Mom has had a few bad days with awful auditory hallucinations. She blames me for making the people on the TV say awful things about her. I did giver her a .5 Lorazepam tablet last night. I've heard to let her sleep. I did wake her up to take my brother's call. And an hour later I woke her up and asked her if she'd like to get up, and she said no. I'm just concerned. Thanks!
My suggestion is to accept this and give her what her body needs. Try to rouse her for fluids, at least, but honor her need for sleep.
Frankly, I was relieved to see Dad sleep after such an ordeal. It meant that he was getting some peace.
Take care of yourself. This is draining for the caregiver, too.
Blessings,
Carol
As a fellow seizure sufferer, you may want to see if boosting the persons magnesium will help reduce the seizures. I read somewhere about the connection between magnesium deficiency and seizures among other problems. Try boosting the patient's magnesium, you may be surprised at how much it works wonders for reducing seizures. I happen to have myoclonics, which is actually an electrical jolt in the center of the brain, I can feel it. Oddly enough though, myoclonic's are done and gone just as fast as they struck, much like a lightning strike. Probably impossible to catch on an EEG since they come and go so quickly. However, it pays to have a sympathetic doctor who actually listens and will treat the condition so that it doesn't become a bigger problem down the road. One thing I can say about the electrical jolt in the center of the brain is that the longer it goes unaddressed, the stronger the electrical jolt will become to the point you start actually convulsing throughout the rest of your body. Seizure meds will help, but definitely boost the magnesium level, it works wonders! Getting seizures under control for long enough will enable the patient to eventually be allowed to drive. If you already have a more mild form of seizures like I do, you may only notice myoclonic's happening only at the edge of sleep or from certain other triggers. Yes, you can become a little tired after seizures, I usually fall right off to sleep and stay asleep the rest of the night if it catches me on the edge of sleep. Yes, they can be draining, but not impossible to bring under control
I think elders with any chronic condition can have "bad days." I don't think auditory hallucinations are typically part of that for most conditions.
Could it be that she is having delusions instead of auditory hallucinations? For example, believing that you control what people on television say is clearly a delusion. Perhaps she is not really hearing them say bad things, she is "just" believing it, with no auditory evidence.
But hallucinations or delusions, I'd try to get to the cause. I know that might not be possible, but I'd discuss it with her doctor.
Whatever is causing it I think expert Carol's advice is right on target.
Sleeping more and more can be a sign of approaching end of life. I don't think the situation you describe fits that. While my husband declined he slept more and more. When it reached 20 hours per day, we called in hospice. He died 5 weeks later. But his increase in sleep was continuous and lasting, not just after a "bad day."
Let us know how this works out. We care!