September 23, 2015

Randy had just walked in the door after a day of wakeboarding when the phone rang. I was doing my own thing and all I heard was, "If she's not moving, call 9-1-1." I started shutting things off, closed the window, the things you do on auto-pilot. I then heard, "Hang up the phone and call 9-1-1. I'm on my way." I remember saying, "Let's go."

I'm sure Randy was thinking, as I was, oh geez she's had another stroke.

When we got to his parents' house, I said, "Oh good, he did call them," as the EMTs were already there along with a fire engine.

He could not get the car parked soon enough and I about jumped out of the car before it was completely stopped, not that I knew what to expect or even what to do when we walked in the house.

The EMTs were surrounding Faye (my mom-in-law), assessing her, oxygen mask on. They had sent Les (her husband) to find her Social Security number; I'm pretty sure this was to get him out of the way, keep him busy. (The check-in lady at the hospital didn't even look at it.) Randy went to help him look. I was kind of just standing there, not in the way, but not knowing what to do. I tapped one of the EMTs on the arm, said, "She has dementia." He said, "Yes." Then, this younger EMT says, "Is she acting differently to you? She seems to be acting out." I just said, "Yes, she's acting differently. I'm sure she's scared and having a panic attack." The EMTs wanted to get Faye on the stretcher and she about screamed, "I can't move and it hurts!" When this woman complains of pain, you know she is hurting, she just does not complain about anything.

I went to get Randy as he is the only one who seems to be able to calm his mom down under any circumstances; he is her safety zone. He said, "Mom, look at me. They are going to take you to the hospital."

How much any of this registered with Faye, I do not know. I know she was scared and did not understand what was going on.

You see, Faye has Alzheimer's ...

After a couple hours of waiting in the emergency room, Les finally surfaced from the back. They were thinking Faye had a urinary tract infection. Thank goodness - no stroke!

Randy brought me back home. Went right back to the hospital. Came home a few hours later - Faye ultimately ended up with a really nasty, infected gallbladder full of stones and other crud. She was finally admitted in the wee hours of the morning, September 24. The doctors didn't want to do surgery right away as they wanted to get her infection under control. Finally, they felt it was safe enough to do surgery on the 25th of September. I know this was not an easy decision for Randy (and Les) to make. Dementia and anesthesia do not mix.

The outcome of surgery on an Alzheimer's patients can be the following:
1. Status quo, baseline mental status after all drugs have left the body.
2. Perhaps some clearing of mental status once the infection is gone.
3. Worsening of the dementia.

The Saturday following Faye's surgery, the next day, Randy was at the hospital all day long, ever vigilant. I believe it was the next day, Sunday, when Randy and I were sitting on the bed with her and she just clearly stated that she had not felt good for a long time and "I felt like I was going to die." Just as clear as anything. Randy just gently told her that when she doesn't feel good she needs to tell him. That moment of clarity was gone within 30 seconds.

Faye suffered from hallucinations due to Dilaudid, thinking her water was pink and many, many ramblings. They took her off of Dilaudid.

Hospital delirium with dementia is an ugly, ugly thing.

When we were able to get her home on Tuesday, the 29th, her mental status seemed to clear almost immediately. Before leaving, Randy asked her, "Do you know where you are?" She simply said, "I'm at home." Yes! Score one for our team! We were thrilled.

My post from my Facebook page:

Today, October 26, marks 1 month and 1 day since my mom-in-law had her gallbladder removed, a major surgery for an Alzheimer's patient. While she maintained her baseline in the beginning, she has worsened, unfortunately, in her Alzheimer's. We do not know if it is anesthesia related, the natural progression of her disease, or a combination of the two. Without this surgery, she would not be here today.

These are the changes we have noticed:
1. Sleeping a lot - I mean A LOT. She can go to bed at 5:30 or 6:00 and not wake up until 9 the next morning, dozing through the day.
2. Irritability/anger surfaces much more easily.
3. Her appetite at dinner is almost nonexistent.
4. She is beginning to have trouble swallowing, and admitted so to Randy in the last week or so when he asked her.
5. She is much more easily confused, especially in the evening hours.
6. Serious light sensitivity. We have noticed that Les, her husband, has been keeping the living room lights off for her. He is learning as we are.
7. Lack of interest - no interest whatsoever in walking the dog.

I know it may sound a bit odd to hear of a dementia/Alzheimer's individual with a lack of interest, but it really does happen. When asked if she wants to take a walk with the dog, she does not want to go and she used to always walk the dog!

Randy was able to get her showered and out and about yesterday, the 25th, she tires so much quicker now. Randy and I also went to meet a new in-home care lady yesterday, as the first one was not the right fit. Yes, we will be faced with some extremely tough decisions in the future, but for the moment my mom-in-law is safe, as happy as she can be, and as healthy as she can be at home. No, not a "pity party" just the reality of Alzheimer's.

Faye's new care lady is starting today, October 29, after meeting with Faye and Les yesterday. We are doing all we can to keep Faye at home, but we know the realities of this disease. It is ugly. It is mean. It is an unforgiving beast.


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