Fluctuations:
Symptoms and abilities come and go. A person may be able to think clearly one minute and feel confused a few minutes later, may be able to eat without help one day and be unable to hold a spoon the next.
Treatment: Those useful to all Lewy disorders
Cons: The person will usually function better with those other than the normal caregiver, thus a doctor may have difficulty identifying issues and planning treatments. A visiting family member may be convinced that their loved one's condition is not so bad as the caregiver says it is--or that the caregiver is causing the loved one's confusion.
Pros: A person with LBD will have windows of clarity where they can participate as a partner, parent and family member, as in the poem below:
We had dinner together and talked about everything and nothing at all.
It made me feel young again and yes, I even flirted a little.
It was just so nice to spend an evening being “normal”.
I don’t recall exactly when he left. I just looked up and John was gone and Lewy had returned.
Poem by permission from Lynn D.
(Printed in A Caregiver's Guide to Lewy Body Dementia)
Treatment includes those useful with all Lewy body disorders with a special focus on:
Drugs
- Dementia drugs may be of general help
- Drugs to help low blood pressure on rising.
- Antibiotics for infections
- Antacids for digestive and issues
- Stool softeners for constipation
Alternatives
