Just curious how many other caregivers have encountered this...
Recently had to take my MIL to the ER for some x-rays after she took a tumble out of her wheelchair (nothing broken, thank God). While my husband and I waited with her I noticed she seemed remarkably alert and responsive. In fact, the way she interacted with the ER doc you'd never know she had dementia...almost made me want to grab him by the scrubs and tell him just one week ago she was asking me what I was planning to make for Christmas dinner!!
She does this at the neurologist's office too. It's like she prepares herself for the usual list of questions - what's your name? Date of birth? What year is this? Where are you? She invariably passes with almost flying colors (responses are slow but almost always correct). And again I find myself wanting to scream "you should have seen her yesterday when she was trying to put her Depend on over her head!!!"
Anyone else come across this? Do encounters with medical professionals cause their brains to flood with adrenaline or something?
In a way this is similar to what most of do when we want to make a good impression. We are on our best behavior in a job interview or a school conference or at a party. Showtiming is similar but the contrast between "normal" behavior and showtime is much greater than it typically is for us entertaining company.
If possible it is a good idea to get a note to the doctor describing the real situation, before the person with dementia is seen.
And those little quickie memory tests? If someone can't pass, that is truly a sign of a problem, but that sure doesn't mean that everyone who passes has no memory problems!
I actually did bring a list of recent cognitive changes to her last neurologist appt. - led to a prescription for Exelon and plans to run a more intensive cognitive exam next time (July). A little bit of the squeaky wheel does help sometimes!
It is frustrating though. Her home health care case manager came out a while back to do an evaluation and she was on top of her game again...until she was asked if she ever had any hallucinations or delusions. MIL said, " oh no, nothing like that. I don't have illusions about anything." :)
*sigh*
My mother does something else that can be exasperating. She has up days and down days. On her up days she can seem almost normal. Anybody around her on those days would think all is fine, so I must be nuts thinking that there was anything wrong.
He also has sundowning symptoms so I get very little rest. Any help on this would be greatly appreciated.