Expert: Paula Damgaard - 6/25/2004

Question
I am the caregiver for my mother age 79, she was diagnosed with Alzheimer's in December 03.  At the time of diagnosis she was hallicunating and all sorts of horrible things.  Her Neurologist put her on Aricept and she has responded beautifully but she is going down hill so fast physically.  I have taken her to Specialist after Specialist, all they have found is Osteoporosis and Arthitis.  She is in constant pain and takes different meds for this also.   She is losing weight steadily. Since Dec. Momma has lost 20 lbs. From about 5 years ago now my husband and I see she has probably had Alzheimer's but we just explained it away as old age.  In those past 5 years she has lost from 120 lbs to her now 83 lbs. She can hardly do anthing physical. She mostly is home bound and when I do take her out I put her in a wheelchair which has helped.
My question, is this just the Alzheimer's taking her poor body before finishing her precious mind?
Like I said no doctor has found anything but the other things mentioned above. I worry that I am not doing everything that I can be doing and that something else could be wrong with her.  I have not spoken to her doctor's in private because, I am her sole caregiver which makes it harder to spend time with them without Momma.  I am just learning this whole thing and any advice would be wonderful.
Thanks and God bless.

Answer
Patrice, I am not sure what is going on with your mom, but it doesn't sound good.  Is she having any thing like diarrhea?  How is her appetite? Sometimes Aricept can make a person not want to eat as well as she should.  Also the disease can make them "forget" that they should eat.  Is she home alone during the day?  Could be she is not eating then.  

IF she is having any diarrhea or decreased appetite, talk to the doctor, even if you have to call and make a separate appointment just for you to go in.  Tell him you would like to try her on a different medicine like Reminyl, this tends to not be as bothersome as Aricept for some.  

Or it could be that she has some kind of cancer or something which no one has found yet.  If this is the case, as awful as it may sound, she will be much better off to die from cancer then to go to the end of Alzheimer's.  It is not a pretty ending.  

You say that she has gone from specialist to specialist, but I wonder if she has been to a geriatric physician?  This would be a good thing for you to look into if you havene't already.  

I hope this helps some.  Let me know how you make out.  Paula