Dealing with Agitation

My husband, Jerry, had to have surgery…and the surgeon said he’d need more than a mild anesthesia. I was naturally worried, but the surgery wasn’t optional; Jerry was in pain. Naturally, I was overjoyed when he awoke after the surgery acting happy and “normal.” But then he started to be very agitated and angry…and he couldn’t urinate. I called the doctor who had me bring him in. They inserted a catheter and now Jerry is really mad at me. He doesn’t remember the surgery, or not being able to urinate. He thinks I’m doing this to him and keeps trying to pull the catheter out. What do I do? Was it the stronger anesthesia after all? Will this be permanent? 

Marie, LBD support group member

Was it the anesthesia? There are no sure answers here, but it sounds like he weathered that well. But then he started having physical problems. With only a limited amount of reserves, some of Jerry’s internal army of protectors were pulled off the task of controlling the Lewy bodies and put to work dealing with emergency issues. Even after the doctor fixed that with a catheter, he continued to be agitated because of this foreign, likely uncomfortable and  definitely unwanted thing in his body.

Will this be what Jerry and Marie can expect from now on? Again, that’s hard to tell, but hopefully, when his body begins to function better, his mind will too, especially once the catheter is removed. The goal is always to make a person living with dementia (PlwD) as comfortable as possible. The more comfort, the less agitation and fewer dementia-related symptoms in general.

What can Marie do?

• Avoid arguing, explaining, defending or denying. That’s the cardinal rule when dealing with people who can’t reason. What Jerry believes is what he believes and Marie can’t change that. Instead, she can accept, speak to the feelings and apologize. When Jerry accuses Marie, she might say, “Oh, honey, I am so sorry. That must be very uncomfortable.”

• Use touch. Marie can give Jerry a hug or a kiss--or both, hold his hand, or give him a massage. All of these have a very calming effect. Touch causes the brain to release feel-good hormones like serotonin, and both Jerry and Marie will feel better.

• Use temporary help from drugs. Marie can contact Jerry’s doctor and ask about a temporary regimen of a mild antipsychotic such as pimavanersin (Nuplazid), clozapine (Clozaril) or quetiapine (Seroquel). The first of these is fairly new but has had excellent reviews. The second is a mild antipsychotic often tolerated by PlwD, but is at risk for causing liver damage in a small number of people, thus requiring regular blood tests. While the third has been the drug of choice for dealing with agitated dementia patients for many neurologists for years, a few people with LBD don't tolerate it well and so it must be monitored carefully. We don’t advocate for drugs as a general rule, but there are times when they are appropriate, such as helping a PlwD over episodes like this.

• Make someone else the “bad guy.” Marie can ask Jerry’s doctor to become the “bad guy” and tell Jerry he has to keep the catheter in. Jerry may listen to the doctor when he won’t to Marie. He’d probably respond better to a male than a female, and he’d probably respond better to someone he knows, like his primary care physician than his surgeon, whom he may not recognize. A male family member, a grown son, for instance, can sometimes be helpful here. Or even a daughter who has been able to reach her father when no one else can. Call in the reserves!

• Take care of the caregiver. Asking for help is as much a part of good caregiving as knowing how to calm a loved one. If Jerry won’t quit trying to pull out the catheter or becomes so belligerent that he becomes dangerous, Marie needs to call 911. We want a primary care physician who knows what he/she doesn't know, and knows when to refer. It is the same with caregiving. As a good caregiver, Marie needs to be able to recognize when she is no longer able to keep Jerry, or herself, safe and call for help. Admitting that you need help can sometimes be very painful, but it can't be emphasized enough how important it is. Make it sooner rather than later!

For information about Lewy body disorders, read our books:
A Caregivers’ Guide to Lewy Body Dementia
Managing Cognitive Issues in Parkinson's and Lewy Body Dementia

Helen and James Whitworth are not doctors. As informed caregivers, they share the information here foreducational purposes only. It should never be used instead of a physician's advice.