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What is the best answer?

Posted by robertwills @robertwills, Jul 4 10:49am

Patent 85, went from normal person 95% normal to advanced dementia symptoms 15% of normal within weeks of minor outpatient procedure that involved anesthesia. Patient was out of control, highly agitated, anxious, awake for days, barely making sense. Upon entering memory care within a week the medication they were given, anti-psychotic, reversed those dementia symptoms and was at 85% normal for a year and a half. Patient was like normal again. Within a week though they reverted back to similar dementia symptoms but to about 30%. The neurologist says it's because it's Alzheimer's that is now close to advanced. Ordered to be put on Alzheimer's drug with no change in other medications. Medication levels were not checked. Family can not be certain if patient was maybe not given the right medication dose at assisted living.

So, do you think the anti-psychotic drug simply wore off and it's not in fact near advanced Alzheimer's?

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meitsjustme | @meitsjustme | Jul 5 7:24am

I know the confusion and chaos you're experiencing firsthand. My mother-in-law had open heart surgery when she was in her early 80s. She came out of the anesthesia a different person. Prior to the operation, she lived alone and did everything for herself except drive. Afterward, she needed restraints. It was hell for a year until we returned to nearly normal and moved to an assisted living situation until her death a few years later. I don't have any answers for your specific situation, but I want you to know that I and probably tons of other people have gone through similar situations. It's frustrating. It's unfair. It makes a person so very angry. Good luck, and keep us posted.

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robertwills | @robertwills | Jul 5 10:05am
In reply to @meitsjustme "I know the confusion and chaos you're experiencing firsthand. My mother-in-law had open heart surgery when..." + (show)
@meitsjustme

I know the confusion and chaos you're experiencing firsthand. My mother-in-law had open heart surgery when she was in her early 80s. She came out of the anesthesia a different person. Prior to the operation, she lived alone and did everything for herself except drive. Afterward, she needed restraints. It was hell for a year until we returned to nearly normal and moved to an assisted living situation until her death a few years later. I don't have any answers for your specific situation, but I want you to know that I and probably tons of other people have gone through similar situations. It's frustrating. It's unfair. It makes a person so very angry. Good luck, and keep us posted.

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In this case the patient had been diagnoses with mild dementia prior to the procedure. Then a year ago with early Alzheimers. So that is definitely part of the picture but the fact that they went from 95% normal then to 15%, then up to 85% with anti-psychotic medication within days and that lasted for a year and a half but within days now is at 30% does not make sense to me at all given a neurologist says it's very close to advanced stage Alzheimers. Nothing about the fact that it could be the anti-psychotic medication either losing effectiveness or not been given at times.

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1995victoria | @1995victoria | Jul 6 9:54am

Entered memory care in 2022, but my cousin had problems after every major surgical procedure. In 2006,2008, 2014,2017 I wish I knew what anesthesia was administered. It took a month or two for her to recover, but continued with slow deterioration and she was good covering up problems, I didn't realize how bad things were until 2021. I also think the isolation during the pandemic accelerated her decline.

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