Mine had two triple bypass surguries with mitral valve replacement. He also has high cholesteral and high blood pressure and suffered mini strokes which I think brought this on.
Yes, porkhck, mine has severe arthritis, asbestosis, spinal stenosis, and had a heart attack about 9 months ago with 3 stents put in. I also think all this can bring on dementia.
Yes, high bp, high cholesterol (which caused the vascular dementia) and next week will see a nephrologist re poor filtering kidneys. Also, constant pain in rt leg due to botched heart catheterization (word?) about 10 yrs ago which the doc said was caused by his nurse poking through vein to nerve.
My DW has recurrence non-hodgkins lymphona that has matastacised to her lungs and liver. We have been fighting this for 12 yrs and we are losing the battle.
My husband had a quadruple heart bypass with maze procedure 2-1/2 years ago. We were told this would not have caused his dementia but could have accelerated it.
Benign prostate enlargement (and scar tissue from one surgery) is the only thing likely to need new treatment. He has impaired glucose tolerance (pre-diabetes), a family history of heart disease (which I think he has avoided by bringing his triglycerides down by diet), and a lot of problems with GERD (gastric reflux). His Parkinson's symptoms are quite significant, though more slowness than tremor. My goal is to never go to the hospital, after seeing the confusion that resulted from the prostate surgery two years ago and how much he has complained about his toe after the podiatrist removed the ingrown parts of a toenail. It seems early to be thinking what affects his comfort, rather than worrying about how long he will live. But I'm moving in that direction.
My dw has has breast cancer, 2 lumpectomies followed by radiation treatments, and I think the radiation did lots of damage to her. She also has asthma , and also lots of neuropathy.
Mine has chronic, almost lifelong, phlebitis which has affected one leg and makes it impossible for him to walk easily, even with a walker, get himself in and out of bed, on and off the toilet, etc.
Mine has diabetes, peripheral artery disease, proteinuria, cataracts, problems with his balance, trouble getting up on his feet when sitting, weakness in arms and legs, numb fingers, little feeling in his feet, big anger/rage problem (controlled some now with Seroquel).
On the plus side, yesterday he agreed to stop driving. After I pointed out we could lose everything if he gets in a wreck. Hurray, that he made that decision. One less battle to fight.
Congratulations, Hanging On. Mine gave it up on his own also!
Other than Alz, mine has high b.p. (on medication and under control); high chol. (on medication and under control); weakness in legs and trouble with balance. Otherwise, no health problems and he's 86!
Of course, when I'm not feeling well, if I mention it (which I don't most of the time), he always "gets" the same thing. That's when I bring out the tic-tacs in a prescription bottle to give him for "his" ailment!
DW is basically healthy other than AD. She does have high blood pressure well controlled on medication and mild diabetes, also well controlled. Over our married life I have been in the hospital many times with lots of different surgeries. Her only hospitalization, other than for having children, was for a retained placenta. And before we got married, my grandmother expressed some concern in that her "health was so bad"!!!!!!. She did have some asthma as a child, but not much problem now as long as she avoids cats. I'm afraid she will outlive me.
Diane V, you must feel like you're living with a time bomb. What a difficult situation. Seems like you might be due for a better year in 2010. I surely hope so.
My DH has multiple Learning Disabilities, Mental Illness (Schizo-Affective Disorder). In addition he has enlarge Prostate (medication working well), and is on meds for cholesterol lowering--(20+ years and has lowered to 159 with perfect split of good C, bad C, and triglyserides). The combination of mental disablities and disease are a multi-whammy. Limits to abilities to understand and process information; inability to correctly receive and interpret information and respond appropriately; and now losing the abilities to communicate, as well as the memories, and the know how do do things. He was under-educated because no-one knew how to teach him, but he knew a lot and had a highly developed skill at disguising his difficulties.
My husband has spinal stenosis,severe arthritis,both knees replaced.Had severe disorentation from anesthesia and memory went downhill after that.He has severe burning in both legs,can't seem to find a reason. He is on naproxyn,tramadol and sometimes kadian for pain.I think they affect his mind but pain gets unbearable . And pain is known to make memory worse,so what do you do?