Mom’s Seizure Journal

May 14, 2011

Dale’s Recollection

Monday May 9^th

Ray and Joan Longhurst were staying at Alan and Laura Longhurst’s ( a son and daughter in law)  home over the Mother’s day weekend. Joan had been having what seemed like dementia over the last few weeks . She had been often confused about dates and was displaying sudden bouts of memory loss. She was also complaining about headaches possibly related to a sinus infection she thought she might have. She had been in to see Dr. John Luras on Monday and had an MRI on Friday.  We were still awaiting the results when on Monday afternoon about 3 P.M., she fainted and they ( Alan and Laura) could not wake her. She had fainted a few times earlier (in the previous week or weeks). They took her to the emergency room at Alta View Hospital where they monitored her and gave her IV fluids. At approximately   7  P.M., she awoke and was very lucid. They released her from the hospital and she came home with Dale and MaryAnn Longhurst  (another son and daughter in law.) After having some dinner, she again became confused and stood up from the table, walked into the corner of the living room and was asked if she was alright. She said no, and looked very confused. She then walked over to the couch and after lying down, pulled a blanket over her head and, clutching it tightly, fell asleep.

Tuesday May 10th

 She may have gotten up to go to the bathroom in the night, but in the morning she would not wake up. Dale then carried her to the car and brought her to the emergency room at Salt lake Regional Hospital after conferring with her doctor on the phone. She was admitted, and would not respond to pain or several other types of stimuli. Within a few hours they moved her to the ICU and we all waited for her to wake up. Several times she started hallucinating and started talking about loved ones who had passed away and said over and over “I am dying, I am dying”. This was in the morning before being given a room in the ICU. She was given a priesthood blessing by her two sons Dale and Denis and her husband, Ray at about 7:30.  She stayed asleep or in a deep state of unconsciousness until approximately 8 P.M. She woke briefly , and spoke of her hallucinations, saying she had an out of body experience in which she hovered above the bed.  Her daughter, Jana flew in from Illinois and arrived at the hospital shortly after  1 A.M. Dale then took Ray home for the night.

Wednesday May 11^th

With Jana at her side, she woke and became extremely lucid for most of the remainder of the night.

They spoke about many things for several hours and enjoyed each other’s company. She stayed lucid all night long and into the next day. The doctors wrote on the board that it might be Lewy Body Dementia.

We spent much of the day studying and learning about it. Dr. Luras was not so sure. He wanted to see the EEG. The EEG was administered while Denis was there and he thought she had a couple of seizures while they were doing the EEG.   I don’t recall when she went back into her new round of psychosis.  I think it was sometime in the afternoon  - possibly about 3 P.M. They administered 1000 mg of Keppra to her hoping it would stop the seizures. She stayed asleep for the rest of Wednesday afternoon, into the evening and through the entire night.

^{Thursday May 12th}

^{She stayed asleep all day until 1 A.M. on Friday Morning. Dale and Jana went shopping Thursday afternoon. Ray slept in a chair next to her and did not go home for a nap. He was excited when she woke and squeezed his arm to wake him up and talk for a brief minute. He was excited that she woke him up and talked for a minute before falling asleep again. She stayed asleep for the rest of the evening and woke in the middle of the night. It appears she is sleeping for about 24 to 36 hours and staying awake approx 24 hours. Bicycle type movements seem to happen about half way through the heavy sleep. As she nears consciousness, she is able to go to the bathroom, though still in a trance like state. She also responds to questions with a nod of the head. I believe the nurse gave her 250 mg twice that day. Check with the hospital or with Jana.}

^{Friday and Saturday May 13th and 14th 250 mgs twice on Friday and once Sat morning}

^{She woke up shortly after midnight again and was lucid for 36 hours. She did not fall asleep again until Saturday morning about 8 o’ clock. Denis was with her and witnessed the seizure. She became irritated and answered questions curtly with one word answers. She then convulsed a little and laid down on the couch and slept for almost exactly 24 hours. She displayed bicycle and shadow boxing movements, air piano and hitting her head with her hands, at about hour numbers 8 ( 3 o’ clock) through about 16 ( 11 p.m. or so). She went to the bathroom while still in a trance at least twice during the night.}   

^{Sunday May 15th 250 mgs keppra sun 7 am and 500 mgs at 4 p.m.}

^{She woke up and was completely lucid about 6 A.M. She still showed symptoms of memory loss and confusion but in a very aware and normal state. She stayed awake all day. The next expected seizure should be  about 7 a.m. tomorrow unless the meds start working. Next  planned meds at 6 a.m on Monday morning 500 mg.}

^{Monday May 16th A different day but somewhat the same. The day started with much promise the meds were making a difference. She slept pretty well all night  without an apparent seizure or deep sleepd  Dale woke her at about 6:30 A.M. She was lucid. He was hoping to get her to take 500 mg before another seizure came. It was a close one. She took the two pills at 6:30 and was in another trance by 6:45. She did not even get breakfast. There was a big difference this time, however. The bicycling stage started within an hour after the seizure started and she was awake again by 10:30. She was lucid again and stayed awake until 3 o clock. She then had another tremor and fell asleep again doing bicycle movements right away. She stayed asleep until 5 when Ray came home from a doctor’s appointment. She woke up, said hi, took a pill and went back into the bicycle stage right away. It is 8:30 P.M. and she is still riding, but like she just finished a marathon, a little more subdued.}