 |
 | Home | Contact Us | FAQ | Search & Site Map | Link to Us |
 | Sign In | Join | Other 45 Sites in Network |
Medical Forum / Diseases and Disorders / Alzheimer's / June 2004Cataract surgery
Has anyone here had experience with a moderate alz patient getting cataract surgery. I understand that a fairly high percentage of the people who get the surgery have alz because they are usually so old. My mother is about to have the surgery. Although it is routine in patients who dont have mental problems, I anticipate that it could be more complicated for the alz patient because of course they would not remember not to rub their eyes, etc. The opthomologist assures me that he uses extra heavy duty stitching in anticipation of this problem but I was just wondering if anyone here has had experience with it. (I dont think they stitch in patients that dont have mental problems) > Has anyone here had experience with a moderate alz > patient getting cataract surgery. I understand that a [quoted text clipped - 9 lines] > with it. (I dont think they stitch in patients that dont > have mental problems) ===================================== I have no experience with this issue but I would question what would be accomplished by this procedure? Does you mother read a lot? Have you discussed this with your mother's primary physician? My MIL is in mid to end stage AD and we would not approve such an operation for her. BTW, Alzheimer's is a disease and is not a side effect of old age.  SignatureJohn Inzer return e-mail disabled > Has anyone here had experience with a moderate alz patient getting cataract > surgery. I understand that a fairly high percentage of the people who get [quoted text clipped - 6 lines] > experience with it. (I dont think they stitch in patients that dont have > mental problems) My mother in law (who is in a nursing home right now), also has a cataract forming in one eye. Based on the difficulty we had with her with a simple tooth extraction, I shudder to think what could happen with eye surgery. She was fine in the dentists chair, but had no memory of the tooth being pulled and could not remember any of the instructions even from one second to the next. It was very hard to keep her from doing herself damage, and I think it might be even worse with eye surgery, in which the aftercare would be far more critical. I hate to see her go through anything she doesn't absolutely need to live at this point in the game. She can't follow a plot or read anymore. She can't follow a movie or the TV anymore. I don't imagine that having that surgery would improve her life any. So we are not doing anything about it. You might have to ask these same questions of yourself about your mother. Based on the manner in which I have seen an alzheimer's patient handle such things, I would forego it unless she was just about totally blind in both eyes without it. SignatureRegards, Evelyn (to reply to me personally, remove 'sox") > Has anyone here had experience with a moderate alz patient getting cataract > surgery. I understand that a fairly high percentage of the people who get [quoted text clipped - 6 lines] > experience with it. (I dont think they stitch in patients that dont have > mental problems) What *kind* of cataract surgery - conventional or laser? The Dowager was able ot use both eyes the following day, IIRC, after she had laser surgery for her cataracts. (This is kind of a cop-out, by the way; she had the surgery before she showed signs of Alzheimer's. But I think it's a valid question, none the less.) Blessed be, Baird > Has anyone here had experience with a moderate alz patient getting cataract > surgery. I understand that a fairly high percentage of the people who get [quoted text clipped - 6 lines] > experience with it. (I dont think they stitch in patients that dont have > mental problems) My MIL had cataract surgery about 7 years ago when she was mid stage AD. Surgeries were done about 6 weeks apart. When we went into the recovery room after the second surgery, we immediately noticed that she still had a full syringe attached to her IV line. Come to find out the Dr had forgotten to give her any relaxant or pain meds and she had done the surgery eyes wide open and cold sober with no meds other than the topicals. She had no complaints, no problems, no anxiety and she didn't even realize that she had received no meds. Needless to say the nurses were embarrassed. We got to go home quicker than after the first surgery where they had doped her up. Her vision is greatly improved and she no longer has to wear glasses except for reading. If the surgery had been on my eyes, I'd have had to had total anesthesia, as I have trouble even getting simple eye exams. -- "Dissent is the highest form of patriotism" Thomas Jefferson > My MIL had cataract surgery about 7 years ago when she > was mid stage AD. Surgeries were done about 6 weeks [quoted text clipped - 14 lines] > total anesthesia, as I have trouble even getting simple > eye exams. ==================================== This is quite interesting...you say MIL was in mid-stage AD seven years ago and she is still interested in reading? What's your MIL's overall condition now? SignatureJohn Inzer return e-mail disabled -- > ==================================== > This is quite interesting...you say MIL was in [quoted text clipped - 7 lines] > John