← Return to All brain scans good: Could my husband still have dementia?

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@billchitwood

My husband has just started the journey at Mayo. Since 2010 I started noticing changes in Bill that started concerning me. But nobody else noticed anything wrong and they were only very occasional.
By 2013 his anger was frightening, out of control, and had no apparent causes. He got terribly mad over a new jar of peanut butter, claiming it was bad - doing that with more and more food, and demanding I throw them away.
A year later we were in KY and the doctor there put him on Sertraline and it made a world of difference in the anger problem. At least for the moment. By this time he could hardy get out of his recliner and wouldn't attend any social events - even with family. He also continued to get worse with using a computer, DVD, etc. Hearing problem cropped up - hearing music that wasn't there - full songs, classical music, etc. some voices. Had me constantly checking the house and mad when I couldn't hear it. Hearing checked and told he had musical tinnitus.
Also he was getting lost more often (he had always been good at directions before).
By the end of 2019 we were in AZ - he did the driving (got lost quite a few times) and I monitored his driving the whole way. Once we were here he seemed quite glad to leave the driving to me or daughter - something he never would have done before.
All his chairs tilting to the right as he slumps that direction now. Falls started. Slurring of speech. Memory problems much worse. And God help him with computer, phone, remote - anything technical. He still demands to use his computer and do his blogs (he has written 20 books). As long as he is activity writing he seems to do okay. Otherwise problems with words and remembering people - like a son!
This year we finally got him to agree to go to Mayo. He has CKD (kidney stage 3) and can't make it to the bathroom in time (starting back in KY). Now is willing to wear Depends - before just kept on wet shorts/undies no matter what I said or did.
Anger is now worse.
And good days followed by bad - back and forth like a yoyo. Add paranoid into the the mix plus he wants me with him constantly.
Mayo is trying to get the anger issues under control with meds. Also trying to help with the sleeping issues. An appointment being set for his CKD.
Blood pressure was maintained with meds for decades - not it is dropping to 92/57. Low heart beat - think it is 58 BPM now.
So many of his symptoms seem like those listed for Lewy. Will be interesting to see what the doctors determine after all the testing. In the meantime I'm going from day to day - with a sense of humor most of the time.

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Replies to "My husband has just started the journey at Mayo. Since 2010 I started noticing changes in..."

Hello @billchitwood

I'm glad that your husband is being evaluated at Mayo. I'm sure maintaining a day-to-day routine is difficult under the circumstances.

If you are interested in a Connect discussion about LBD, here is a link to a discussion, "I was recently diagnosed with LBD with Parkinsonism: Any advice?"
https://connect.mayoclinic.org/discussion/recent-lbd-diagnosis/.

You mentioned sleeping issues. Many people with LBD and other dementia-related disorders are helped with time-release melatonin.

Have you tried this? If not, you might check with his doctor at his next appointment to see if this could be added.