Stroke confusion - how much fluctuation is normal?

[Debbe883]

About 1.5 years ago, my dad (age 78) underwent triple bypass heart surgery and hasn't been the same since. He has suffered some mini strokes (confirmed by MRI) and diagosed with vascular dementia. Damage was to the frontal lobe? affecting his cognitive functioning. He speech is fine (when he talks).

His mental 'alertness/confusion' swings wildly from day to day and has definitely gotten worse over the last year. He has become very quiet and never initiates any conversation. But, a good day means that he's pretty alert and can answer most questions, laugh at jokes, recognize people in pictures, etc. A bad day being he doesn't remember my mom's name, but he does recognize her. On good days, he has pretty good strength to stand up and walk with a walker. He has a tendency to fall backward though, so someone is always by his side. On bad days, he has no energy and can barely get out of bed let alone walk more than a few steps.

He has been on Razedyne (sp?).

Is this type of mental fluctuation normal for someone who has had mini-strokes with diagnosed dementia or does it signal some other health problem? His temp is normally low (around 97.5).

[Debbe883]

Thank you both for answering.  Today was a good day for dad after four down days. Yesterday he barely knew how to move his legs to walk, today mom said he practically "sprinted" with his walker.  I will print your post with recommendations and see which are do-able. He's on 8 different pills for things ranging from hypertension to cholestrol to depression to bile acid reducers.  I have to make sure nothing interfers with the others.

Is there any merit to stuff I've read about apple cider vinegar cleaning out clogged arteries.  The neurologist says his brain arteries have narrowed, reducing blood flow, from the same gunk that clogged his heart and carotid artery.  Seems to simple to be true...

Thanks again!

[caregiver222]

Razedyne is a well-promoted Alzheimer's drug that should have been marketed as an alternative to electrocution in states that have death penalty laws. Just a valueless personal opinion. What do I know? I'm only eleven and my mom lets me use this computer to upset people.  Nevertheless, many physicians with fascinating curriculum vitae who have been treated to all-expense-paid vacations to Hawaii for seminars on the drugs effectiveness give massive testimonials on its effectiveness. Wide variations in lucidity generally have simple explanations. Variations in glucose utilization being the first choice. Disturbance of circadian rhythyms being another good second choice. We have two different directions here. One is "stroke" and the other is "Alzheimers", which may or may not be present. First of all you must purchase a pulse oximeter.A must.  Do not pass go. Do not collect two hundred dollars. This measures percentage of oxygen in the blood by a clip on one of the fingernails. Next you need to have an insulin clamp test performed, which they probably won't do, because it isn't on the insurance protocol. So spent thirty bucks on a digital tester and start checking his blood sugars. I have to wonder about the etiology of the stroke following a bypass. No doubt the surgical notes and the hospital review documents have a classification comparable to that accorded the Al Queda attack on 9/11 and you'll never see them. "Good job Joe!" "Sure thing Harry - how about golf saturday?"  First try come co-enzyme Q-10. Start at 60 mg, and studies suggest that up to 1000 mg a day can produce mental improvement. Then start DHEA. Just a teensey weensey bit for a week at a time. Start with 5 mg and work to 50 mg. Then see if he will tolerate pomgranate juice. If not the dry pomgranite capsules, for 60 mg a day.  A small quantity of niacin every day produces vascular dilation. Not too much. A multi-vitamion every day. A teaspoonfull of cod liver oil. Omega-3 fish oil supplements. Perhaps more later when I am in less pain.

[caregiver222]

Blood sugars are often kept under control by cinamin (the spice) supplements (lots), and Chromium GTF (Glucose Tolerance Factor). Circadian rhythyms can be moderated by exposure to 45 minutes of sunlight every day, between six A.M. and 9 A.M. in the morning. As much outdoor exposure to sunlight every day as possible. There is a sensor in the eye that mediates the process. Do some look-see on google on circadian rhythyms.

[lahinva]

My dad age 80 had a stroke 10 months ago.  He also had the vascular dementia and loss of short term memory.  His confusion also varies greatly each day.  One day I will talk to him and he sounds like his old self, the next day he will barely remember me....  It is very difficult to deal with because just when we think he is doing better, he has one of his days in which he is very confused and very weak.  I feel the worst for my mom because she has to deal with it every day.   Some days he gets very mean  and other days he is as sweet as can be...  When we ask his doctor about the changes in his mood, he says that it is very common for stroke patients to have those extreme changes.