Another decision to make with surgery

justbreathe2 · January 8

My DH had knee replacement and is recovered. I am glad he had it done, but I do see a decline since surgery. He has less interests now. We did puzzling often and now he sits and watches me, or follows me around all day. Sits more.

Three years after cataract surgery a growth started on the eyelid. Biopsy were negative. We have tried prescribed creams; dermatologist tried freezing off with nitrogen. It was painful and too close to eye. My DH will not leave it alone and picks/rubs at eye constantly. Therefore eye is sore, and swollen being almost1/2 shut. We were sent to plastic surgeon and he suggested skin grafting. My DH would have to be put under with Propofol. The doctor is not so worried with the pain afterwards, but that my DH will continue picking at it.

The problem is if we do nothing it will only get worse and he will lose his peripheral vision.

I hate the thought of another surgery affecting his memory, but the picking/rubbing is driving me crazy. I thought maybe he could wear a patch, but not sure that would work. Seeing out of one eye for 5-6 weeks will be even more limiting to keeping him busy and he will have to be watched full-time.

My plate is full. Our 15 year old dog is having health issues and taking care of him with the sadness of it all is a lot of stress on me this week.

harshedbuzz · January 8

@justbreathe2

The responsibility of making care decisions of behalf of another feels huge.

Is this growth something expected to enlarge over time? Is there a point past where it would be a relatively simple procedure or possible?

Would he be compliant with leaving the site alone and daily dressing changes post-surgery? (DH had MOHS for a squamous cell situation that was less than 2mm from his tear duct with a flap skin graft— it was a lot to take care of) Has the doctor tried him in a hard-shell eye protector to see if that keeps him from worrying the area?

Specific to your concern about his vision is that going forward his visual processing is going to worsen as the disease progresses. Late stage PWD don't tend to look up or to the side.

I would talk to his neurologist about what would be the safest anesthesia.

HB

justbreathe2 · January 9

https://alzconnected.org/discussion/comment/263013#Comment_263013

Thank you hashedbuzz for your comments. The growth is enlarging, but possibly from DH rubbing it. I am trying to decide if he will leave it alone post surgery. The doctor mentioned an eye patch and said sometimes he will tape the eyelid shut. He is known for doing successful surgeries.

I am going to talk with his geriatric doctor. The eye looks terrible and then eyelid is half shut. Think I am just going to have to get it done. But will wait till I speak with the geriatric doctor. Making health decisions for him are difficult for me. I appreciate your comments.

Another decision to make with surgery

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