My husband did verrry well on the risperdal for the first 4&1/2 years. If he has just started on it you might want to give it a chance, is he taking any other meds, lexapro was used for us but i felt the 20mg was too much dose for my husband, we lowered to 10 mg 1 x dayby LizzieAnn - Huntington's Disease Support Center
My husband was on Risperdal also until just recently. He went through a stage where he drank liquids very excessively, to the point he would vomit. One night he drank about 1&1/2 - 2 gallons in a short period while i was sleeping. I knew because i found him in upstairs bathroom with vomit all over the place & all the tea, lemonade & milk in fridge was gone. He was very agitated and wiby LizzieAnn - Huntington's Disease Support Center
I don't know about the heat but, a reminder to those on meds that might be affected by sun exposure to remember to wear sunblock and try to stay out of the sun. I forgot this first off with my Phd husband this summer and i know some of the meds he is on have a sun exposure warning.by LizzieAnn - Huntington's Disease Support Center
Still astonishes me that a "genetic counselor" would think that information true. Shouldn't be surprised, i guessby LizzieAnn - Huntington's Disease Support Center
Are you trying to get her help? She might have some family somewhere that can oversea she gets the help she needs until she is unable to care for herself. If no family is mentioned by her about all you can do is make a report to county adult protective services so that they are aware of her HD status when things DO go wrong. They won't intervene with her for now if she is not a harm to othersby LizzieAnn - Huntington's Disease Support Center
I have read that as HD progresses sometimes physicians will lower the dosage of medications used to treat chorea. I dont know about the antidpressants, not sure those meds would necessarily be sedating anyways.by LizzieAnn - Huntington's Disease Support Center
I have read that as HD progresses sometimes physicians will lower the dosage of medications used to treat chorea. I dont know about the antidpressants, not sure those meds would necessarily be sedating anyways.by LizzieAnn - Huntington's Disease Support Center
Will, that's AWESOME!!! Way to drag your "gunny sack" across the finish line!!!!by LizzieAnn - Huntington's Disease Support Center
Where do you live. I live in a very rural area and thru the grapevine heard of a lawyer(used to be a judge) in my small town that has hd in his family- he tested negative( but i will use him if ever needed,by LizzieAnn - Huntington's Disease Support Center
My spouse has been on Namenda for a few years. I don't see where it has helped memory. Dr said maybe it will help subdue memory loss progression. We have decided to just keep him on it in the chance that it might help. I don't see any evidence it is doing any good as memory loss has still been significant since he has been taking it. Diagnosed and working 4 1/2 years ago and now has to have someoby LizzieAnn - Huntington's Disease Support Center
My guess on this LTC/medicaid non-payment is that your father just entered the LTC facility because someone wanted him to have "therapy" of some sort. Not that he met the criteria for needing skilled care/ therefore medicaid is stating they will not cover the cost as he doesn't meet the criteria for skilled care. They probably would have paid for speech or physical therapy in the homeby LizzieAnn - Huntington's Disease Support Center
Does he get SSI? and he has Medicaid that goes along with that? Even if he has Medicaid and enters a LTC facility someone still may have to go to the local DHS office and do the application for Medicaid to pay for LTC facility. You need to call the DHS office and see what the steps would be to get Medicaid to cover the Vendor Payment for the LTC facility. (Usually, it a seperate application forby LizzieAnn - Huntington's Disease Support Center
Maybe it's anxiety in the form of compulsion. My phd husband started rubbing his arms and face, I noticed it after he stopped working and was home with nothing to do. Lexapro helped with the anxiety but he still does it some.by LizzieAnn - Huntington's Disease Support Center
One WARNING! Not saying what you have might even remotely be HD, but about 4 years ago my husband was in your situation with an unknown movement disorder and he had no family history of HD either.After seeing a couple of doctors and still no diagnosis the last doctor said well, let's go ahead and run a blood test to rule out Huntington's" and since no family history we said sure "justby LizzieAnn - Huntington's Disease Support Center
My husband wil not wear socks now-even in the winter. I'm having to keep the inside thermostat at 55 degrees and it's 24-40 degrees outside. Fortunately I am at work during the day where I can be a little warmer and I just take a hot shower and bundle up when I get home (saves on the heating bill!) He puts his shirts on backwards and inside out all the time and wears them and has no clue! He juby LizzieAnn - Huntington's Disease Support Center
