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Medical Forum / Diseases and Disorders / Alzheimer's / May 2009New Update...
As most of you know my mother has vascular dementia and is in independent assisted living. She loves it there. She has actually made a lot of friends even though she can never remember their names. Most of them are card players and even after 16 years of dementia she can still play. I think it's mostly rummy now. I had a what I thought was a moral dilemma. I was concerned that Mom might have glaucoma. I have glaucoma and her mother had eye problems but nobody knows if it was glaucoma or not. While Mom was living in Florida her eye doctor prescribed eye drops. Well nobody ever said she had glaucoma. My brother took her an optometrist here in Indiana who continued to prescribe eye drops. I always had her put in the eye drops in when I visited but it was a bit of a hit and miss proposition. The eye drops were the only medication she had. This makes her monthly rent at the assisted living very reasonable and she doesn't have a lot of money so it could be an issue. It's $10 every time they come to her room to give her medication so you can see that could add up pretty quick. They do check on her if there's a concern without charging. Actually the owners are really nice people and all their employees seem to be happy working there. I'm lucky that it's so close to my home. OK Back to my story. I finally made an appointment with my new Ophthalmologist to have her checked out. Come to find out she does not have glaucoma and she doesn't even need eye drops! Her optic nerve is much healthier than mine. She has a little bit of dry macular degeneration that's age related but even that really isn't an issue at her age. (89) All this time I was feeling guilty because she didn't get the drops everyday. That was the good news. The bad news is she has some hemorrhages in her eyes so she is going to the regular doctor for a check up and blood test to see what might be causing them. I'll keep you posted.....June PS Moral of the Story---If you have suspicious glaucoma or glaucoma or macular degeneration---go to an Ophthalmologist not an optometrist. There are so many new procedures in just the past few years that can help. > As most of you know my mother has vascular dementia and is in independent > assisted living. She loves it there. She has actually made a lot of [quoted text clipped - 28 lines] > macular degeneration---go to an Ophthalmologist not an optometrist. There > are so many new procedures in just the past few years that can help. My father has vascular "issues" that sometimes might be called vascular dementia and other times might be just considered a bit eccentric. He gets good days and bad days. Anyway, he has glaucoma.... REAL glaucoma, and the opthalmologist said that a tiny hole made with a laser could CURE it for him. He won't do it. He's 96 years old so I can understand to some degree why he is somewhat reluctant, but it is done right in the office, not in a hospital, and it would end the need for all these drops he has to take, and I might add he is very allergic to the drops, which burn his skin badly. Other than having vascular blockages to his brain, he takes no medications other than a thyroid pill and a statin pill. He is in basically pretty good health for his age other than what I have mentioned. No blood pressure problems, no heart problems, only a touch of arthritis. I don't understand why he won't do the surgery, he has already had two cataract surgeries and come out fine. Anyway the reason I mention all this is to re-iterate what you said about there being lots of new procedures and glaucoma doesn't have to mean a life of eye drops forever.  Signature-- Best Regards, Evelyn Rest in a sky-like mind. Sit like a mountain floating on the earth. Breathe like the wind circling the world Comment at the bottom., re: glaucoma. > Anyway the reason I mention all this is to re-iterate what you said about > there being lots of new procedures and glaucoma doesn't have to mean a > life of eye drops forever. My wife was originally diagnosed with glaucoma many years ago. Pressure in her eyes at the time (as I recall) was 29 and 27, abnormally high. Several eye drop treatments were tried, some more successful that others, but a prescription of three different drops in combination have lowered the pressure to 15 and 17, entirely satisfactory. If you're interested, the eye drops are Cosopt, Alphagan, and Xalatan, in combinations and strengths I do not remember. I had never heard of laser treatment for glaucoma but a Google search for glaucoma treatment tells me that it can also be effective. And I assume it would only have to be done once. Ken Bland > Comment at the bottom., re: glaucoma. > [quoted text clipped - 13 lines] > > Ken Bland Hi Ken, I recognize the names of a couple of those that he is on for a while now. His eye doc insists he would only need to do the surgery once and that would be the end of the problem. Signature-- Best Regards, Evelyn Rest in a sky-like mind. Sit like a mountain floating on the earth. Breathe like the wind circling the world >> Comment at the bottom., re: glaucoma. >> [quoted text clipped - 19 lines] > His eye doc insists he would only need to do the surgery once and that > would be the end of the problem. Hi.......Well I had a laser procedure for glaucoma (a couple of months ago in the doctor's office) but I still have to have eye drops everyday twice a day. I just don't need as strong a drop as I would if I hadn't had the surgery. The surgery will have to be repeated every 3 years. There is another procedure that is done once but the success rate isn't as good. My pressures went down quite a bit after the surgery and the doctor said it could take several months