Dads refusing to eat

[debbi4792]

My 74 yr old dad who has vascular dementia had a rather bad heart attack friday evening. he now has no appetite and is barely eating or sleeping to the point he is now hallucinating (the hospital staff say this could be due to the medicatuon) can anyone pls relate to this. We are more worried about his reluctance to eat.

[Hidden]

Hi ... my Mum had vascular dementia... unfortunately shocks to their mind/body can cause them to regress/advance in Vascular Dementia depending how far advance your Dad is this may be temporary. If he is hallucinating, has the hospital checked for a urinary infection? However after my Heart Attack and initially getting used to the meds I hallucinated, this gradually lessened and seem to disappear after about 10days. To try and get him to eat, did he have a favourite food? Chocolate; sweets; cake... my mums was fruit cake. But make sure that he eats it and doesn’t hold it in his mouth (at one point my Mum looked like a hamster! ). I hope your Dad settles soon and starts to recover .

[debbi4792 in reply to Hidden]

Thank you for ypur reply. They have now said there are certainly cultures showing in his bloods and have started him on an antibiotic. We are hoping this helps. We have tried his favourite foods and sweets he has a nibble or a mouthful and then says he doesn't fancy it. He is sipping at fruit juice water and tea which is more than yesterday.

Currently praying for a miracle 🙏🙏

[Hidden in reply to debbi4792]

My thoughts are with you ... it is a very tough time for all involved. Have you tried eating with him? Even when we are well, eating on your own seems to be more of a chore/necessity.

[debbi4792 in reply to Hidden]

Never thought of it that way. Will definately give that a try tomorrow. Thank You 😍

[Hidden in reply to debbi4792]

Good luck ... x

[Qualipop in reply to debbi4792]

Take in a flask of Heinz tomato soup. Never know it to fail. When my dad ws dying, it was the only thing he would take. I think when they are confused, it harks back to childhood. It's what all sick children were given; that and "pobbies". SMall pieces of bread , no crusts, soaked in sweetened warm milk.

[Hidden]

After surgery it does sometimes bring on hallucinations after about three days I believe but passes quickly. When I had mu HA and bypass surgery another person said he saw a white hedgehog sitting on another patients head - my experience of this was an inability to read for the whole page would "swim" before my eyes - but it passed. It is also a possibility that the surgery has temporarily affects the taste buds where all food just tastes so bland - but that passes to, but more slowly. Sense of smell can also be affected but that also passes. So really your Dad fits well into these examples and is just beginning his recovery. Please do not worry too much, he is in good hands and if need be will intervene if anything begins to worry the staff. 74 is not really old these days but does seriously depend on his outlook. I am just about one year on from my experience and am decidedly fitter than I have been for a very long time and feel very positive about the future. I do like the idea of eating with him or even (if he is walking OK, why not go to the hospital restaurant or snack bar and try some regular food? Good luck to you both

[MichaelJH Heart Star in reply to Hidden]

Sometimes just escaping the ward for 30 minutes or an hour can be beneficial. If he can not walk too far you can usually borrow a wheelchair. And if there is outside access it's looking warm and sunny.

[debbi4792 in reply to Hidden]

Thank you for that..We are hoping to see some improvement within the next 24 hours once the antibiotics kick in. However at the moment he is not allowed out of bed. We will ask about maybe taking him to the cafeteria once he is improving. He did love his food prior to the attack and this is why we are finding it so hard to watch him refuse to eat.

[Hidden in reply to debbi4792]

Don't worry so, give him love and support, the human body is really quite spectacular especially when one has the will to live.

[debbi4792 in reply to Hidden]

💗💗

[benjijen]

I can really relate to this. My mother has vascular dementia and alzheimers. She had a by pass some years ago. She eats virtually nothing, I know because I buy her shopping. I'm at the stage where I don't care what she eats, just want something inside her as she's fading away. I don't think there's anything we can do but as your father is in hospital they will be able to give him nutrients through an IV. Hopefully once he has the right treatment he'll stop having hallucinations.

[debbi4792 in reply to benjijen]

Sorry to hear this about your mum. We are the same just anything would be better than nothing 😢

[Hidden]

Depending on his awareness of his dementia and the trauma of a HA, it is not unknown for people to lose the will to live. There is also the issue of his likelihood for a further HA or heart failure. Lots of issues to discuss with his healthcare professionals. As I realised with both my mum and stepmum, it is their quality of life that matters and not what we want.

[Handel]

Hi Debbi.

I can relate to this as my dad (at the slightly older age of 81) suffered exactly the same conditions and symptoms you describe.

Dad suffered with UTI s (Urinary Tract Infections) and had some weird symptoms. Dad would hallucinate, he couldn't eat because he felt so awful. He also regressed a little in hospital and kept taking his pyjamas off which shocked a few ladies!

Once on the right antibiotics, your dad will get his appetite back. The hospital should be checking the antibiotics they've prescribed are working. My dad was given protein drinks to sip with a straw so he got his strength back.

He's now 97 and in a care home as he has Altzheimer's and vascular dementia but he's so happy.

Good luck to you and best wishes to your dad xxx

[debbi4792 in reply to Handel]

Thank you so much for your reply. I'm glad your dad is now happy.

We have just been told if his bloods come bk clear today they would like to fit a pacemaker as his heart is beating to slow. Mum says he appears a little better today ho0efully the antibiotics have helped. fingers crossed we see some improvement.

[Handel in reply to debbi4792]

I'm sure you'll see a rapid improvement once the antibiotics have kicked in. With a pacemaker, he'll be running marathons! I remember my day cementing some ridge tiles back on his bungalow roof at the age of 83! The Pacemaker he had made all the difference to his health. Sadly, my Mum passed away some 30 years ago so he's been on his own (wouldn't live with us) since then.

All the very best to you and your family. He'll be home soon xxxx

[debbi4792 in reply to Handel]

Thank you. you have at least given us some hope he may recover. I'm happy your dad felt so much better after his, I'm sry he lost his wife long ago.

I appreciate you taking the time to share your experience with me and i wish you and your family (and of course your dad) all the very best of health.

You really have lifted our spirits a little.

God bless you 😍

[Handel in reply to debbi4792]

Thank you Debbi. Just keep a happy face on when you see your dad. He won't want you to feel bad for him. It's amazing how happiness can spread!.

God bless you and your family xxx

[debbi4792 in reply to Handel]

Unfortunately we lost dad at about 7pm tonight. The pacemaker did its job but unfortunately the damage done meant his heart was to weak to sustain its job. We are heartbroken. Dad passed peacefully and painlessly. We even had a smile or 2 before he went. Thank you for ypur support x

[Handel in reply to debbi4792]

I'm so sorry Debbi. My heart goes out to you and your Mum.

Remember those smiles. You made his last few hours happy.

God bless you all and your Dad xxx

[Qualipop]

Bisopralol can cause hallucinations. I had them but it's rare. IT's more likely to be a regression of his dementia. You can get food supplements like milk shakes which can replace meals. Ask your doctor to prescribe some. They are both savoury and sweet. A urinary infection in the elderly often causes hallucinations and should be the first thing that's checked.

[debbi4792 in reply to Qualipop]

Thank you for ypur advise and kind words but it was all to much for dad and he left us this evening x

[Qualipop in reply to debbi4792]

So dreadfully sorry