Hi
My grandad is 94 and has had a diagnosis of vascular dementia for just over 2 years now.
In November last year he was in hospital for 3 weeks with pneumonia, sepsis and kidney failure. In early January he required a further round of antibiotics to clear infection in his chest and at the time had been coughing and having to clear his chest quite frequently. The doctor came out in March as I was worried grandad still had a cough but at that time the doctor said everything sounded clear so no medication was prescribed.
Fast forward to maybe the last couple of months - grandad has developed a cough (which to listen to at times sounds very forced) which continues sometimes to the point he gags. I have noticed he is now also much more frequently (a number of times a day) clearing his chest and has quite random bouts of sneezing.
After our experience with pneumonia etc last year I’m forever taking his temperature to check but that side of things is normal and his breathing doesn’t sound rattley like it did back then.
Im trying to get the balance between understanding what is part and parcel of the progression of his dementia and carting him off to the doctors!
I’d really appreciate hearing from anyone who has experienced this
Thank you
Clare
My grandad is 94 and has had a diagnosis of vascular dementia for just over 2 years now.
In November last year he was in hospital for 3 weeks with pneumonia, sepsis and kidney failure. In early January he required a further round of antibiotics to clear infection in his chest and at the time had been coughing and having to clear his chest quite frequently. The doctor came out in March as I was worried grandad still had a cough but at that time the doctor said everything sounded clear so no medication was prescribed.
Fast forward to maybe the last couple of months - grandad has developed a cough (which to listen to at times sounds very forced) which continues sometimes to the point he gags. I have noticed he is now also much more frequently (a number of times a day) clearing his chest and has quite random bouts of sneezing.
After our experience with pneumonia etc last year I’m forever taking his temperature to check but that side of things is normal and his breathing doesn’t sound rattley like it did back then.
Im trying to get the balance between understanding what is part and parcel of the progression of his dementia and carting him off to the doctors!
I’d really appreciate hearing from anyone who has experienced this
Thank you
Clare