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Post by jenjie on Oct 3, 2014 11:40:04 GMT
Update 10/19 - mom and dad finally had the appt with the neurologist. She believes his problems - including the falls - are 75% due to side effects from anti-seizure meds! They have to wean him off but already there is a marked difference. I'm not happy that none of the medical personnel looked deeper or consulted the neurologist- or that my mom put it off - but I'm happy with this news. I kept asking mom why she couldn't just call and ask the neurologist about the meds but she seemed to think she had to wait for the appointment. She said when he fell she was going to call, but then he was in the hospital and everything was overwhelming and I guess she just allowed the doctors to take over. I just don't want her to blame herself. This is a learning process. You really do have to be your own advocate. Update: the orthopedic surgeon recommended against shoulder surgery. He didn't come straight out and refuse. He determined that the benefit would not be worth the risk or even what my dad would have to go through for recovery. He won't be able to raise his arm above his head but will still be able to use it otherwise. HE still needs PT too. I think it's a good call. Dad still wants the surgery - he's of the mentality that if something doesn't work, you fix it. But maybe he doesn't understand the ramifications. Mom is just telling the doctor no surgery and if dad brings it up again she'll just say it was inoperable. OP: Is my mom confused or am I? Is there such a thing as rehab before surgery to get the patient strong enough for the operation? Warning, this gets complicated. My dad fell Sunday and dislocated and broke his shoulder. He was treated and sent home. Monday he fell again and hit his head. There's a big bruise on his forehead. He already had beginning stages of dementia but he is very disoriented, getting worse by the day. They did run numerous periodic CT scans. Mom is wondering if the rapid decline in memory is from hitting his head. I also told her to ask about UTI and about the anti-seizure meds he's been on for the last month. To add to all of this, they found that he has pneumonia. Yesterday the orthopedic dr said he has to have surgery on the shoulder within a week or two so it doesn't freeze. But they can't operate until his lungs are clear. So we are in a catch-22 at the moment. Back to my original question. My first paragraph is what my mom relayed to me. They were talking about sending him to rehab to get strong enough for surgery and then bring him back to the hospital for surgery. Does this sound right? The day she talked to them was one of those very overwhelming days where she ended up wearing my dad's sneakers and then wondered why her shoes were so loose.  So I'm wondering if maybe she got confused? Thank God she was in a much better frame of mind when I went yesterday. |
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MerryMom
Pearl Clutcher
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Post by MerryMom on Oct 3, 2014 11:59:21 GMT
They did a similar thing with my grandmother before a surgery. She went from assisted living to rehab hospital for a couple of weeks and then went to the hospital for the surgery.
It sounds like part of the rehab is the pulmonary part to get his lungs better.
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eastcoastpea
Prolific Pea
Posts: 9,252
Jun 27, 2014 13:05:28 GMT
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Post by eastcoastpea on Oct 3, 2014 12:09:41 GMT
It sounds like a reasonable plan. I hope your dad gets well soon. Positive healing vibes being sent to your dad.
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scraptag
Full Member
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Location: Pacific Northwest
Jun 28, 2014 23:03:10 GMT
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Post by scraptag on Oct 3, 2014 12:18:00 GMT
My mother had to do strength work before he knee replacement.
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momto4kiddos
Drama Llama
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Jun 26, 2014 11:45:15 GMT
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Post by momto4kiddos on Oct 3, 2014 12:30:52 GMT
They did a similar thing with my grandmother before a surgery. She went from assisted living to rehab hospital for a couple of weeks and then went to the hospital for the surgery. It sounds like part of the rehab is the pulmonary part to get his lungs better. I was thinking along the same lines...i'd bet is going to be some pulmonary type rehab. |
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melissa
Pearl Clutcher
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Post by melissa on Oct 3, 2014 12:48:46 GMT
Yes. There is most definitely pre-op rehab.
I am in PT right now. Some of the regulars in my usual time slot are pre-op for various surgeries. Of course, that is outpatient, but inpatient can be used the same way.
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Post by jenjie on Oct 3, 2014 12:48:46 GMT
Ok thank you. My mom said his heart is strong - he was a runner and still exercises regularly - but maybe there is something they are seeing that says otherwise. He has had multiple strokes (neurological) but no heart attacks.
