Echocardiogram scheduled-how to get him through it

Sometimes they can warm the gel. I would ask: Does he really need it? What will the cardiologist do differently with the results? If it’s to see if he could need surgery, for example, would you put him through a surgery? I would always ask these questions when deciding what medical procedures to do. He could need sedation to get an echocardiogram if he won’t cooperate, and I personally wouldn’t do that.

Agree with the other posters, i likely wouldn't put him through it. Perhaps he no longer needs a cardiologist, period.

I also agree only if it is a necessary procedure for an outcome don’t put him or yourself through it. Just to check if there has been any change; what for, not necessary, he does not need to be used as information baggage. Protect him and yourself unless there is some real reason for doing anything; for your DH’s piece of mind I wouldn’t put him through it.

My mother has a past history of breast cancer. Mastectomy almost 20 years ago. She faithfully went for her yearly screening mammogram on the remaining breast. Once I moved her to a facility near me, I took over the mammogram scheduling. Last year was interesting. She told the technician that she had never had this test before. Then she said she never had cancer (she has had 3 occurrences of breast cancer as well as a melanoma). The poor technician had to clarify her history with me.

This year i am not going to put her through the mammogram. Her dementia has progressed significantly since last year, she is still guarding the arm on that side from a recent injury, and I can't imagine she would cooperate with the test. Skipping the mammogram goes against everything I've taught people about the benefits of early detection (I'm an oncology nurse), but I have to consider what we would even do with a positive test result at age 85 with advanced Alzheimers.

As @M1 says it can be a hard threshold to cross but you really have to re-evaluate everything in light of the fact that your spouse has a terminal illness. Would you really want to replace a heart valve so your DH can experience a longer stage 6 & 7? We have stopped all screening tests (colonoscopy, mammograms, pap smears, etc) and have even stopped medications that theoretically may prolong life (statin, aspirin, etc). I don't want to do anything that will make my wife suffer the indignities of late stage dementia. I recognize that everyone will look at this in a different way. None of this is easy.

when my husband was late stage 5 going in to stage 6 I stopped all specialist visits and testing. They wanted to do a colonoscopy. There was no way I could have gone through the prep with him and why put him through anesthesia and the test. Someone posted on this forum to play the scenario all the way out when making decisions for your LO. If they found cancer would I treat it? No. Anesthesia is very bad for dementia patients. Sometimes they are unable to return to baseline. If he has a procedure you would have to stay at the hospital 24-7 or hire someone. Hospitals are not staffed to care for dementia patients. A friend had heart valve replacement & it was open heart surgery like bypass with a week hospital stay. would talk to his Cardiologist about your concerns about treatment considering his dementia diagnosis.