Advice needed

Welcome to the online community and to the carers only group I know that this is the last place on earth that you wanted to be at this time.

It can't be a pleasant experience having your step dad wandering around the house in the middle of the night hallucinating and wonder if this could be down to some medication he is taking. As this behaviour has just started has he had a change to his medication recently, a new drug or a dosage change.

I am assuming that as you have not mentioned any other behavioral change that this is the only one.

I think that this change in his behaviour should be notified to his GP or his consultant for investigation.

You should also notify your own GP that you are caring for your step dad and because of his behaviour change it is pulling you towards the edge and is no doubt causing you to have sleepless nights which could eventually affect your health.

All carers should notify their GP that they are carer to someone and have it noted on their medical notes, many GP practices make special arrangements for carers in respect of appointments and other things.

Please do speak to his GP/consultant about this as if it continues it could mean your step dad needs 24 hour caring which I don't think you can give.

Door alarms sounds a good idea but have you also considered a (baby) monitor in both of your rooms which could wake you up if step dad stirs in the night and give you advance warning.

Of course it may not be the medication but an effect of the swelling to his brain getting worse in which case the medics should be advised to organise further tests.

Ian

Thanks for that  I will be calling the local McMillan support team and our gp on Monday,  he has only been on his medication for a couple of weeks so hopefully it will improve, it's all happened so fast it's a bit overwhelming, being the only other person in the house. It is nice to have a sounding board, especially of people who have been through similar situations.