Elaine, I am sorry to learn of your husband's problems.  Because of the
sudden onset of his symptoms, it would certainly seem that a neurologist
should be consulted.  Demand that his geriatric psychiatrist enlist one -
that is your right.  There are many causes for sudden onset dementia,
including infection.  If you have durable power of attorney (and I hope that
you do), you can refuse nursing home placement - however, that may mean that
you have to bring your husband home.  The hospital does have a right to
discharge your husband if nothing further can be done for him.
---------
God bless
Mary Ann (Caregiver of Jamie 67/27 years with PD)
www.bentwillowfarm.org
Subject: Neurologists


> My name is Elaine Wirth.  My husband has PD with frontal lobe dementia.
> He went to Utah and rode in the jeep boulder hopping with my son at the
> end of April.  He was coherent and his usual passive self.  In May, he
> began losing his balance and falling.  Toward the end of the month, he
> began having visual illusions and became paranoid with hallucinations.  He
> also became agitated and combative.  He was low on oxygen and his mind
> left him for most of the day.  After a fight with the hospital, they
> admitted him from the emergency room to the hospital.  The insurance
> company has been trying to get him entered into a custoidial care
> facility.  I have read that this kind of problem can often be fixed, but
> is tricky to adjust meds to put his acetycoline and dopamine levels in
> balance.  I do not want my husband to be thrown away just because he is
> seventy and causing the insurance company some money.  There are few
> neurologists in NM and the two that work for the HMO will not
> visit patients in the hospital.  Now a geriatric psychiatrist is managing
> my husband's case, but as far as I know, he has not consulted any
> neurologist.  If any of you know any ways to require them to provide  a
> competent PD neurologist who might be able to put these  chemicals back in
> balance, or at least give him the 6 to l2 weeks trials necessary, please
> let me know.  I am frantic.
> Elaine Wirth
>
>
> ---------------------------------
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