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Post Heart Failure Dementia and Cognitive Problems: Need Advice
Caregivers: Dementia | Last Active: 1 day ago | Replies (6)Comment receiving replies
Thanks so much for taking care of this, much appreciated!!
History is long and involved. I will try to give you highlights.
Late 70s, got wrong med. Penicillin family, she was/ is highly allergic.
Health crashed from that. Some permanent injury.
Some health problems all along.
10 years ago, same thing happened again, doc gave her wrong med. And in penicillin family.
Health crashed again, this time moving towards death.
Found heart valve problem (there is genetic history of this in the family).
Arterial Valve Stenosis. Open heart surgery in 2019 to replace valve.
Never fully recovered.
Some cognitive problems right before surgery. After surgery some cognitive problems, though I am only seeing this now, in hindsight.
(this is all a gist, really).
High level stress. Previously worked on Mid-East terrorism issues.
CERT team, Covid response team. Crisis team, Crisis PR. very high levels of stress.
High pressure at work.
Health slowly started crashing oh, say a few months ago.
Powerfully crashed in late October. Take to ER, admitted to hospital.
Has been under care of pulmonologist and cardiologist since 2019 surgery. CPAP, more.
Admit as cardiac admit.
Lots of red tape. Released from hospital Nov 2, still don't have official diagnosis or really a course of treatment.
Trying to figure out what is going on.
Powerful issues now. Dementia, panic attacks.
Posted a couple of the Med Chart numbers. Have had some suggestions that this indicates heart failure...but no confirmation from doctor.
On 5 meds now.
Doing the best we can.
Replies to "@colleenyoung Thanks so much for taking care of this, much appreciated!! History is long and involved...."
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@samcal9977zz
Wow - I'm so sorry you're experiencing so my issues. As for heart failure - I can elaborate a bit on my own husband's experience. He as CHF (Congestive Heart Failure) as well as ATTR-CM (often lumped in with CHF). He also has Alzheimer's. His ProBNP was over 3300, and when I read that normal is 300, I freaked! The correct doses of Entresto, Coreg, Lasix & Jardiance have brought it back under 1000. I don't think he ever fully grasped what these numbers meant. His cardiologist says that 300 is normal for healthy young people, and that 1000 is acceptable for a man aged 76.
When DH misplaces things like his wallet, it is sooooo stressful for him. We believe that is what is going to take him out eventually... it's that bad... and we look until it's found. Even if it goes into the night because he just will not settle down until it's found.
If you're just not getting answers from your doctors, are you in a position to get second opinions? Perhaps talking to the hospital social worker for other resources could be helpful. I would also suggest that you contact the Alzheimer's Association and ask to speak with a coordinator. They will call you back. You can explain what you're looking for and they will recommend some resources. It's amazing the subjects they can help with.
I hope you find or get some helpful answers soon. I would also recommend that you NOT consult Dr. Google for any of these conditions. It only shares and confuses people. Consult reputable sources - Mayo Clinc, Alz. Association, American Heart Association, Stanford, etc. Best of luck you and your dear wife - and thank her for her service - not sure if she was military, but it sounds like she was involved is some pretty intense operations.