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Post by jenjie on Oct 3, 2014 12:50:24 GMT
Yes. There is most definitely pre-op rehab. I am in PT right now. Some of the regulars in my usual time slot are pre-op for various surgeries. Of course, that is outpatient, but inpatient can be used the same way. I had never heard of that. And I even googled and came up empty. I must have used the wrong search terms. Then I thought, the refupeas will know!  |
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Post by beachbum on Oct 3, 2014 12:50:47 GMT
My mother had to do strength work before he knee replacement. I did too, and my dh had some before his hip replacement. A friend who is a physical therapist said it can make a difference in ease of recovery. |
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Post by jenjie on Oct 3, 2014 12:52:14 GMT
My mother had to do strength work before he knee replacement. I did too, and my dh had some before his hip replacement. A friend who is a physical therapist said it can make a difference in ease of recovery. Excellent thank you. |
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Post by monklady123 on Oct 3, 2014 14:49:28 GMT
I didn't realize they did this either until a friend of mine had to go to rehab/PT before having knee surgery. Not the same thing as your dad, but the same idea. The doctor said it would help her by strengthening the muscles in both legs so that she wouldn't favor the one leg so much (which she'd been doing for years due to her knee pain) -- favoring one side can cause problems on the opposite side.
Anyway, a bit different from your dad but the same goal -- get the person stronger in some way, before surgery.
I hope it all goes well for him.
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Deleted
Posts: 0
Aug 18, 2025 20:17:36 GMT
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Post by Deleted on Oct 3, 2014 14:56:55 GMT
Yes.
There should be pre-op conditioning for all patients under going major surgery. Not only does it improve the body but improves the spirit.
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Post by brina on Oct 3, 2014 14:58:37 GMT
yes it is not unusual. Often with knee injuries like ACL repair or full replacement they strengthen the leg before surgery - gets you up and moving more quickly.
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Post by jenjie on Oct 3, 2014 15:39:31 GMT
Thank you girls that is what they're doing. They're moving him today or tomorrow. They are saying that when he hit his head it triggered full blown dementia. So that isn't temporary. |
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Post by cindyupnorth on Oct 3, 2014 17:39:31 GMT
This is very common and normal. Another reason is that they might think him being in a more controlled envivorment, and more supervision would be better until they do the surgery. Or to get him settled in at a place to go after surgery also. Sounds like your Mom is a bit overwhelmed, and they think this would be best for everyone.
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Deleted
Posts: 0
Aug 18, 2025 20:17:36 GMT
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Post by Deleted on Oct 3, 2014 20:13:13 GMT
My son did some pre-op rehab before having surgery to repair is ACL, MCL and meniscus....good luck
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Post by jenjie on Oct 3, 2014 20:51:00 GMT
This is very common and normal. Another reason is that they might think him being in a more controlled envivorment, and more supervision would be better until they do the surgery. Or to get him settled in at a place to go after surgery also. Sounds like your Mom is a bit overwhelmed, and they think this would be best for everyone. Thank you Cindy. It will be best. But I just had never heard of it before and wondered if she misunderstood. They actually moved him this afternoon. |
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chocluver
Junior Member
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Post by chocluver on Oct 3, 2014 21:21:33 GMT
As someone who once had a broken shoulder in 3 places, I can NOT imagine doing anything to my shoulder before it was fixed with a plate during surgery. Actually, the injury was so extremely painful that I would have "killed" anyone who came near it. After the surgery, once physical therapy started, the actual therapy was like torture. The whole thing was the worst most painful experience. Hope your father does well.
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Post by monklady123 on Oct 3, 2014 21:28:05 GMT
As someone who once had a broken shoulder in 3 places, I can NOT imagine doing anything to my shoulder before it was fixed with a plate during surgery. Actually, the injury was so extremely painful that I would have "killed" anyone who came near it. After the surgery, once physical therapy started, the actual therapy was like torture. The whole thing was the worst most painful experience. Hope your father does well. Well they're not likely to be doing any pre-surgery physical therapy on the actual parts that are broken! oy. That would be very painful, like you said. Hopefully you're recovered now! ouch... -- More likely it's overall conditioning -- things like what my friend had to strengthen the muscles in her other leg, and the muscles in the top part of the leg with the bad knee. Things that will contribute to a better/faster recovery. Jenjie's dad will probably also have respiratory therapy -- breathing exercises along with medications. That way he'll be in the best shape possible to be put under anesthesia. |
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mimima
Drama Llama
Stay Gold, Ponyboy
Posts: 5,213
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Post by mimima on Oct 3, 2014 21:29:34 GMT
I'm sorry you are going through this, Jen. Hugs
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Post by jenjie on Oct 3, 2014 22:26:52 GMT
I'm sorry you are going through this, Jen. Hugs Thank you. |
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Post by jenjie on Oct 15, 2014 2:32:39 GMT
Update in OP
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Post by lindywholoveskids on Oct 15, 2014 10:58:53 GMT
thanks for the update!
it's so hard to watch our parents struggle with health issues.
they may want to wait on surgery because of the strokes and the dementia.
