Mum was forgetful 15 years ago.
In 1998, eventually persuaded doctor to take us seriously, and then went privately to neurologist - after scan told multi infarcta dementia.
Mum put on tablets to lower blood pressure and aspirin to thin blood. Has had one period on something else to making sundowning manageable. As she did not have AD we were told that no drugs would help.
Since being in NH I looked at blood pressure readings (that they were having difficulty reading), and asked "There a bit low , aren't they?" GP now taken her off tablets (only because I asked the question). Dad now tells me that they have stopped the aspirin.
I am lead to wonder what the hell the GP has been doing for the past few years?
Does anyone in the medical services really care about people with dementia -
no-one in authority has shown any interest in actively trying to improve the quality of my mum's life. Medication has only been changed at our instigation and suggestion, and what the hell do I know about it? We saw a psychiatrist once; he had lost mum's notes, turned up an hour late for the appointment, and then refused to let me in the room, saying that it could be mum (who had no idea of the day of the week) and one other. What ****!
Now mum cannot communicate, is doubly incontinent, cannot feed herself, is on food supplements, is beginning to choke when eating, at times cannot weight bear and certainly cannot co-operate when moved, has to be turned three times a night to protect her skin, regularly gets UTI's - but is only deemed to warrant the middle band of nursing care.
Right. Finished ranting.
Amy
In 1998, eventually persuaded doctor to take us seriously, and then went privately to neurologist - after scan told multi infarcta dementia.
Mum put on tablets to lower blood pressure and aspirin to thin blood. Has had one period on something else to making sundowning manageable. As she did not have AD we were told that no drugs would help.
Since being in NH I looked at blood pressure readings (that they were having difficulty reading), and asked "There a bit low , aren't they?" GP now taken her off tablets (only because I asked the question). Dad now tells me that they have stopped the aspirin.
I am lead to wonder what the hell the GP has been doing for the past few years?
Does anyone in the medical services really care about people with dementia -
no-one in authority has shown any interest in actively trying to improve the quality of my mum's life. Medication has only been changed at our instigation and suggestion, and what the hell do I know about it? We saw a psychiatrist once; he had lost mum's notes, turned up an hour late for the appointment, and then refused to let me in the room, saying that it could be mum (who had no idea of the day of the week) and one other. What ****!
Now mum cannot communicate, is doubly incontinent, cannot feed herself, is on food supplements, is beginning to choke when eating, at times cannot weight bear and certainly cannot co-operate when moved, has to be turned three times a night to protect her skin, regularly gets UTI's - but is only deemed to warrant the middle band of nursing care.
Right. Finished ranting.
Amy