T:Hallucinations when sick with fever or dehydration?	
Q:Hi All,  I am new to this forum,  I live in <location>. 
 My dad,  <age>,  has been diagnosed with AD <season> (<date>),  after a pulmonary infection with fever. 
 He started to hallucinate and to agitate,  my mother was so scared that we scheduled an appointment to a <professional_practitioner>. 
 After <diagnostic_test>,  his score was <num> from <num>. 
 The <professional_practtitioner> diagnosed him with AD initial stage and put him on <medicine>,  <num>, <num> mg. 
 All went well until <month>,  when he contacted Clostridium Difficile and had again fever and diarrhea with dehydration and started again to hallucinate and to be very agitated. 
 I was in the <institution> for <time_period>,  then he continued treatment at home. 
 after getting a bit well he stopped hallucinating; after <time_period> he had a relapse and again hallucinations and agitation. 
 After <time_period> again in the <institution>,  now he seems to be stable,  but very weak. 
 He has been now evaluated and he is AD stage <num> - mild to moderate. 
 He is taking now also <medicine> <num>/day and <medicine> <num> <time>. 
 I don't know what to think,  is this Alzheimer's or another type of dementia? He is confused and hallucinates only when sick with an infection (fever). 
 Did someone on this forum experienced this situation with his/her loved one? I would very much appreciate your feedback,  I am very worried and stressed and love my father very much. 
 Thank you,  guys. 
 <name>	
 A:He might possibly have Sundowners which both of my parents have. 
 / it could simply be the fever since it appears that is the only time he's not doing really well. 
 A:Thank you,  <name> for your quick reply. 
 It seems that Sundowners keeps them agitated in the evening and during night. 
 My father sleeps well most of the times,  he is only confused with hallucinations when he is sick. 
 <professional_practitioner> say that is Alzheimer's,  but I still wonder. 
 I am very afraid for him not to get sick because of these behaviors. 
  A:Another thoughts / experiences? Please help,  I am a devastated daughter,  I can't accept that my father became like this. 
 A:Hi, I'm sorry for your father's diagnosis. 
 Every Alzheimer patient's experience will be different,  but my father went through pretty much the same thing that your father is going through. 
 I know how frightening it can be. 
 My father experienced many infections in the latter stages of his disease,  and his <professional_practitioner> explained to us that whenever he had an infection,  it would affect his mind,  making him have hallucinations and erratic behavior. 
 He wouldn't know us or where he was and even forgot that my mother had died during these times. 
 He would have terrible bladder infections,  but once the infection subsided,  the hallucinations and such would go away. 
 But he would go through that over and over. 
 But he did have good days in between and we tried to enjoy those times as best we could. 
  My father's Alzheimer's affected the functioning of his organs and that's why he would experience the infections. 
 Keep in mind that Alzheimer's can affect any part of the brain,  including the body's physical functions. 
  


A:Thank you <name>,  this is valuable information. 
 Does your father still lives or he passed? Did he pass due to Alzheimer's,  or an infection caused by this terrible disease? I am trying to lift my father's immunity right now,  he had also prostate cancer with RT last year. 
 I give him supplements like <medicine>,  <medicine>,  Echinaceea,  vit C,  Manuka honey and probiotics. 
 I know that we have to take care with him by preventing any possible infection,  as much as we can. 
 Is this realistic,  or it's just my desire to keep him alive as much as I can? Thank you in advance for your response. 
 May God protect us all! 
A:You are welcome. 
  My father passed away <time_period> from they physical complications caused by the Alzheimer's,  but he died with his short-term memory still mostly intact. 
 He knew his children,  but his long-term memory had faded and blurred. 
 He never lost his knowledge of his faith in God,  though,  and he was at peace about dying. 
 As difficult as it is to lose a parent,  there comes a time when you know it's their time to rest from their suffering and let them go. 
 Both my parents died from debilitating diseases,  and as much as I miss them still,  I would not have wanted to see them continue to suffer as they did. 
 They had lived long,  full lives,  and were ready to go. 
  A:I am sorry for your parents. 
 Yes,  you're right about suffering so much,  but I am not yet prepared to loose them. 
 They are <age>,  and my father's diseases came so quick,  only in <time_period>,  I am still confused and mad about this. 
 he was a very active man,  now he's like a candle. 
 it's hard to accept:( Thank you very much for your feedback. 
  
A:Daddy's <professional_practitioner> said he probably had it for many years before we started noticing any symptoms. 
 We were suspicious that he had it years before his diagnosis,  but we weren't sure because he was under tremendous stress trying to care for my sick mother for about <time_period>. 
 We didn't know if it was just the stress or actual Alzheimer's. 
 Daddy had <num> or <num> uncles/aunts who were diagnosed before him,  so we weren't surprised when he was diagnosed. 
A:My dad also had his late mother,  a cousin and uncle with Alzheimer's and Parkinson,  so I should've expect this. 
 But it's still very hard to accept and to get use to this idea. 
 My father has been diagnosed <date>,  after a pneumonia with fever,  when again he started to be confused and hallucinated. 
 After this episode I took him at a <professional_practitioner> who evaluated him during long tests (<time_period>,  including <diagnistic_test>) and she put the diagnostic of incipient stage of ALZ. 
 She put him on <medicine> <num>. 
  <num> and all went pretty well until this <season>,  after contacting Clostridium Difficile. 
 again fever,  together with diarrhea and dehydration,  he started again to have hallucinations. 
 After first episode of Clostridium and treatment,  again he was fine for <time_period>,  then a relapse,  again hallucinations,  treatment and now stabilized. 
 I took him to a <professional_practitioner> who diagnosed ALZ mild to moderate stage. 
 She added <medicine> and <medicine> <time> to calm down. 
 He is also taking from <time_period> <medicine> for depression. 
 I really dont't know what to expect further. 
 if anyone experienced such episodes with a loved one,  please just let me know. 
 I don't know anymore what to think. 
 Please help with suggestions. 
 Thanks a lot. 
  A:You have probably already noticed that you and your dad have changed places. 
 He is now like your child. 
 Don't try to argue with him on anything. 
 If he says he doesn't like what you're wearing - just agree with him. 
  The good news/bad news is that he'll forget what you talked about in a matter of hours. 
  Both of my parents can get down right mean and nasty with everyone. 
 Two hours later they can can be sweet as can be. 
 My sister and I were concerned that mom might get kicked out of the <institution> she is in. 
 Luckily the head person explained that they expect and are used to dealing with the meanness and that they are seeing some good progress. 
 Not to mention they won't kick her out. 
 YEA! 
A:My Dad(deceased) nor my Mom(yet) hadn't had hardly any illnesses,  infections. 
 The reasons they had hallucinations were from the meds they were on. 
 After their meds were changed,  the hallucinations disappeared. 
  Good to hear <name>. 
 Everyone needs to be somewhere,  where they are looked after properly,  no matterhow they interact with other people. 
 
