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This came up a couple of weeks ago; mom was crying and whimpering that she had exposed my pregnant niece to "something like leprosy" and that "I knew all about it". (I didn't). I finally told mom she didn't have MRSA, Tuberculosis or shistosomaisis and she seemed happy with that. Last night, she was agitated and upset again, pointing to something on her arm and insisting that my SIL call me because "Barbara knows what I have". I've asked the nurses to have the APRN look at her and perhaps get the dermatologist involved. Anyone have any brilliant ideas? Yes, she has vascular dementia and she's on anti-depressants and anti anxiety meds.

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Oh my. If she has a scaly red patch somewhere I'd bet on psoriasis...and if she does NOT have a scaly red patch somewhere, I'd also bet she dreamed she had leprosy and you knew and weren't doing anything. My mom used to dream stuff and be totally convinced it was real. She said she thought my husband had "a brain rot disease," (PROBBLY not..), there was a convicted murderer amongst the residents that the police were going to come pick up and take away to be executed, and she had medical appointments on Sundays...it really aggravated her that no one believed her and set up her transportation. At first this kind of horrified me but then I realized my mom was not all that distressed by the various stories. But yours is...maybe have her show you or get a picture of it or maybe you can look at something and tell her oh yeah, you had _____, silly me I forgot all about that, but but it is all gone now, the doctor I talked to about it for you said not to worry?
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Hmmm...you know liquid nitrogen might just cure "something like leprosy" too. I might or might not get around to looking it up for your mom in the Archives of Dermatology, but I bet I'm onto something - oh yeah, I think I remember from dermatology class that a little bit of the cold stuff is just the thing for lepraisis. It's probably a rare condition and very interesting, but fortunately very treatable.
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Interestingly, when the DON went to see my mom this AM, and asked if there was anything bothering her, if there was anything on her arm that was bothering her, if those bumps on her arm ( I sent pictures) were bothering her, mom's consistent answer was "no".

Dermatologist will check them out. thanks for listening!
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Tell her it's an STD and she will deny having it. (just kidding).
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Hmmmm, thinking maybe that SHE'S thinking shingles of psoriasis. Thanks for all your support!
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Shingles
Allergies to food or medicine
Flea bites (Cats in the facility?)
Mosquitos or other bug bites
Allergic to laundry Detergent used on clothes/sheets.
Itching caused by diabetes or liver problems, untreated with Benadryl Cream, Mom scratches-makes it worse. Is there a scab?
Std.
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It starts with the letter " S ",
Shingles, Psoriasis, Spiders Spider mites, and Silly Bed Bugs.

Bed bugs can be found with a special flourescent light, magnifying glass, or finding little brown flecks of dried blood dirt on the sheets. The bites appear in tiny three spots (3's). These are suspect in a facility that washes towels and sheets together. Also check the mattress.

Oh, sorry Babalou, you had asked for 'brilliant', my bad! I agree with your Mom, you know what she has! Good luck, and thanks for sharing! You have always been there for everyone else!
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We had mom's care meeting today. The nh professional staff believe that is function of mom's dementia.

We need to her engaged and occupied
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So, i went to see Mom today. Two hours and she didn't bring up anything about her skin, the dermatologist or anything more urgent than not wanting to be out of her room when her ice cream was due to arrive.

I drove there today armed with all sorts of responses to her concerns. The only thing i wasn't prepared for was her non-concern. Feeling very much at sea.
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Babalou, so is it a good thing you have others involved in Mom's care? I'm an only child, Mom's brother has Alzheimer's and it's just me, I have POA, trustee of her trust, medical POA etc. sometimes I think it's good I don't have to convince anyone else to go my path, other times I wish I had someone to share the burden with.....btw, my FIL gets a painful skin rash on his leg that the doc called cellulitis.
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