Night Time Activities

[seekeerz]

Why do older patients in some situations become quite confused and over active at night.

I'm nursing my husband who has cancer of the throat and while he's ok through the day, at night it's a very different story.

We time his large PEG feed to finish about 10.00pm, but inevitably, about 3 hours in, and always after dark, the fidgets start and he wants to get out of bed and do any number of tasks, etc that ave been playing on his mind.

It's very like a form of dementia which promptly vanishes with daylight and he's now sound asleep, which I'd give my right arm for.

[bednobs]

is it sundowning? Does he have dementia?

[bednobs]

https://www.google.co.uk/search?q=sundowning&oq=sundow&aqs=chrome.4.69i57j0l5.6438j0j4&;sourceid=chrome&ie=UTF-8

[Maydup]

Feel for you seekeerz, have you spoken to the medics about it?

[bednobs]

the other thig is raised temps can cause confusion in elderly people - and you are much more likely to have a temp either first or last thing

[Mamyalynne]

Agitation and restlessness isn't unusual and the quietness of the night and maybe not getting into a deep enough sleep is making this worse. Mention it to Nurse/Doctor.

Tough times for you both.xx

[seekeerz]

So far dementia hasn't been mentioned by any of his doctors though I've raised the issue with all of them, it doesn't appear until after dark, but does progressively get worse until daylight which seems to make him more lucid

[gness]

I have no answer, Seek.....but I know what you're going through and I feel for you....Gx

[seekeerz]

Thanks, everyone.

[rowanwitch]

His body clock has changed, I believe it is to do with some of the chemical messenger levels changing. Dave was the same to some extent. I agree with Mamyalynne though it's worth checking his temperature if it's raised and he isn't on anything that clashes or other paracetamol some soluble paracetamol down the tube might help.
You could try keeping light levels lower during the day so it's less of a transition that can help sometimes. Lavender oil on his pillow would be calming. If not then it's help from your doctor probably night sedation, and someone to give you a break so you get some sleep at least once a week.

[sakura33]

When I was being peg fed I was wet with sweat and it took a while to cool down when the feed was finished.
My doctor said it was because my body was rejecting the feed but I had to put up with it until my throat healed.
Sakura33

[Sqad]

"Why do older patients in some situations become quite confused and over active at night. "

Do they? Some do and some don't.
I don't think there is an explanation.......

[Old_Geezer]

Not sleeping, stuck there lying in the dark, agitated, restless; who wouldn't want to get up and do something. Issue is insomnia isn't it ?

[seekeerz]

Thanks everyone ....

Rowan, thank you, he's already on paracetamol as part of his pain control, I'll try some lavender oil, it helps me, it might do the same for him, and I'll keep the rest in mind.

Sakura ...I'm glad your throat healed, his is not likely to, so the peg feeds will stay.

Sqad ....inscrutable as usual, at least you didn't recommend Ibuprofen and monitor the situation lol.

OG....I appreciate where you're coming from, but he sleeps like the proverbial log thru the day, it's only night time he wants to bring the horse inside ...the one I'm keeping in the back yard !!


Thank you all again, I appreciate the thoughts