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Suggest Treatment For Shingles And Dementia
Question: Sorry to ask this but I am lost on what to do. My father was pretty healthy a few months ago then he came down with the shingles on his face. It was a pretty bad case, after all the medicine he got really weak and didn’t want to eat. He slowly lost weight and then wanted to sleep all the time. He got so week that they assigned a social worker to help us to help figure things out. They sent him to Hospice to help get things in check. After a few days hospice said his body was shutting down and he was dying. There is nothing wrong with him other than he is getting weaker because he doesn’t want to eat much. No diagnosie of anything wrong with him. He is pretty alert and knows who we are and talks with us whenhe is not sleeping. He gets out of bed to go to the bathroom with help. He says he wants to get better and when can he get out of the hospital bed. He does have a small amount of dementia but like I said he is still pretty much all there. All Hospice wants to do is make him comfortable and not really get him better. I get that it is what they do but I think if we got more calories in him it would reverse it. I want a feeding tube. Should we get a second opinion? Or am I in denial of the Inevitable.
Brief Answer:
Palliative care is necessary.
Detailed Answer:
Hi,
Thanks for asking.
Sorry about your fathers current position.
I am Dr. Prakash HM and I will be answering your query.
Looking at the clinical history and query, my opinion is as follows:
1. Shingles usually affects when the immunity is reduced, and it can be severe, leading to severe chronic burning pain. To control the pain and infection, he would have been put on many painkillers, steroids and even anti-psychotic drugs. The disease mainly, along with the medications would have made him very weak.
2. When he failed to respond to all possible treatment, he was sent to hospice. Along with his severe pain of shingles and dementia, the associated weakness has increased, making him further lose his appetite. As he is not taking anything, he required higher care.
3. The only way for him to get better is to improve food intake with good family support. Medications is secondary. However, due to his severe condition, his overall energy is down and his loss of appetite has made it a serious critical situation.
4. If he is not taking anything orally, feeding tube can be advised. However, if feeding tube is forced and if he becomes agitated and tries to remove it, the food might enter the respiratory tract, leading to lung infection, which will be a very difficult but definite painful death.
5. At present, the goals are principally pain control, dignity and reduced spiritual and psychological suffering.
6. I would not say, you are in denial. It is a difficult situation. Taking a second opinion possibly might not help in the current situation, however, if you want you can take it for your satisfaction. You should never feel that you didn't do it. Discuss, if he is able to comprehend, then finalize involving all family members.
7. At the end, he requires a dignified death. Help him, however you can.
Take Care.
Any further queries, ready to help again.
Dr. Prakash HM
Palliative care is necessary.
Detailed Answer:
Hi,
Thanks for asking.
Sorry about your fathers current position.
I am Dr. Prakash HM and I will be answering your query.
Looking at the clinical history and query, my opinion is as follows:
1. Shingles usually affects when the immunity is reduced, and it can be severe, leading to severe chronic burning pain. To control the pain and infection, he would have been put on many painkillers, steroids and even anti-psychotic drugs. The disease mainly, along with the medications would have made him very weak.
2. When he failed to respond to all possible treatment, he was sent to hospice. Along with his severe pain of shingles and dementia, the associated weakness has increased, making him further lose his appetite. As he is not taking anything, he required higher care.
3. The only way for him to get better is to improve food intake with good family support. Medications is secondary. However, due to his severe condition, his overall energy is down and his loss of appetite has made it a serious critical situation.
4. If he is not taking anything orally, feeding tube can be advised. However, if feeding tube is forced and if he becomes agitated and tries to remove it, the food might enter the respiratory tract, leading to lung infection, which will be a very difficult but definite painful death.
5. At present, the goals are principally pain control, dignity and reduced spiritual and psychological suffering.
6. I would not say, you are in denial. It is a difficult situation. Taking a second opinion possibly might not help in the current situation, however, if you want you can take it for your satisfaction. You should never feel that you didn't do it. Discuss, if he is able to comprehend, then finalize involving all family members.
7. At the end, he requires a dignified death. Help him, however you can.
Take Care.
Any further queries, ready to help again.
Dr. Prakash HM
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Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Vinay Bhardwaj
Answered by
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