My husband with AD has been up until about 2:00 AM the last few nights either looking for something (he doesn’t really know what) in his drawers or closet or just organizing his drawers. He gets quite belligerent if I tell him it’s late and he needs his sleep or that I need my sleep. He tells me it has nothing to do with me and to go to sleep. However he is muttering as he does this and banging around and I certainly am not going to let him be up alone. He does sleep quite late in the AM but has always done that and still slept at night. I’ve been keeping him busy during the day trying to tire him out, and our kids have been visiting a lot as well for the same reason but that doesn’t seem to be working. Last night when he couldn’t find what he thought he was looking for he started to say I just don’t know what’s wrong with me and was quite upset. I lay with him and rubbed his back and talked quietly to him and he finally fell asleep. It doesn’t quite fit the description of sundowning so I’m wondering if this is just a new stage of the disease and if anyone has any suggestions. I know I can try waking him earlier in the morning but to be honest I love that alone time with my coffee and book. I’d do it tho but I’m not sure it will do the trick. Any suggestions would be appreciated.
You may want to tell his Doctor what is happening and see what he suggests.
i hope you both get a good night’s sleep soon!
I was up at 3:00 a.m., and could not get back to sleep. Worry, I guess.
But when my hubs wakes up later this morning, I am going to ask him what WAS he looking for the last two days, and into the night last night.
A change in behavior always has me on high alert, and I watch him carefully.
He does not have a diagnosis of dementia, but recently had a mini-mental exam, an MRI, and a referral to a neurologist.
If he keeps it up, I will take him to the neurologist. However, so many doctors have been saying, "You can't cure everything".
I prefer it to be called a phase.
As for your hubby, I think Send might be on to something about him being over stimulated. As one poster suggest Melatonin and if that doesn't work then talk to hubby's Dr. Maybe you will get lucky as I did and your hubby will just stop as my mother did.
Hopefully it will stop as well . The melatonin is also a good idea .
Making the environment peaceful might help, and rubbing his back worked, so you have got this! Good job.
Does he have medication prescribed for anxiety?
A small dose of melatonin was recommended, and that seems to be working.
LO is in a very good secured MCU, and we have access to wonderful services from an agency that provides sensitive, well trained specialists to deal with geriatric psychiatric issues. She sleeps through the day some days, and is awake and beautifully dressed others.
My grandmother (LO’S Mom) developed a similar pattern in her early seventies. I’m trying to break the mold on this problem, as the 3rd generation of women with chronic unrefreshing sleep.
In my LO’s situation, her wake/sleep schedule doesn’t seem related to her fatigue level, and I think this may be why the small dose of melatonin seemed to help.
thank you
I agree you need your mornings for you time. I pray that whatever this is, it will be short lived and he starts going to sleep earlier.
Hugs🤗