Inzer > return e-mail disabled Our internist says she has AD. Since she is 87 and since the dementia has been long standing for at least 12-15 years, we haven't bothered with a CAT scan or neurologist workup as her condition remains fairly constant with a gradual slow loss of mental and physical function. She had temporal arteritis about 12 years ago and may have had micro-strokes at that time. Her physical health was poor due to alcohol abuse and failing to eat properly. After 5 years constant effort we finally got her off the booze about 6 1/2 years ago. Too late. The damage from whatever was already done. All short term memory gone. Inability to learn anything new. Confusion as to date, day, and whether day or night. Prior to 5 years ago she lived alone in a nearby apt. and we visited once or twice daily to give meds and check on food intake. She wasn't doing well and was unhappy and frustrated all the time. We also nursed her thru a broken hip and severe osteoporosis with multiple compression fractures -both of which were supposed to be her final swan song according to the various Drs. We moved about 5 years ago and moved her into our home at this time. At first she was difficult adjusting to a regular regimen but gradually she bloomed. The regular meals, no alcohol and 24 hr a day care have done wonders. She can't be left alone for more than an hour, but she doesn't wander and is now much healthier. He appendix burst about 18 months ago and we again thought that she was a goner, but slowly she got better and now is doing pretty good. She likes loading the dishwasher and making beds, but someone has to always double check anything she does. She has significant problems with getting her days and nights reversed but we feel she's doing pretty well. While her disease is definitely progressive, compared to many people her disease progresses quite slowly. We tried Aricept and Exelon and both drugs made both her behavior and quality of life worse so we discontinued them. Love and close personal attention have made the difference although we also feel very fortunate that her disease does not progress more quickly. We had thought she was going to croak 12-14 years ago. "Dissent is the highest form of patriotism" Thomas Jefferson >> ==================================== >> This is quite interesting...you say MIL was in [quoted text clipped - 52 lines] > "Dissent is the highest form of patriotism" Thomas > Jefferson ================================== Thanks for the detailed reply. No doubt....every case is different and I am certainly no doctor but based on my experiences with Rosie (my MIL) and the accounts I have read from others I would have to wonder if your MIL actually has AD and not some other combination of problems. Of course at age 87 and with multiple health issues...it doesn't make a lot of difference what you call it anyway. SignatureJohn Inzer return e-mail disabled > Thanks for the detailed reply. > [quoted text clipped - 12 lines] > John Inzer > return e-mail disabled I used to believe my MIL had vascular dementia but as I mentioned the young internist says it's AD. I know that at this point the exact diagnosis doesn't really matter much but maintaining her quality of life does. She is generally happy as a clam living with us, although she doesn't understand why she can't just stay up all night and whenever. She clearly shows some signs of both ailments, but AD drugs just made her ill tempered and anorexic. We just deal with each day's problems and do the best we can. Every day is a new day. -- "Dissent is the highest form of patriotism" Thomas Jefferson > We just deal with each day's problems and > do the best we can. Every day is a new day. =================================== That's the best that anyone could do. Your MIL is fortunate to have your loving support. SignatureJohn Inzer return e-mail disabled I wonder if it's Wernicke-Korsakoff syndrome? Not that it really matters. SignatureMare mfcoleman@THEOLEmindspring.com http://www.muggsmulcher.com/kstuff/a.s.a/intro.htm alt.support.alzheimers' FAQs and Stuff Pages > -- > [quoted text clipped - 40 lines] > > "Dissent is the highest form of patriotism" Thomas Jefferson I don't know about the cataract surgery, but you are right in that our loved ones with Alzheimer's disease sometimes don't know the right moves when they are incapacitated....my cousin broke her arm (also had Alzheimer's) and repeatedly took the cast off. Didn't know why she had "the thing" on her arm. It is probably best if they are supervised after the surgery. Before getting Alzheimer's disease, my mother had the cataract surgery and she did fine. I lived next door to her and went over at the right times and put in her meds. Buffy > Has anyone here had experience with a moderate alz patient getting cataract > surgery. I understand that a fairly high percentage of the people who get [quoted text clipped - 6 lines] > experience with it. (I dont think they stitch in patients that dont have > mental problems) |
Reply to this Message |
 Sign In
 Join
 My Latest Posts My Monitored Threads My Blog My Photo Gallery My Profile My Homepage Start New Thread Enable EMail Alerts Rate this Thread
|
©2009 Advenet LLC Privacy Policy - Terms of Use
This website includes both content owned or controlled by Advenet as well as content owned or controlled by third parties.