Hello, I need some advice as to how to move forward with a very difficult medical dilemma concerning my darling husband who has advanced alzheimer's. He is only 64 years old and was diagnosed 8 years ago.
In April this year my husband suffered a seizure (never having had one before) and then a month later he had another one. A CT scan was requested after the first seizure and we finally got an appt on 17th July!!!
The result was not good, an acute on chronic subdural haematoma. We were sent straight to A & E and I was told neurosurgeons at another hospital wanted to operate straight away but I had severe reservations because of the alzheimer's. After much deliberation with the medical staff who were wonderful, it was decided to admit my husband to monitor him for 4 days ( the length of time for aspirin to leave his system) hoping that stopping the aspirin would stop the bleed.
His first night in hospital was horrendous with him getting very upset and aggressive - understandably so as he was in an alien environment, a main ward in a bed with cot sides, all very frightening for him. I just managed to calm him down as the nurse was coming to give him an injection of valium.
Thankfully we got out after one night as my husband's neurological signs were stable (which shows he must be a tough cookie to still be functioning with this very serious problem!) and they could see he was unhappy in hospital.
It is now 2 weeks since the scan and we still have to face up to how to move forward with this live threatening condition.
I believe the neurosurgeons are still prepared to operate (2 burrholes into skull and a drain - apparently 3 days in hospital) but I still have grave reservations as to how my husband would cope with the anaesthetic and post operative recovery because of his alzheimer's - he has little or no speach and his comprehension is very poor most of the time. Is there anyone out there who has had a relative with advanced alzheimer's undergo surgery in hospital?
Apparently the drug Dexamethasone has been suggested by the neurosurgeon as a possible course of action - in the hope it helps shrink the clot. This to me seems the way to go however if it doesn't work we are still back to the operation dilemma.
Help, has anyone had to deal with similar problems ?
Thanks for listening
Pixie-Rose x
In April this year my husband suffered a seizure (never having had one before) and then a month later he had another one. A CT scan was requested after the first seizure and we finally got an appt on 17th July!!!
The result was not good, an acute on chronic subdural haematoma. We were sent straight to A & E and I was told neurosurgeons at another hospital wanted to operate straight away but I had severe reservations because of the alzheimer's. After much deliberation with the medical staff who were wonderful, it was decided to admit my husband to monitor him for 4 days ( the length of time for aspirin to leave his system) hoping that stopping the aspirin would stop the bleed.
His first night in hospital was horrendous with him getting very upset and aggressive - understandably so as he was in an alien environment, a main ward in a bed with cot sides, all very frightening for him. I just managed to calm him down as the nurse was coming to give him an injection of valium.
Thankfully we got out after one night as my husband's neurological signs were stable (which shows he must be a tough cookie to still be functioning with this very serious problem!) and they could see he was unhappy in hospital.
It is now 2 weeks since the scan and we still have to face up to how to move forward with this live threatening condition.
I believe the neurosurgeons are still prepared to operate (2 burrholes into skull and a drain - apparently 3 days in hospital) but I still have grave reservations as to how my husband would cope with the anaesthetic and post operative recovery because of his alzheimer's - he has little or no speach and his comprehension is very poor most of the time. Is there anyone out there who has had a relative with advanced alzheimer's undergo surgery in hospital?
Apparently the drug Dexamethasone has been suggested by the neurosurgeon as a possible course of action - in the hope it helps shrink the clot. This to me seems the way to go however if it doesn't work we are still back to the operation dilemma.
Help, has anyone had to deal with similar problems ?
Thanks for listening
Pixie-Rose x