Re: newbie here, questions about DLB, walking, & spinal stenosis

[Guest guest]

Sue wondered:

I am curious if there is a relationship between surgery or long hospital

stays or infections/antibiotics and exacerbation of dementia.

*****************

I have not even finished reading your post but I had to respond to this

because this issue has come up on another list to which I belong. Of course

a hospital stay will contribute to dementia decline! Anesthesia, in

particular, really exacerbates the decline.

Now I will go back and finish reading what you wrote!!!

carol

[Guest guest]

Sue - one other thing - after reading the rest of your post: while it

certainly sounds like your dad has LBD, I would suggest scheduling an

appointment with a good neurologist. . .

carol

[Guest guest]

The walking issues you describe sound very similar to my 81 year old mom.

Also, mom had surgery 14 months ago. The general anesthesia did her in, it

preciptated her to progress from early stage dementia to late stage.

Sensitivity to drugs appears to be correlated to LBD as well as the flutuating

cognition and gate. My mom also has temor.

Is your dad on Aricept? I understand Namenda works best with it. Zyprexa

has helped minimize mom's hallucinations.

I'm sorry you are going on this " ride " . This disease is horrible. Try to enjoy

the

humorous times.

[Guest guest]

Sue,

You seem to be right that your Dad has LBD. There is no definite

diagnosis, as it takes an autopsy to know for sure. Most MDs say

Alzheimers, and even then they say probable AD, as that takes Autopsy

also.

I do not know about the other disease your Dad has, but the falls,

sensitivity to drugs and dementia, have a familiar ring to it, which you

probably know if you have read the archives. Most people here

understand this better than the MDs. (Not all, there are some who are

becoming more familiar all the time.)

You do need to see someone, even your primary MD and reassess the

dementia. If someone put him on Aricept, they already know he has

dementia. That is what that drug is for. Have you gone to the Doctor

with your parents? Sometimes they get very confused about what ever the

MD tells them.

The leg problem you are talking about is called " restless leg syndrome. "

It also is quite common.

As a matter of fact in the newspaper tonight in questions to the MD, it

was most odd. THis Doctor said he has had lots of mail on patients who

have had good luck with SOAP?? THey took a bar of Soap, (not Dial or

Dove) and place it under the bottom sheet of the bed in the area of the

feet and legs. He was asking people to try it and let him know what

happen. Someone had written that this worked on leg cramps also. Guess

it does not hurt to try this as most of us have soap in the house. He

also wanted to know if it did not work. Sooo..... guess we have some

here who can try it.

I do not know if this works for dementia patients, but it sure does not

cost much to try it.

Good luck with your Dad and let us know if you have more questions. But

I sure would want more info if I were you. Some MDs just do not know

about LBD.

Donna R

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