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Yes, it is common to have a greater difficulty recovering from anesthetics when you are elderly. But, the individual reactions vary. In some people it may just be for a few hours or a few days, in others a few weeks of problems and in a small percentage of elderly patients there may be a permanent decline in cognitive functioning (especially if they already had shown signs of dementia).
Here's a good study, technical, but provides some data for the discussion. Not good news for the elderly having anesthesia.
I think a lot of this is dealing with doctors who deal a lot with the old. I really do not have much of a problem and I am old. But all my doctors are in heavy geriatric practices.
I am careful about anesthetics and often have a deep discussion with the anesthesiologist. I do fine. My dental surgeon is a DDS/MD and does fine.
I'm a surgical/trauma RN & yes this is seen in seniors. I would say that when I worked on a high-acuity surgical ward with a 45-bed capacity; we would have about 4-5 patients, all seniors; experience this every month.
It's an 'anecdotal' report but that was my experience & observation.
Well, I'm glad to report that he is much improved. This is the email I received this morning.
Quote:
"Well it has been a few days of stress. Today was a huge turn around from when I left xxxx last night. The drugs had taken such a toll, it was not him. I had visions of the physc ward, scary what drugs can do...He was beyond reason.
This morning he was himself again but because it was hallucinations you remember what took place. And it is something you don’t want to remember. He was devastated at what took place. When xxxx (their daughter) came in today he was a mess at what he had put her thru as she spent the worst night with him.
The drugs were stopped yesterday..
He was able to get up today, walking to bathroom, got the last of the tubes out, and had food for the first time since Monday morning, tolerated it well.
So no tubes, on food, incision looking good, only on Tylenol 3 now, not in pain and if all goes well home tomorrow...The best place to be....
Thanks to all of you for your concern, this is something you can’t go thru alone, we are blessed....."
Suggest to the family that although the anesthesia reaction was upsetting, not having the surgery was not an option. The bowel obstruction would have been fatal if left untreated.
A (75 year old) friend of ours ended up with a blockage of his intestines. They had to remove part of it.
This morning, (two days after his surgery) I wrote his wife and asked how he was doing.
This was her answer in an email a few minutes ago...
"He is agitated, confused they had to call the Doc in at 4;30 this morning, He said it’s from the anesthetic, it happens with people over 70..It will be a rough time, lasts 72 hours in the system. They had to give him anti psychotic drug, and Debbie (their daughter) said he maybe slept 2 hours last night..."
Is this a common thing with people over 70? This is what his doctor told his wife. Are there ever lasting effects from anesthetic?
In other words, is there a chance that he may never be back to his old self? (a very smart, funny man who has always had his wits about him)
He's such a nice man and his wife is a lovely person. I hope it all ends well for them. Worried.
My great uncle had hip surgery after falling down the stairs and he swore like a trucker for 6 months after the surgery. He had never had an anaesthetic before, and had never said a bad word in all his 90 years. Suddenly he couldn't talk without swearing. They said it was the anaesthetic, and that it would clear from his system in 6 months. It did. Just pretend you don't notice his bad behavior.
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