Dementia episode
I had a dementia episode. It turns out I spoke too soon when I said that my confidence had improved. In some situations I’m definitely coping a lot better, but then on Saturday night I really wasn’t. It is no good asking me why things went downhill, but for no reason they did. One minute I was coping fine with the world and the next I wasn’t. I started pacing, panting and constantly barking. Mum thought first of all I might need the toilet, so took me out – several times. We even went for a quite nice walk around the area, but as soon as I came back it all started again. It was as though as the sun set, so did my sanity.
Extra food
Mum wondered if I was hungry and had forgotten I’d eaten. I wasn’t going to tell her otherwise, but happily ate another meal – than then went back to pacing. Eventually, Mum was feeling pretty desperate. She’d examined me all over to make sure I wasn’t in pain. I wasn’t. All she could think to do was to put me in the car. She didn’t abandon me, but sat outside in the car with me for twenty minutes while I relaxed and went to sleep. She decided the best option then was for her to go in and get everything ready for bed so she could turn the light out as soon as I came in.
Bedtime
Her plan worked. I had a bit of a restless night, but nothing compared with how I had been and I didn’t bark. Mum didn’t sleep very well as she was on high alert, and I have apologised to her. The problem with dementia though is that it is not in my control and there is no guarantee that when the sun sets it’s not going to happen again.
Love and licks
Wilma
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