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She sleeps all day and tears her room up by night.

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My father stays up turning off all lights and even the red lights that indicate that the TV is off. He has knocked over and broken TV's in an attempt to turn off the red light. He turns off the tortoise's light, needed to keep tortoise warm. He opens and closes drawers continually looking for items that have long since disappeared.
very difficult.
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ELWM10thChild Dec 2021
My God Terri it is so difficult. It’s as if we are oil and water nowadays because I’m the sole caregiver. I just quit my job to work from home. The going and coming hot too much for me to juggle on little sleep.
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My wife, with Lewy body dementia, had me up for 48 hours with her ranting and screaming and tearing things. She even managed to call 911. When the police arrived, one of the cops had an aunt with dementia and understood and calmed her down. I never really found out why she did this. She still gets very upset at times but never lasting all night. I wish someone could tell me.
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Ariadnee Dec 2021
My husband had a 48 hour episode a few months ago-I almost called the cops-could not calm him down. He called his therapist absolutly upset with me. I called the Alzheimer's help line-their advice was not to mirror his energy, step back (as long as he is not in harm's way) and talk as little and as short sentances as possible. Worked very well. Not sure if it will work again, but at least I have another tool in my dealing with Dementia tool box.
If you haven't gone to the Alzheimer's web site yet, it has so many helpful articles there, not just for Alzheimer's, also Lewy Body, Frontal Temportal, and even undiagnosed, unspecified dementia.
I chart my husband's behaviors on a calander-it helps me to see if there's a pattern, changes, and when at the doctor's visits, let them know just when, where and what was happening, as my husband glosses over it all. Did that while caregiving for my Mom too (who did the same thing), really helped the oncologists.
Talk to your wife's doctors, nurses, let them know what is happening.
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EL, sleep disorders seem to be common. The best way to deal with this is to work towards changing her sleep pattern.

Keep her awake 1 extra hour daily to get her back on a normal pattern. Don't let her sleep, wake her up, engage her, whatever you have to do so she will be tired at night. Have a schedule of things she can do during the day to burn the energy she apparently has. Walks, folding towels, matching socks, whatever she can do, maybe sweeping or vacuuming, just anything to direct the energy and tire her out.

I just read an article that says studies have shown melatonin to be beneficial for Alzheimer/dementia. Start with low doses 30 minutes before bedtime and increase until you find the best dose. Obviously, her doctor should be consulted.

Best of luck.
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ELWM10thChild Dec 2021
Thank you so much for you advice and response. I’ve tried melatonin, however it made her fall a lot the following day after taking it.
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