does anyone have any experience caring for a person with substance induced dementia? what should i know abou this? what techniques work well and what ones dont? what is the hardest part of caring for someone with this?

SMILE GOD LOVES YOU
Anna

Mariabee, thank you for that bit of information.It seems I continue to be more informed from those on the forum and some prof
essionals.

Whew! I'm glad I missed that one!
Anyway, as an aside:

quote:

Originally posted by mae:
I was , once , told by the neurologist to given anyone who had a drinking problem Niacin.

Mae, Niacin is one of the B-complex vitamins (B3). There are several reasons why a doctor would recommend supplementing with it. It seems that some of the B vitamins are deficient in alcoholics--especially Niacin. Many experts, in fact, believe that a B3 deficiency predisposes an individual to alcoholism. That is to say, while alcohol depletes the body of B Vitamins; deficiency, itself, seems to be a cause of alcoholism (a vicious cycle).

Additionally, supplementing with B3 seems to reduce cravings considerably. (There are also other supplements that have this effect.)

That said, it is not wise to supplement a particular B Vitamin alone. They should be administered in a balanced "complex" unless it is ordered by a physician.

This message has been edited. Last edited by: mariabee,

Anna I agree with what the others have said about your tactics. When I first read your post I sensed something wrong but wondered if you were trying to find help for yourself. I wish there was some way of notifying your profs of this ignorant behaviour on your part. I certainly hope they are not encouraging students underhanded use forums such as this. Gypsy

In addition , Anna, If this is how you are going to go about your business in the future, the hope of you being able to add any thing of value to the problems faced by so many isn't looking good right now. Maybe you have learned something here about caregiving that makes a difference.

Anna, while you never did state that you were personally involved with a suffering LO, you were awful late revealing your agenda. When someone is interviewing me, I would like to know it, and the purpose for it.
It's my job now to focus on the care of my mother, and getting thrown back into the past was distracting and stressful. Something I don't need right now.
I always thought your posts were evasive, but considered that you might be concerned about privacy issues, even though you had no concerns for ours.
I hope you realize now, that initial disclosure of your purpose is the better way to go. The very hardworking, sincere, and stressed out people here do everything they can to help anyone, any time, any where. They(we) don't deserve to be "used", anymore than we already are.
In the hopes that your research might lead to something of value, you would have found a lot of support here, and honesty, without being sneaky.
As I read the postings since I went to work yesterday, I can detect a bitter taste, the result of your subterfuge.
Marshmallows? I like mine toasted and a little crunchy on the outside.
Bobcat

Can we tie Anna to a stake in front of the anger wall and throw marshmallows at her?
To do proper research Anna, check with your local Alz chapter, TELL THEM what you are doing and ask if you can sit in on a support group.
Perhaps one of those caregivers will let you into their home so you can observe first hand.
As has been said, dementia is dementia is dementia - we care for our loved ones the best we can, no matter what caused the disease.

Anna, even though you did not state you were caring for someone you did leave us to assume such.It would have been more respectful if you has stated you were doing research.
People on this forum want to help each and everyone who comes here.

I would also like to add for all to see in your research group since you pay good money for schooling (or is it your parents?) you should be doing your research in a facility with actual patients who are suffering or is that too much to ask...This is why alot of us hate researchers Anna no hands on experience its people like you that cant figure out a way to find a cure for our loved ones GOD forbid you actually get down in the trenches. noooooooo that would require actual work...you know.... like we do here

Well Anna thank you for the props but that IMHO what you just pulled here is beneath contempt.
I also appreciate honesty... this is a very serious disease we deal with and IMHO you just stepped on everyone here for your own selfish needs.
Had you have been HONEST you might have gotten a little farther in your research.
Do yourself a favor Anna dont do this anywhere else, you have insulted those of us here in the trenches with your game playing.

Anna, the people who are responding to you ARE caring people and also VERY stressed out and busy. We take people and their problems QUITE seriously.

Sorry, darlin', but I feel like you pulled the wool over our eyes and personally, I don't have time to talk about all this with someone doing homework - this is REAL LIFE for us, not high school, college or a research project! Playing 20 questions when one is not in the situation is fraudulent and pisses me off.

Next time, be honest when you come to a support forum.

bunnys girl---i actually do not have a loved on suffering from this, i am a graduate student working on research, on of our requirements is to talk to people who can relate to our topic and document how the expereince was--i must say that you and your support group have been great help to me, it is nice to see how concerned everyone is for each other, it is good to know that someone who need suppot in this area could attend a group like this--so thanks to you and everyone else who has been of assistance to me---do you have any other great info that i should be aware of?

SMILE GOD LOVES YOU
Anna

thanks again everyone--u all are great!!!!!!i will report great things about this group

Welcome, Anna. Before any of us can really help much, we need to know a little more about your loved one. Do they live with you? What's your relationship to them, etc. ? Are they under a doctor's care? Caring for brain-damaged people (from ANY source) is a difficult row to hoe. There are not many medications which help for long - just depends on the location and amount of brain damage they have incurred and whether it is progressive.

Please provide us with more specific info about your situation and we can be more helpful in terms of suggestions, etc. Without an understanding of what your role is with this person, their age, living situation, etc., we're just shooting in the dark.

Hi Anna no I havent as of yet there are too many things going on with my MIL while some may calm her others do not work for the issues Im most concerned about.
Anna there is no time line on this disease each person is different, while one may stay at a certain stage another may not.
Meds may help your LO stay at a stage for a period of time but this then needs to be addressed with their PCP.
You havent said whether this person has been evaluated yet Anna. Have you attended to this yet sweetie?

bunny's girl--have you found any specific meds that worked well for ur loved one?

did u find that your brogher was resistant to ur help? how do u deal with the possiblity that your brother may not even know who u are? how do u know how long to keep trying vs when to just let them go?

thanks so much for ur reply---how long was ur father an alcoholic before the symptoms of dementia started to show up? and when they did start, how quickly did they progress? if i am just starting to see symptoms how quickly should i expect them to get worse?

My late father was a chronic alcoholic who had dementia toward the end of his life. I haven't really found many of the issues to be that much different. Brain damage is brain damage, regardless of the cause of it. Perhaps the progression and life span (presuming that he remains off the alcohol) might be different, but the behaviors and care issues are very, very similar because they depend more upon what area of the brain is affected than what caused the damage.

Ok Anna on the Dementia side of things there is simple forgetfulness of recent events getting agitated for unknown reasons pacing talking to ones self talking to mirrors as if that is another person they see before them. Sleep patterns are disrupted.
Anna there are a number of things that can occur here this is but a short list BC brings up some good facts also on this but my thought is that you are seeing things that arent making any sense, why dont you expound here a little. Tell us what is going on that has YOU concerned.

My first question is have you taken this person to a doctor at all to tell them your concerns about this person?
If this person is getting treated what is your role in all this are you their caregiver?

If this is in fact Dementia there is no known cure as of yet but there are meds to help quell some of the symptoms of it although if you have read a little here then you know sometimes they work sometimes not. It does require a doctors supervision and in most cases an in patient evaluation.
Does any of this help you out because it seems you are trying to make a decision here sweetie.
Let us help thats what we are here for
Talk to us your doing great so far

Ams0730, hello and welcome.
I was , once , told by the neurologist to given anyone who had a drinking problem Niacin.
What is does I have no idea.
Sorry you are having to deal with this side affect of someone who had a drinking problem,
One of the things they asked me about my mother and hubby , did they drink