It's been quiet around here for a few days.

MIL is going through another decline. She's still missing FIL and I think she's surprised how much she misses him. She thinks that since she prayed for his suffering to end that she's not allowed to miss him. She told me yesterday that she kept looking out the window for Karl even though she knows he's gone. So sad!!

The other night she told me that she wanted to divorce my DH (her son) and she was absolutely shocked that I could even think that I was married to him. "How dare I think I can take her husband" "I should be ashamed of myself and GOD will punish me for doing this". She turned on me for the 1st time. Nothing violent, just words. I'm a big girl and I can handle it, but this is the 1st time she's ever been like that with me. Usually she turns on DH or her DD, but I've always been exempt. The next morning everything was OK and of course she remembered nothing. She was up until 3am on her rant. Normally she's in bed and sound asleep no later than 9pm.

A couple of days later she thought we were talking about her (we weren't), and she got really upset. We were getting ready to go to town for groceries. She got in the car and was quiet the whole way...when we got to the store and I opened the door to help her unbuckle her seat belt, she glared at me and said "Get your hands off of me!" I went into the store while DH stayed with his Mom. She started to cause a scene in the parking lot. They came in the store and she told the greeter that her son was holding her against her will. Thankfully, they know us and didn't assume something that wasn't true. We had picked up a few things for the neighbor while we were there and MIL is gesturing in the car "call me" to her when we dropped it off. MIL still talks on the phone, but can't dial on her own anymore. Of course, this all blows over once we get home, but boy does she ever have me on my toes lately. I'm glad DH was there, because sometimes he doesn't understand how quickly these moods can change and how hard it can be to deal with this when we're out and about. I think I'll go to the grocery store by myself from now on.

She's on Seroquel XR 50mg, but I'm thinking we may need to adjust this. Does anyone know how they work that with the XR? I know how the regular Seroquel is increased gradually, but not with the XR. Does she get another prescription for a bigger dose? Maybe I need to change to the regular so we can play with the dosage as needed, but then will she need to take in the am too to keep it in her system? She takes the XR every night. We'll be going to the Dr. really soon. FIL took Risperdal because he couldn't tolerate Seroquel. I know they are similar and he started at .25mg and was gradually increased to 1 mg by the end.

Boy, as much as I've learned about this disease the more I don't know. MIL is going to be much tougher to handle than FIL. He was such a sweet gentle soul. I still miss him everyday.

Your MIL sounds just like my mother. We started out on 25mg of seroquel in the morning but had to double it and then only a few weeks later we added 50 mg in the evening and now we have discontinued the morning dose but have increased the evening dose to 150 mg. My mom is now a sweet lady who actually smiles at me once in a while. A few weeks ago she snarled at me and took every chance she could to yell at me or write letters to her friends and tell them outrageous lies about her treatment in my home. (I never mailed her letters)
Every time my mom came into the living room I tensed up because of not knowing whether she was going to attack me or not. I am much more relaxed and of course it it much nicer for her to be happy and content.
I didn't even try to persuade my mom to go to the Dr. I just called and told him how she was and we kept adjusting until it worked.
Hope you can get this sorted out because that tension isn't good for you.

MIL is doing better. She's still confused, but not hating us.

I don't have a problem getting her to the Dr. I just tell her that the Dr called and she wants her to come in and get her thyroid checked again. I also never tell her much more than an hour or so before we go. Thankfully, I can call her Dr on short notice and usually get in right away.

Right now she's talking about the other couple that live here (DH and me) wanting to be sure it is OK for us to be here. No agitation, just confusion.

I do escape down to my neighbors now and then for a break. Of course, I can only do that when DH is here.

Hi Sherri,
I made it back to internet country and I see that your MIL is doing better now.
I remember how hard it was when Bill would yell at me and tell me to get out of his house. He would also ask me if I thought it was ok to be in his mother's house when she wasn't here. She's been gone 25 years and never lived in our home. But in his mind this was her home and we were tresspassing.
The seroquel worked wonders with Bill. I'm not sure I could have handled him without it. Or maybe I could, who knows if it was the seroquel helping him or just another phase.
Now that I'm home, I'll be checking in more often to check up on everyone.

Jackie,
How is your mother doing? I haven't seen you around for awhile.

Hello to everyone I saw in Chicago. I never met a stranger who wasn't a friend. You all seemed like long time friends.


Lori, Where are you and what are you doing. You're always welcome to come back to Michigan.