Hello,
I have just joined this site after questioning on google the prognosis of Vascular dementia and seeing a very supportive community on this site. My Grandad died of Parkinson's and Alzheimer's a few years ago and tragically my grandma, who nursed him for 16 years at home until he died, has recently been given a diagnosis of vascular dementia.
We are all heart broken, she has been getting gradually more forgetful for a few years but had a heart valve replacement surgery 18 months ago and this is when the major downturn in her memory became very obvious. The doc also said it would worsen suddenly, in steps. This week she has gone from knowing us all to forgetting all of us, her son and daughter and her husband, love of her life. She is distressed, and scared as she doesn't know where she is, but physically everything seems to be fine, she is still walking, dressing and going to the toilet. She forgets to eat unless prompted but we have carers going to her home when a family member isn't there.
I guess my question is, her memory is totally going, she cannot remember conversations from 2 minutes ago and has suddenly got massively worse. I guess we are just desperately looking for something, anything that could help her. Is this what usually happens, and very suddenly?
The doctors are saying there is no medication for this type of dementia, she already takes a huge amount of medication for her heart, thyroid, blood pressure etc. ?
thanks for any help you can offer, if any, if not just support,
Gemma
I have just joined this site after questioning on google the prognosis of Vascular dementia and seeing a very supportive community on this site. My Grandad died of Parkinson's and Alzheimer's a few years ago and tragically my grandma, who nursed him for 16 years at home until he died, has recently been given a diagnosis of vascular dementia.
We are all heart broken, she has been getting gradually more forgetful for a few years but had a heart valve replacement surgery 18 months ago and this is when the major downturn in her memory became very obvious. The doc also said it would worsen suddenly, in steps. This week she has gone from knowing us all to forgetting all of us, her son and daughter and her husband, love of her life. She is distressed, and scared as she doesn't know where she is, but physically everything seems to be fine, she is still walking, dressing and going to the toilet. She forgets to eat unless prompted but we have carers going to her home when a family member isn't there.
I guess my question is, her memory is totally going, she cannot remember conversations from 2 minutes ago and has suddenly got massively worse. I guess we are just desperately looking for something, anything that could help her. Is this what usually happens, and very suddenly?
The doctors are saying there is no medication for this type of dementia, she already takes a huge amount of medication for her heart, thyroid, blood pressure etc. ?
thanks for any help you can offer, if any, if not just support,
Gemma