to know the full effect. I started with suspicious glaucoma in 1987. I had LASIK on my eyes in 1999 for nearsightedness. This laser surgery for glaucoma is a piece of cake compared to that. This procedure is about 15 minutes per eye about 3 weeks apart. Side effects were bloodshot eye for a few days and a bit of a dull ache in the eye for a day or two. Well worth it. I suggest that Ken's wife look into it; maybe she would be a good candidate. It is covered by medical insurance. Evelyn I'm sure you know that you can only do so much and sometimes you just do what you can and don't feel guilty. At least that's what I'm trying to do ......June >>> Comment at the bottom., re: glaucoma. >>> [quoted text clipped - 38 lines] > just do what you can and don't feel guilty. At least that's what I'm > trying to do ......June Hi June, Yes, I do understand. I'm no expert on glaucoma, and I am sure that every situation is a little different. My father won't do it anyway, unfortunately. It is great that you are able to use weaker drops. He is so allergic to them his eye gets all red and the skin gets inflamed. Unfortunately nothing can be done. He needs them. Signature-- Evelyn "Since everything is but an apparition, perfect in being what it is, having nothing to do with good or bad, acceptance or rejection, one may well burst into laughter." -Longchenpa > Hi June, Yes, I do understand. I'm no expert on glaucoma, and I am sure > that every situation is a little different. My father won't do it anyway, > unfortunately. It is great that you are able to use weaker drops. He is > so allergic to them his eye gets all red and the skin gets inflamed. > Unfortunately nothing can be done. He needs them. Have you considered medical marijuana? Marijuana has been proven to lower interocular pressure for patients with glaucoma, and is frequently prescribed in California for patients who are allergic to most of the eyedrops and other pressure reducing meds. As a side effect, it might also mellow him out a bit, which from your descriptions of him the the past might do everyone some good. Marijuana consumers don't tend to be very cranky. ;^) <3a9kv4lp46bb7k7bd5g9tlu9go2r3hcp2s@4ax.com> [snip] > Have you considered medical marijuana? Marijuana has been proven > to lower interocular pressure for patients with glaucoma, and is [quoted text clipped - 4 lines] > from your descriptions of him the the past might do everyone some > good. Marijuana consumers don't tend to be very cranky. ;^) Marijuana for someone with Alzheimers or even the elderly is not likely a good ideal. Marijuana Side Effects [url] http://marijuana-addiction.info/side-effects.htm [/url] • Sleepiness Difficulty keeping track of time, impaired or reduced short-term memory • Reduced ability to perform tasks requiring concentration and coordination, such as driving a car • Increased heart rate • Potential cardiac dangers for those with preexisting heart disease • Decreased social inhibitions • Paranoia, hallucinations • Impaired or reduced short-term memory • Impaired or reduced comprehension • Altered motivation and cognition, making the acquisition of new information difficult • Paranoia • Psychological dependence • Impairments in learning and memory, perception, and judgment - difficulty speaking, listening effectively, thinking, retaining knowledge, problem solving, and forming concepts • Intense anxiety or panic attacks SignatureBootNic Thu Apr 30, 2009 07:20 pm "There is a wicked pretense that one has been informed. But no such thing has truly occurred! A mere slogan, an empty litany. No arguments are heard, no evidence is weighed. It isn't news at all, only a source of amusement for idlers." *Gibson-Sterling, The Difference Engine* Re: New Update... Group: alt.support.alzheimers Date: Thu, Apr 30, 2009, 7:20pm (PDT+3) From: bootnic.bounce@gmail.com (BootNic) On Thu, 30 Apr 2009 14:27:59 -0800 NO_SPAM_TO_dpharris@gci.net (Dennis P. Harris) wrote in: <3a9kv4lp46bb7k7bd5g9tlu9go2r3hcp2s@4ax.com> [snip] Have you considered medical marijuana? Marijuana has been proven to lower interocular pressure for patients with glaucoma, and is frequently prescribed in California for patients who are allergic to most of the eyedrops and other pressure reducing meds. As a side effect, it might also mellow him out a bit, which from your descriptions of him the the past might do everyone some good. Marijuana consumers don't tend to be very cranky. ;^) Marijuana for someone with Alzheimers or even the elderly is not likely a good ideal. Marijuana Side Effects [url] http://marijuana-addiction.info/side-effects.htm [/url] ⢠Sleepiness Difficulty keeping track of time, impaired or reduced short-term memory ⢠Reduced ability to perform tasks requiring concentration and coordination, such as driving a car ⢠Increased heart rate ⢠Potential cardiac dangers for those with preexisting heart disease ⢠Decreased social inhibitions ⢠Paranoia, hallucinations ⢠Impaired or reduced short-term memory ⢠Impaired or reduced comprehension ⢠Altered motivation and cognition, making the acquisition of new information difficult ⢠Paranoia ⢠Psychological dependence ⢠Impairments in learning and memory, perception, and judgment - difficulty speaking, listening effectively, thinking, retaining knowledge, problem solving, and forming concepts ⢠Intense anxiety or panic attacks SignatureBootNic Thu Apr 30, 2009 07:20 pm "There is a wicked pretense that one has been informed. But no such thing has truly occurred! A mere slogan, an empty litany. No arguments are heard, no evidence is weighed. It isn't news at all, only a source of amusement for idlers." *Gibson-Sterling, The Difference Engine* signature.asc (pgp-signature attachment) ======================================== I'm wondering if marijuana was analyzed on persons with AD, or other chronic diseases, or on healthy individuals and who made the analyses? I've heard marijuana's effects act differently on a healthy person than on one who is ill. EddyJean > Marijuana for someone with Alzheimers or even the elderly is not likely > a good ideal. He doesn't have AD, he has a vascular blockage. IMHO a cranky old bastard like him would probably be a nice person after eating an Alice B. Toklas brownie... ;^) On May 9, 2:07 am, NO_SPAM_TO_dphar...