspot.com/
Posts: 169 | Location?: ohio | Registered: March 17, 2007
Rob W3 Update: had to take mom off of the Zyprexa, she was calm all week but was having trouble concentrating during therapy--it still takes two people to stand her up but she loses her concentration and cannot hold herself up and take any steps yet. Talked to the Psych Dr. on staff, he decided to cancel zyprexa and put her on Seroquel and Trazodone, sd it would take abt 4 days for it to get her in system...today when I when to see her, she was trying to punch me and strangle me and was screaming....VERRRRY agitated today. I had to leave and come to work--however, she did calm down after about 45min of me stroking her hair, trying to massage her hand, finally she was calm to the point of kissing me good bye and said she would see be later. Will update next week to see how this new med combination works.
lostinspaceboy@hotmail.com Ft.Worth,TX
Posts: 3 | Location?: Ft. Worth, TX | Registered: June 16, 2008
Hi Rob My heart goes out to you. I have distributed info on www.intellihealth.com for info on drugs and conditions. I particularly recommend blood tests on uti's, B-12, magnesium, potassium, CBC etc. which will truly throw off the elderly. Check all her meds - one may be bothering her.
Once again. I had the same problem. I used melatonin. With the exception of pain and infection, the violence and agitation went away.
Hi! My mom, age 72, had a stroke (intracerebral hemmorage) almost 2 years ago. My family has been through hell with her physical and verbal violence. My father insisted that she live at home despite this, even though my brother and I no longer live there. My mom physically harmed me, and my father. Finally, she was given Zyprexa. She has been taking it for three months and it's as if her real personality has returned. She is no longer violent at all, and we are not afraid to visit her. My father, who was a mere shell of himself from the stress, looks like a new man!
