New Study Results In

FloydSnax

I'm no doctor. But this is my observation and can maybe help someone here in the future. Since no information seems to be available. 

My mom is a strong 90 years old. I think that means she looks 70. At least that's what everyone tells us. Anyway, if this is already common knowledge, I apologize because it's new to me. With my mom, it seems like something traumatic pushes her deeper into the disease. Deeper into the loss of memory...of everything. 

Yesterday she could dress herself, today she couldn't. Yesterday she ate breakfast on her own, today she couldn't. Her trauma was pretty bad in that she had to have a toenail removed and as silly as that might sound, the numbing injection beforehand was *$%& traumatic. 

I was warned by her personal physician, friends who have gone through it, people online...they all mentioned it to me. I stood by her and gave her my arm to squeeze the life out of if she needed to. She screamed for the entire injection which I found out later was 4 injections, which took longer than any injection I've ever heard of. Let's just say the scene in that O.R was pretty chaotic. Not just for her.

But since then, the insanity of her disease has been amplified 50-100%. Maybe it will return to normal insanity levels, but I doubt it. Again, I'm no doctor. I hope it does and I'll let you know, but if the loved one you're caring for is due for something that might be traumatic...I'd think twice.

harshedbuzz

FS-

Always good advice to be careful around any medical tests and procedures for an elder with dementia. 

Specific to your situation. Be careful not to be misled by how she looks-- what's going on inside her head is more indicative of how she's doing than the attractive youthful exterior. 

In the future, a procedure of this type might go better with a mildly sedating medication-- something like a low dose Xanax or Valium. On the other hand, sometimes older folks can have a paradoxical reaction to certain meds and become more agitated. Another option, if there's time, is a prescription numbing cream (Emla) applied before the injections. 

The kind of dramatic loss of skills you describe can be a function of vascular dementia, but sometimes after a procedure or hospitalization, it can be temporary with an eventual return closer to their baseline. 

HB

FloydSnax

That whole experience was a Harshed Buzz!! Thank you for your response and I think you're right about returning to a closer baseline. Its day 4 and she seems more mellow and ate on her own again...so that's great news for me although I know this victory is going to be short-lived cuz there's always something around the next corner. And you floored me with your comment about a numbing cream before injection! WTF!! They totally have the capabilities to completely avoid such a hardcore injection/reaction!! Gonna take that up with .... someone? Thanks again