@gci.net (Dennis P. Harris) wrote: > On Thu, 30 Apr 2009 19:20:17 -0400 in alt.support.alzheimers, > [quoted text clipped - 4 lines] > old bastard like him would probably be a nice person after eating > an Alice B. Toklas brownie... ;^) Lol dennis,Barb >> Hi June, Yes, I do understand. I'm no expert on glaucoma, and I am >> sure [quoted text clipped - 13 lines] > your descriptions of him the the past might do everyone some > good. Marijuana consumers don't tend to be very cranky. ;^) Dennis for a normal person that might be a great idea, but he is a cranky, obstinate, difficult man. I can't even get him to take Coenzyme Q-10 to help him combat the muscle fatigue he gets from his statin drugs. He hates all drugs, even vitamins and beneficial stuff. The mere mention of Marijuana would have him kicking me out the door! Signature-- Evelyn "Since everything is but an apparition, perfect in being what it is, having nothing to do with good or bad, acceptance or rejection, one may well burst into laughter." -Longchenpa New Update... Group: alt.support.alzheimers Date: Tue, Apr 28, 2009, 2:17pm (PDT+3) From: Nospam@yahoo.com (June) As most of you know my mother has vascular dementia and is in independent assisted living. She loves it there. She has actually made a lot of friends even though she can never remember their names. Most of them are card players and even after 16 years of dementia she can still play. I think it's mostly rummy now. I had a what I thought was a moral dilemma. I was concerned that Mom might have glaucoma. I have glaucoma and her mother had eye problems but nobody knows if it was glaucoma or not. While Mom was living in Florida her eye doctor prescribed eye drops. Well nobody ever said she had glaucoma. My brother took her an optometrist here in Indiana who continued to prescribe eye drops. I always had her put in the eye drops in when I visited but it was a bit of a hit and miss proposition. The eye drops were the only medication she had. This makes her monthly rent at the assisted living very reasonable and she doesn't have a lot of money so it could be an issue. It's $10 every time they come to her room to give her medication so you can see that could add up pretty quick. They do check on her if there's a concern without charging. Actually the owners are really nice people and all their employees seem to be happy working there. I'm lucky that it's so close to my home. OK Back to my story. I finally made an appointment with my new Ophthalmologist to have her checked out. Come to find out she does not have glaucoma and she doesn't even need eye drops! Her optic nerve is much healthier than mine. She has a little bit of dry macular degeneration that's age related but even that really isn't an issue at her age. (89) All this time I was feeling guilty because she didn't get the drops everyday. That was the good news. The bad news is she has some hemorrhages in her eyes so she is going to the regular doctor for a check up and blood test to see what might be causing them. I'll keep you posted.....June PS Moral of the Story---If you have suspicious glaucoma or glaucoma or macular degeneration---go to an Ophthalmologist not an optometrist. There are so many new procedures in just the past few years that can help. ----------------------------------------------------------- June...... A friend frequently had eye hemorrhages. Her doctor told her that the blool vessels in the brain and the ones leading to the eyes were fragile and hemorrhages were usually caused from an allergy. EddyJean > As most of you know my mother has vascular dementia and is in independent > assisted living. She loves it there. She has actually made a lot of [quoted text clipped - 28 lines] > macular degeneration---go to an Ophthalmologist not an optometrist. There > are so many new procedures in just the past few years that can help. Another update. I took Mom in for a physical and blood test and she passed both just fine. She currently takes no medications. It looks like she can stay in assisted living for awhile longer. I'm so glad.......June >> As most of you know my mother has vascular dementia and is in independent >> assisted living. She loves it there. She has actually made a lot of [quoted text clipped - 34 lines] > like she can stay in assisted living for awhile longer. I'm so > glad.......June That's great! Signature-- Evelyn "Since everything is but an apparition, perfect in being what it is, having nothing to do with good or bad, acceptance or rejection, one may well burst into laughter." -Longchenpa > As most of you know my mother has vascular dementia and is in independent > assisted living. She loves it there. She has actually made a lot of [quoted text clipped - 28 lines] > macular degeneration---go to an Ophthalmologist not an optometrist. There > are so many new procedures in just the past few years that can help. I've seen some news on treating some types of eye problems with something related to vitamin B1. Rather new news, so you might want to print a copy and ask either her doctor or her opthalmologist if they know about it yet and if it's suitable for her. Common Cause Of Blindness Could Be Treated By Type Of Vitamin B1 http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/147480.php Robert Miles |
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