A fib and dementia

Hope street

I had to bring mom to the ER due to serious dehydration and profound weakness. The visiting nurse said this would be best for her and I agreed because she was in pretty bad shape. Now we are at the hospital where she will be admitted but waiting 5 hrs in the ER for a bed.

The first thing they start up about is aFib.  To what extent should this be treated in a 95 year old With moderate to sever Alzheimer’s? 

harshedbuzz

This book might be helpful.

Hard choices for loving people : CPR, artificial feeding, comfort care, and the patient with a life-threatening illness : Dunn, Hank : Free Download, Borrow, and Streaming : Internet Archive

 In this situation, I might try medications but I would not move onto procedures if it was my LO. If she's not already on hospice, I would have her evaluated.  

M1

Atrial fibrillation is hard to treat, usually involves cardiac meds and blood thinners in the best of circumstances.  I would leave it alone and go for hospice/palliation.  Good luck---

Hope street

Thanks for the replies. Just met with the heart doctor and she explained so much to me and I had done my homework last night so I understood pretty well. We treat the dehydration and the touch of pneumonia but forgo blood thinners and don’t do anything invasive. Perhaps adjust down the amount of BP meds if anything. Nice to find a Dr that explains and listens. That is exactly what I was going to insist on.

sandwichone123

I'm so happy to hear that you got a doc that had realistic ideas and was willing to understand the whole situation, not just one test or diagnosis.