My MIL has dementia (lewy body/mixed). She lives in an AL. She has reached the point that when anything goes off routine she loses it for about a week. They forgot to help her shower last Saturday, she went completely hysterical until Thursday. Calling random people to try to “break out”, leaving my husband and I hysterical messages, etc.. Yesterday, she called me but didn’t know she called (she does this a lot) but then started talking like a little girl on the phone. It was very disturbing. She also has a history of breast cancer. She went through chemotherapy about 3 years ago and it was almost too much for her physically. She is back to annual screening. It’s time for her mammogram and I just don’t can’t imagine putting her through it. I can’t imagine what a false positive or a real positive would do to her mentally. I really can’t imagine her going through chemo again. Two weeks ago I took her to meet with a Neurologist, she thought she was at a Therapist the entire time. She has an EEG and CT coming up with them. I am fine with the CT scan, but I am also wondering about the EEG. I notice when her disease progresses it a big step down, then she is steady for awhile. We have definitely taken a step down recently. Thoughts on when to stop routine screening and how much to put a dementia patient through?
I also would not do any testing where she would have to be sedated. Sedation can cause a decline.
I honestly would discontinue most "routine" testing.
When my Husband became non compliant at the dentist I stopped routine dental exams/cleanings.
Honestly at this point I would transition her from AL to Memory Care and contact a Hospice and let Hospice be her Medical Team.
Lewy Body is one of the worst, why torture the poor woman any more than necessary?
I think I would look for a new doctor, I cannot believe that one would recommend this.
Today it is all about money, no longer what is best for the patient.
Sending support your way!
We are conditioned to want to fight and do everything we can to stop death but in cases like your MILs she is never going to get better. If she lives long enough she will eventually lose the ability to swallow.
Shame on the doctor who is advising you to take her in for a mammogram knowing her condition.