I hope they can keep him comfortable
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Post by BeckyTech on Oct 15, 2014 13:19:51 GMT
They are saying that when he hit his head it triggered full blown dementia. So that isn't temporary. Oh, Jenjie, I am so sorry. Prayers for your family. |
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Post by jenjie on Oct 15, 2014 13:44:51 GMT
They are saying that when he hit his head it triggered full blown dementia. So that isn't temporary. Oh, Jenjie, I am so sorry. Prayers for your family. Thanks Becky. They have an appointment tomorrow with his neurologist, so we should hopefully get some actual answers. Mom wants to ask again if the anti-seizure meds are playing any part in his memory issues. We feel that the doctor at the hospital basically blew her off. His dementia symptoms have been somewhat better, he has been pretty lucid during the day but late afternoon into evening he gets funny and is bad overnight. His roommate requested to be moved so he could get some sleep. Dad called me the other day while I was in the shower and left this message: "call me as soon as you can. I think they did me wrong." By the time I called back he was ok but he was just lonely. Mom had to go to work. I haven't been able to visit all week because I've had a cold. I'll go this weekend. But I tried just chatting with him on the phone and he said "I'll talk to you when you have more time." Dad I have plenty of time now. But he said goodbye and hung up. He did admit he was down in the dumps. I'm choosing to take that as a good thing that he recognized what was bothering him. When I hung up I just felt like crying. I told dh, he told me just go to him. Then when he remembered I couldn't, he gave me one of those "what am i supposed to do to fix this" kind of reactions. Nothing. This is the part where you listen and give me a hug. So he did. |
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Post by BeckyTech on Oct 15, 2014 14:11:25 GMT
Thanks Becky. They have an appointment tomorrow with his neurologist, so we should hopefully get some actual answers. Mom wants to ask again if the anti-seizure meds are playing any part in his memory issues. We feel that the doctor at the hospital basically blew her off. His dementia symptoms have been somewhat better, he has been pretty lucid during the day but late afternoon into evening he gets funny and is bad overnight. His roommate requested to be moved so he could get some sleep. Absolutely review his meds with doctors. I know of a couple of cases where meds were the cause of problems, not solutions. Sometimes you have to be very firm and consult different doctors, but obviously it's important. Especially if he is worse during the afternoon and evening. Of course I'm no doctor, but I occasionally play one on the Internet.  Hope you are feeling better soon! |
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Post by jenjie on Oct 15, 2014 16:19:57 GMT
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Post by lindywholoveskids on Oct 15, 2014 16:48:59 GMT
this is the hard part for the family with out dementia. You cannot know when the person is going to remember or not. it's totally random. In my experience with my Mom and my MIL, we just had to get care for them. My mom started calling at 2am and not making sense.
it's so hard on the family and loved ones.
My advise is that you get care for him when he is alone.
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Post by peanutterbutter on Oct 15, 2014 19:31:38 GMT
Jenjie, I just wanted to offer you some sympathy. I'm right there with you - my dad has some medical issues that require similar decisions - it's a tough road, and day by day you just do the best you can.
The type of dementia a person has plays a big role in their response to various meds, and finding a good geriatric psychiatrist can be very helpful. I'm not really sure - is your dad at home or in a nursing home right now?
Good luck with everything.
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Post by jenjie on Oct 19, 2014 10:13:01 GMT
Jenjie, I just wanted to offer you some sympathy. I'm right there with you - my dad has some medical issues that require similar decisions - it's a tough road, and day by day you just do the best you can. The type of dementia a person has plays a big role in their response to various meds, and finding a good geriatric psychiatrist can be very helpful. I'm not really sure - is your dad at home or in a nursing home right now? Good luck with everything. I'm so sorry your dad is having these issues. I just updated my op. They feel my dad's problem is 75% medication side effects. He is in rehab for a few more weeks. He's havi other issues - cellulitis and maybe gout- that make him unable to walk well and get steady using the walker. |
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So I'm wondering if maybe she got confused? Thank God she was in a much better frame of mind when I went yesterday.
