No medication yet

Just a quick visit to see Edna today. Steve was with me and he finds it too distressing to say for too long so we only stayed about 30 minutes, Edna understood that he had work to do.

Mr Hyde Or should that Mrs Hyde?)surfaced very briefly when I had to make it plain I was NOT going to bring her any money so she could go shoe shopping. But as Steve was there she decided it wasn't an argument although she insisted she WAS allowed out of the hospital and said she could always go to the bank to get some money out. I hate it when I have to enforce reality on her. Maybe I should just say yes - and hope she has forgotten about the money next time I go to see her :-(

I managed to find out today that her treatment hasn't started yet for a reason I had actually worked out . The teratment they wanted (Rivastigmine patch) isn;t on the hospital formulary so the pharmacy don;'t keep it and won't get it. I asked if they were planning on substituting a different form - or a different drug - I know they have Aricept at QE - but the sister said that decision would have to wait untl the consultant was back on Monday. She was on Quetiapine for a short time but that seems to have been stopped to my releif. Atypical anti-psychotics in dementia have a dodgy reputation.

I am avxious to see what difference drug treatment masy make to her condition. I need to keep a record of how she is before and during gtreatment so I have an objective way to decide if it is working or not. OK I know the doctors must have a methid to assess the success or failure of treatment = probably repeat MMSE assesments - but I don't wnat to rely just on medical advice. After all I know Edna better than they do.

Until she starts treatment we are in 'wait and see ' mode. So all I can do is keep up with the laundry