Our Experience was Horrific
Sorry to share such an unpleasant story but I feel it is only right to warn others. I wish someone had warned us as it was a complete surprise.....
My MIL had dementia and AlZ but was walking, talking, going to day care centre, taking aricept at that stage, had a fall and fractured her hip, was rushed in for a hip replacement op and woke up screaming. The physios refused to try and rehabilitate her as she was too aggressive (she had had moments of aggression before but nothing like this). The doctors said oh you've got a screamer, sometimes they never stop screaming. And predicted six months to a year left to live. Sent her to a care home and within two weeks she was back in hospital with a lung infection and pressure sores. At this point we brought her home and she has been here ever since (that was nearly five years ago, and guess what, no pressure sores!). None of the professionals guessed that her screams were due to unmet needs - it was my husband who said it must be because she needs the loo etc. Eventually (six months or so of non-stop screaming later) she was prescribed mirtazapine for anxiety and within an hour she was walking and talking again. I kid you not.
But she was never never the same as she was before the operation. She has declined since then and can no longer walk or talk, but the screaming has reduced considerably.
However, you do NOT want to be in our situation. The point is, if someone had told us before, at least we would have been forewarned and the consultant could have potentially done something about it. I have since learnt that if they take longer over the operation and use less/lighter anaesthetic the risk is reduced (I don't know how anaesthetic works but that is how it was explained to me).
So definitely discuss it with the doctors, go for sedation if possible, or light general if not??
I would suggest it may also help if she understands what is going on. What happened here is two big men in green uniforms (paramedics) came into her bedroom one morning and swooped her off. I can't recall exactly the chain of events and why it happened so suddenly but it did. She didn't know what was happening, she probably thought she had been abducted by aliens. It must have been very traumatic and disorientating for her.
Again sorry to share such an unpleasant story but I know I would rather have known than not known, so someone could discuss it with us beforehand. Best of Luck xxx