My 95 year old Mom constantly crys and moans while sleeping. This started about a month ago. She also somehow watches the clock,and I will hear her saying 1:15, 1:16 etc. Then at other times she will moan and thrash about with her legs and arms waving about. She will cry "God help me, please help me" over and over. When I ask her what is wrong she will look at me, and babble incoherently. She looks totally out of it. Then she will eventually snap out of it, and usually needs to go to the bathroom. Is this common with dementia? She takes no sleeping aids or drugs that should affect her sleep.
Please keep us updated,
Carol
I can't say mom exactly cries at night, but there is significant sighing and moaning/groaning, often to the point that it sounds as if something might be seriously wrong, and I have to ask. (It isn't.) There is also some semblance of that going on during the day, but it is a little more like whining/lamenting. (When asked if she is OK, I am told repeatedly "I just like to fuss".)
While all of this can be somewhat unnerving, maybe a little frustrating or annoying, it is a relatively minor difficulty of this venture as far as I am concerned - on the scale of difficulty of all things that make this such an incredible challenge.
Not to worry, I have no intention of trying to outline those things that do tend to do me in. I haven't the energy for that. But I do ask God for help ALL day EVERY day, to get through each minute, hour, day.
And to answer the initial question that was asked, yes, I believe what you are experiencing with your mom is indeed an aspect of dementia.
God help us, please help us ALL.
When daylight comes, he doesn't usually remember any of the thrashing and screaming of the night before.
Yes, it is very hard on us. When this begins to happen in the night, our sleep is very sporadic, if any, since we are just waiting for the next episode to happen!
It is heartbreaking, emotionally and physically draining. I guess I'll just say, for now, I'd rather have him home with me, rather than in a facility.
Try your best to take care of yourself!
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