26th May 2005
Thanks for the warm welcome!
Oh, don't invite me to start ranting, lol, for there will be no end. I have come to loathe the health care and pharmaceutical industries.
Martha, I have to believe my own eyes that surgery and certain meds in certain patients does cause dementia. But the medical industry no longer admits to it. They used to connect dementia with post-coronary artery bypass surgery, but the new party line (and they all seem to be sticking to it) is that any patient with post-surgery dementia must have already had it.
Just not true in my mother's case. She went into surgery a physical/mental dynamo, and I remember thinking, good heavens, she'll be superwoman with the improved blood/oxygen flow. Instead out came this frail, confused person I didn't recognize, but no worries as the aftercare instructions said this was a temporary and normal condition. Right, only not.
Did I mention they forgot to give her pain medication the next day? Or water. Wonder how agony affects recovery. For all I know she was wide awake throughout the surgery and they just had her paralyzed then drugged to forget. I spent the whole day pleading for pain medication the day following heart surgery, and it was not until 4:00 p.m. that they finally gave her a regular Tylenol (no codeine). I saw so much neglect it still makes me shudder as to what goes on behind closed doors that we'll never see. (This is a first-rate hospital in my area, seriously.)
She was on Lopressor for decades, a known medication to cause cognitive decline, but seemed fine on it over so many years. But when the doctor added diltiazem, a calcium channel blocker, she had a dramatic decline from some aphasia and memory loss to a BIG drop in cognitive function--that's when she could no longer do routine things or operate even the simplest gadget or tool. And of course can't read or watch television/movies because they make no sense since she has no clue who anyone is or understand the references. This from a woman who devoured all things political and now can't tell you who the president is or what country she lives in.
Medical studies once adcknowledged that CCBs could cause adverse cognitive effects (in some patients), but no longer--the new studies say they IMPROVE cognitive function. It took me three years to find a doctor that would take her off, despite all the physical side effects she had endured for years: swollen bald tongue that had her terrified of choking to death; constant drooling and oral thrush which no amount of Nystatin could cure; deep red marionette lines from her mouth making her look like the rear-end of a red-butt baboon; and of course the chemical lobotomy. Somehow I think if it had been the doctors' mother or wife with those adverse reactions, they would have a different take. But for my mom, doctor after doctor insisted she continue the drug, smiled at her as though she were such a cute little monkey, and guaranteed there was no connection to the surgery, meds and sudden dementia. She must have already had it and I just didn't notice!
To be fair, many people seem to do fine with the same surgery and meds. It just maddens me when doctors poo-poo the notion of adverse effects in patients that don't have a good result. Those pharmaceutical reps must be awfully convincing (or pay off the docs darn well).
About Aricept, the drug that some patients apparently do very well on. When my mother was put on it I had very high hopes and was not looking for adverse effects as it was touted as a well-tolerated med. So I encouraged my mom daily to swallow yet another pill. She was on this drug for three months and reached a point of spinning in circles, hysterically crying and unable to understand a word spoken to her. Doctor insisted she stay on the drug (which happens to cost a fortune) and said she was just having anxiety.
Huh? The woman is completely psychotic and he's calling it anxiety and wants her to keep taking it? This time I stopped it myself (something I couldn't do with a heart med). Guess what, she got better and returned to her previous level of dementia. Not great, but a big improvement from being psychotic/hysterical/sobbing/terrified. Again I'm wondering if the patient were his wife or mother, would he be so cavalier about severe adverse effects.
Gee, ranting feels good.:) Bet you would have duct-taped my mouth shut by now if this was in person! Will try to behave from now on (just kidding).
Hugs and prayers for your loved ones, and strength for the caregivers.
Oh, don't invite me to start ranting, lol, for there will be no end. I have come to loathe the health care and pharmaceutical industries.
Martha, I have to believe my own eyes that surgery and certain meds in certain patients does cause dementia. But the medical industry no longer admits to it. They used to connect dementia with post-coronary artery bypass surgery, but the new party line (and they all seem to be sticking to it) is that any patient with post-surgery dementia must have already had it.
Just not true in my mother's case. She went into surgery a physical/mental dynamo, and I remember thinking, good heavens, she'll be superwoman with the improved blood/oxygen flow. Instead out came this frail, confused person I didn't recognize, but no worries as the aftercare instructions said this was a temporary and normal condition. Right, only not.
Did I mention they forgot to give her pain medication the next day? Or water. Wonder how agony affects recovery. For all I know she was wide awake throughout the surgery and they just had her paralyzed then drugged to forget. I spent the whole day pleading for pain medication the day following heart surgery, and it was not until 4:00 p.m. that they finally gave her a regular Tylenol (no codeine). I saw so much neglect it still makes me shudder as to what goes on behind closed doors that we'll never see. (This is a first-rate hospital in my area, seriously.)
She was on Lopressor for decades, a known medication to cause cognitive decline, but seemed fine on it over so many years. But when the doctor added diltiazem, a calcium channel blocker, she had a dramatic decline from some aphasia and memory loss to a BIG drop in cognitive function--that's when she could no longer do routine things or operate even the simplest gadget or tool. And of course can't read or watch television/movies because they make no sense since she has no clue who anyone is or understand the references. This from a woman who devoured all things political and now can't tell you who the president is or what country she lives in.
Medical studies once adcknowledged that CCBs could cause adverse cognitive effects (in some patients), but no longer--the new studies say they IMPROVE cognitive function. It took me three years to find a doctor that would take her off, despite all the physical side effects she had endured for years: swollen bald tongue that had her terrified of choking to death; constant drooling and oral thrush which no amount of Nystatin could cure; deep red marionette lines from her mouth making her look like the rear-end of a red-butt baboon; and of course the chemical lobotomy. Somehow I think if it had been the doctors' mother or wife with those adverse reactions, they would have a different take. But for my mom, doctor after doctor insisted she continue the drug, smiled at her as though she were such a cute little monkey, and guaranteed there was no connection to the surgery, meds and sudden dementia. She must have already had it and I just didn't notice!
To be fair, many people seem to do fine with the same surgery and meds. It just maddens me when doctors poo-poo the notion of adverse effects in patients that don't have a good result. Those pharmaceutical reps must be awfully convincing (or pay off the docs darn well).
About Aricept, the drug that some patients apparently do very well on. When my mother was put on it I had very high hopes and was not looking for adverse effects as it was touted as a well-tolerated med. So I encouraged my mom daily to swallow yet another pill. She was on this drug for three months and reached a point of spinning in circles, hysterically crying and unable to understand a word spoken to her. Doctor insisted she stay on the drug (which happens to cost a fortune) and said she was just having anxiety.
Huh? The woman is completely psychotic and he's calling it anxiety and wants her to keep taking it? This time I stopped it myself (something I couldn't do with a heart med). Guess what, she got better and returned to her previous level of dementia. Not great, but a big improvement from being psychotic/hysterical/sobbing/terrified. Again I'm wondering if the patient were his wife or mother, would he be so cavalier about severe adverse effects.
Gee, ranting feels good.:) Bet you would have duct-taped my mouth shut by now if this was in person! Will try to behave from now on (just kidding).
Hugs and prayers for your loved ones, and strength for the caregivers.