Hello Everyone
I am a new member. I have an 81 year old mother who is in residential care because of her vascular dementia. She has absolutely no memory span and only just about recognises me and my sister when we visit. She does not know where she is, is incontinent and is anxious and confused most of the time.
All this is very depressing and distressing for my sister and I but we now have another problem. She has been diagnosed with gallstones which are causing her terrible pain ever afternoon. We have taken her to a consultant who says she needs surgery but the fact of her age and as she has had a stroke (the cause of her dementia), there is a strong chance that she will not survive the surgery. He says he is willing to operate but the decision has to be ours.
Question then; What do we do? Do we leave her in pain, the gallstones are not life threatening, or do we put her through the surgery bearing in mind that she is very confused and anxious whenever she has to leave the home.
Suzie
I am a new member. I have an 81 year old mother who is in residential care because of her vascular dementia. She has absolutely no memory span and only just about recognises me and my sister when we visit. She does not know where she is, is incontinent and is anxious and confused most of the time.
All this is very depressing and distressing for my sister and I but we now have another problem. She has been diagnosed with gallstones which are causing her terrible pain ever afternoon. We have taken her to a consultant who says she needs surgery but the fact of her age and as she has had a stroke (the cause of her dementia), there is a strong chance that she will not survive the surgery. He says he is willing to operate but the decision has to be ours.
Question then; What do we do? Do we leave her in pain, the gallstones are not life threatening, or do we put her through the surgery bearing in mind that she is very confused and anxious whenever she has to leave the home.
Suzie