Hi, I know it has been a long time since I have been on the board. I just have buried my head into hobbies and projects, getting involved in outside activities; and pretty much left a lot of care in the hands of the caregiver which comes 8 hours daily. Which needless to say is a blessing.
Last Monday, I was taking MIL for blood tests, and upon arriving the caregiver was getting her out of the car; I had already entered to get her registered for her blood test. It was only 30 seconds later that the caregiver opened the door and yelled Debbie Come quick. A sick feeling in the pit of my stomach. I knew that she had fallen. Now it has been awhile since she had a bad fall; we have been catching her lots of times. She has been using a walker. The caregiver was beside herself. She has been shadowed constantly to keep her safe. She had grabbed for her to catch her but missed. I called 911, who took her to the hospital. It was a severe head injury. I saw a huge pool of blood. When the EMT's got there, they announced, she has lost an eye. I freaked.

After getting her to the ER, it was determined by tests that she had blacked out and fainted. Tests show that she either had a mild heart attack, or low blood pressure which caused fainting upon her rising.

She was moved to another hospital. She has been in Tampa General Hosp since Tues. night. She was operated on Wed. and they tried to repair the cornea. MIL has had 2 cornea transplants in the past. We are not sure if her eye will regain sight. Of course she is bewildered and upset; and not knowing why.

But the odd thing is, is she was operated on WED> and today is SAT. She is doing the mumbling talk, not making sense. She wasn't doing that before the injury. She would get the wrong word and not be able to talk; but now her speech is practically gone. Can a severe injury hasten Alzheimers symptons? She was in stage 6. Today, she didn't have a clue to who I was. She is not on any pain meds or anything different except for antibiotics for infection that would explain this extreme disorientation.Thursday and even Friday, I can understand about the anesthesia leaving her system; but this is Saturday.

I suppose now she will be in a wheel chair most all of the time. Yikes,it is hard to think about, but goodness things are much harder for her. Any thoughts anyone????

[This Message was Edited on 10/03/2009]

I'm sorry to hear your mom took such a bad fall. Unfortunately it will be weeks before the anesthesia gets out of her system completely and coupled with a severe head injury she may never regain her formal level of functioning. The decline in functioning is why we avoid surgery for our loved ones if possible, but obviously she needed to have the surgery done. Have they had her out of bed and walking yet? If she stays in bed too long she may forget how to walk. As to her being in a wheelchair, yes she will need to be for her safety in my opinion.
I know it is hard. I still remember when we had to stop allowing Uncle Roy to use a walker and make him use a wheelchair. He hated it and couldn't understand why we wouldn't let him walk any more. It was because everytime he tried to walk he fell even with the walker.
Hugs,
Mariellen

It was a very hard decision to have the operation done, because of the chance that she would not come out of it. They tested her thouroughly to make sure her heart was strong enough to come through the operation. Even though she was high risk, we are glad that we did it. Her cornea was still there, just holding on by a flap. They reattached it, and sutured the eyeball. We don't know if she will regain sight.

Thank you so much for your answer. And it was a good call after all. Our primary here said, well, she would have to be anesthesized anyway. Something would have had to be done to her eye anyway, whether it would be scooping it out and sewing it shut or a glass eye. So surgery really was inevitable. They were getting her up to walk. But that was extremely labored. They still have to have a bed alarm on her, even in her state, she tries to escape.. LOL

I didn't realize it would take that long for the anesthesia to wear off....hopefully she will regain at least where she was, which was not too much. That helps a lot to know that.

As for the wheelchair, she is going to be furious. And she will get out of it, I know she will. Maybe in the house, she can use the walker, since the caregiver will be with her all the time. She is so fiercely independent....feisty old 93 yr old woman. I am not anxious to get her home. It will be tough....putting eyedrops in that eye every 2 hours, even at night. No one is going to get sleep!

Warm and loving thoughts, Debbie

[This Message was Edited on 10/04/2009]

Have her transferred to a rehab facility for a couple of months then decide whether to bring her home or place her permanently.
Hugs,
Mariellen

People with dementia who are in the hospital suffer from increased confusion because of the strange environment and many stimuli in this environment. This is called delirium. It is a medical condition. It causes increased confusion and reduced functioning. This should partially or fully reverse when she gets back in her home and familiar routine.

However, a hospitalization frequently marks a decline in function, one of the steps down that caregivers fear.

As far as Anesthetics are concerned, there is thought that anesthetics contribute to functional drops seen after hospitalizations. While there is not evidence against anesthetics in general, there is strong suspicion about the inhaled anesthetic isoflurane being more likely to increase memory problems.

I agree with Mariellen, get her into rehab and find out what functional level you are dealing with. It is likely she will need more assistance than before.

Norbert

I got your message today, and last night we decided to put her in HealthSouth. It is a mixed bag here, I hope she gets better..... and then I want her in peace; and to be honest give us peace. It has been 6 1/2 years. This morning she only said a few words to me, then fell off asleep...she was looking like those people on the HBO special.
HUGS,
Debbie