indigo9585, your husband's "thrashing and legs, arms, hollering out" in his sleep was one my husbands worst HD symptoms. The only thing that helped was Risperadol, also helped with mood outburst like a charm! He is so easy going now, it has been a lifesaver for us. I hope this helps you.by LizzieAnn - Huntington's Disease Support Center
Well, this med didn't last long. 3rd night taking Phd had total loss of bladder control (doc said he was sleeping so deep he didn't realize he had to go to relieve himself). After that night he was not getting full night sleep on it.....so, in the end we opted to quit the sleep medications and just let him sleep whenever he wants. If he's up at night..so be it..since he has moved to another bby LizzieAnn - Huntington's Disease Support Center
It worked so well the 1st night that he was sleeping very deep and snoring like a freight train going through the house, I got very little sleep due to the excessive loud snoring (like he's never done before) If that's the case for you, don't plan on anyone in the house getting any sleep. Seems I can't win this one but, I'm glad he got some good sleep!by LizzieAnn - Huntington's Disease Support Center
Any Phd try or using Restoril (temzaepam)? Mine has been prescribed for help to sleep. Worked like a champ the 1st night/slept all they way through when before days and nights were all mixed up. It's a sleep aid/treatment for anxiety. Worried about longterm use but I guess why worry about that when he's not getting sleep and loosing weight like crazy. Wondering if anybody else has tried orby LizzieAnn - Huntington's Disease Support Center
I like threads and responses that challenge me to think, without personal attacks on someone else's opinion. I read along as everyone made their responses each day and thought about them. Then today, I went back and re-read Kathleen's original post just on it's own and just exactly as she posted it. I didn't find it offensive and I also took it as her just expressing how she lives "her&by LizzieAnn - Huntington's Disease Support Center
I'm not going to speak definatively for the differences in each state run program, but to my knowledge there is NOT any programs that are federally or state funded that pay someone to care for their SPOUSE. Some states do have "caretaker" programs that may pay for a family member (other than a spouse) to help provide care for someone who is a "developmentally disabled adult"by LizzieAnn - Huntington's Disease Support Center
Dusty you funny! I love the stories. I can relate a lot to the postings above with spouse's that have concerns of their Phd appearing to be "bored" or just watching TV all day. I too am dealing with the same concerns and some of the exact same situations. It's a stage as a caregiver we are going through also. I give suggestions of "chores" my spouse can do while I'm gonby LizzieAnn - Huntington's Disease Support Center
Dave, I'm very sorry for the loss of your wife.by LizzieAnn - Huntington's Disease Support Center
Maggie, my Phd husband has the same things happen to him. He always says he doesn't remember how he got hurt. I come home from work and his nose is cut across the bridge and bruised. I say "what happened to your nose? I go thru a few suggestions as to what he might have done?" and he just says he doesn't know how it happened. If I give suggestions as to maybe how it happened, he saby LizzieAnn - Huntington's Disease Support Center
Just want to make sure I'm not missing something here as what Medicare pays. How is Medicare paying 24 hour care in the home? I thought medicare provided what's called "homecare", that's not 24 hour in home care, is it? Is "caringinlaw" maybe referring to Medicaid? What does MEDICARE "homecare" cover? Any responses would be appreciated.by LizzieAnn - Huntington's Disease Support Center
Eric, I'm sorry for your loss. May God give you peace in the days to come.by LizzieAnn - Huntington's Disease Support Center
Judy, Very difficult thing with putting your husband in a facility. Glad to hear he seems to be accepting it so far. Is the facility far from your home?by LizzieAnn - Huntington's Disease Support Center
Barb, I'm so very sorry to hear of your loss of Dan "hugs" "hugs" to you. LizzieAnnby LizzieAnn - Huntington's Disease Support Center
I haven't had anyone in LTC yet so I know not what I speak, but could it be simply a humility issue with not having a private experience when being bathed? Would your mother tell you if you asked her? Again, I know not what I speak in this matter, just the first thing that came to my mind. Does she toilet herself?by LizzieAnn - Huntington's Disease Support Center
I was waiting until all 3 of you received your good news ( I was holding out for you-swgirl) before I posted a sigh of relief for all of you. Oooohhhhh, Happy D-daaaay!!by LizzieAnn - Huntington's Disease Support Center