Anesthesia

• By MAW12
• Reply 3385903
• September 18, 2012 at 1:52 pm
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jdpitt,

I agree with you. My Mom had open heart surgery at age 85 and from that she never fully recovered from the anesthesia. Her dementia progressed much faster then we had expected. This was very difficult for her as well.

I myself will need the same open heart surgery in the future & I already told my surgeon that I will not wait until I am in my 80's, if I had too wait that long I will not go through with it.

Please take care and you and your husband will be in my prayers.

• By Sallyboo
• Reply 3391470
• September 20, 2012 at 11:51 am
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I agree. That is when my mom's memory problems started.. She needs to have a new knee, but I have told her I would rather have her mind than a new knee... I do not think I would be able to care for her in home if she had that done....

• By Dubbie42
• Reply 3395686
• September 21, 2012 at 7:53 pm
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My husband's symptoms started after a heart attack and surgery to put stents in. It happens too often to believe it is just a coincidence, but keep in mind, the AD may have been there already and the anesthesia just kick started it. Who knows? Personally, I am not trying in anyway at all to slow down the progression of my husband's AD. However, he is 85 so more than 20 years older than your husband. My husband and I talked about this at the start of this journey, and we both felt that trying to make him live longer was actually a cruel thing to do. And in some of the AD books I've read, the author's agree. One says it is better to die in 2 months with 2 cookies in your mouth, than to live another 5 years, miserable because of diet restrictions. And I so agree and since my husband also agreed when this started, I don't monitor his food at all. If he wants 3 bowls of ice cream, he gets them. It is a tough decision for you to make. Have you talked to the doctor about your fears? And if it does make him decline faster, is that necessarily a bad thing? For me it's not, but it's something everyone has to decide on their own. My prayers are for you as you struggle with this. I know you will make the right decision for all involved. Just an aside on this. My husband's cardiologist isn't monitoring his heart other than his yearly check up. We all feel that all the testing is just something that usets him and there is no real reason for it.

• By Geedee
• Reply 3395796
• September 21, 2012 at 8:43 pm
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My husband had a quadruple bypass at age 46. He was diagnosed with Early Onset AD in 2010 aged 55. It took me two years prior to this to get the Dr to recognise that yes there was a problem. He had an angiogram in 2009 which showed a partial blockage. They didn't want to do anything at that stage as it is in a difficult area of the heart just after one of his grafts. 2 months ago he collapsed and had to spend the night in coronary care. The hospital discharged him as they couldn't find what had happened. He has since had a follow up Echo of his heart and a 24hr monitor. Results inconclusive. He had an annual check up at his own cardiologist this week and we thought it would be just routine after the hospital investigations. BUT no. He now needs another angiogram and an electro study of his heart. Because he is only 57 the cardiologist said he wasn't happy with the tests the hospital carried out. If he has another of the attacks he may not survive and just drop dead. He also may need open heart surgery again with it being 12 years since his last. I am afraid what the anesthetic will do to him and whether it will make his AD progress more rapidly. He is currently on Aricept and is mid stage.I don't know how I will cope with another surgery as well as the AD and running our business single handed. We can't afford to pay anyone to help. It just seems to be getting all too much. Sorry but this is the only outlet I have......

• By jdpitt
• Reply 3395980
• September 21, 2012 at 10:12 pm
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He had his first stents put in 2008 and then another in 2009. He wasn't diagnosed until this year,although I believe that it started back then. He said when he no longer remembers me, or he doesn't have the quality of life he explained he wants to me, that he wants all medications stopped. We do have that in his health care directive.

And I hear you about the ice cream. He practically lives on the stuff. He will eat a whole container (48 oz.) And then have several candy bars after. Don't know where he puts it all, but doesn't gain any weight. Wish I could be so lucky!
Thanks for the replies,
have a great week and God bless all of you.

• By MAW12
• Reply 3397977
• September 22, 2012 at 7:46 pm
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Geedee,

Never be sorry for coming on here an voicing your problems. That is what we are here for. Please take care of yourself and your husband. You and your family will be in my thoughts and prayers.

• By andydandysmom
• Reply 3417235
• September 29, 2012 at 7:38 pm
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My husband was diagnosed with moderate AD three years ago. A year ago, at age 82, he had surgery to correct an abdominal aortic aneurysm. He was in the hospital 10 days, 5 days longer than expected. From there he was to go to rehab for three weeks. He managed to get out of the facility in the first 24 hours and I was told to take him home. The next three weeks were hell--at night he was up and down, peed all over the place, had to be watched every minute. Reluctantly after three weeks I left him home in the morning while I went to work. He managed fine and is still home in the mornings, sometimes alone, sometimes with my son. His condition has worsened. Because of the surgery or natural progression of the disease? I don't know. I do know, if I had to do it over again, I would not have the surgery done. AD patients need advocates for them in the hospital.

• By jdpitt
• Reply 3428307
• October 3, 2012 at 3:21 pm
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Well my husband had his heart procedure. 50% blockage but they didn't stent it because more risk doing that than leaving it alone. I guess that's good news, but I think what I feared has happened. This week he has been more confused and forgetful. He brought in the mail, opened up a letter from the VA and now the only thing we can find is the envelope. I have looked everywhere and he tries to help but has to ask me what he is looking for. I've checked the trash, freezers, vehicles, cupboards, vanity, dressers...... everywhere and no luck. Any ones loved one have a special hiding spot? Open to suggestions. Where is the most unusual spot you have found a missing item?

have a great day, and try to find some humor it helps
God bless you all
Diane

• By Geedee
• Reply 3428709
• October 3, 2012 at 6:38 pm
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Hi There
I have found lettuce in the freezer, but the most frustrating one was I couldn't find my master set of keys. We run a holiday complex and those keys are crucial as they are master keys to all the apartments. My husband has his own set of keys(very limited to what is on them. Can't quite take them off him yet)) but for some reason he had picked up mine. We hunted high and low for them. We had been shopping earlier in the day. I even went back to the shops to see if they had been handed in and went to the police for the same reason. If I hadn't found them all the locks would have had to be changed at our expense. I had a small torch on the key ring with the name of one of our buildings on it. I finally decided to methodically search the whole of our apartment, room by room. I don't know what made me start in the ensuite but I opened up my husbands toilet bag and there they were. Why had he put them there? he remembered he had to get the nail clippers out of his bag but doesn't remember putting them there. Many hours were lost looking for them with me feeling quite sick in the stomach. The torch was removed and we had a chuckle afterwards and now when something is missing that is one of the first places we look.

• By MAW12
• Reply 3428724
• October 3, 2012 at 6:49 pm
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Diane,

Did you look in his pants pockets? We may not think of the easiest place to look. Did he by any chance put it in the dishwasher? Or in a box of cereal? These are some idea, sure hope you find that paper. I guess you have to find humor however you can get it.
Best of luck and please take care.