He has to be woken up to eat. I am the caregiver for my father who is 89 years old. I have seen him in the last few weeks decline from a fall that injuried his left eye severely. He had to undergo surgery on his eye and the Dr. is trying to save his sight in his left eye. He needs to have another surgery this week which required him to go under anesthesia again. He cannot open his left eye and he hurts from the pain. It’s been 3 weeks since his first eye surgery and he had become very confused and sleeps all the time. He has to be woken up to eat but literally falls asleep sitting up. These characteristics appeared all after his fall to his eye. I have seen a decline in him since this last fall. We thought it was from the anesthesia because for an 89 year old man with heart disease to go under anesthesia it can be worrisome. He is suppose to have his second eye surgery this Thursday and I am concerned about his confusion and him going under anesthesia again. He complained of his head hurting him pressure and I had taken him to ER over the weekend where they did a CT scan of his head and chest X-ray and they all came out clear doctors said. They attribute the pain he has is caused by the injury he did to his eye. I’m worried and not sure why my dad is sleeping all the time. Just wondering if it is safe to undergo another Er surgery where he will have anesthesia. Worried this will confuse him even more. Nothing has changed in his pill regimen either. There have been no new meds introduced. He has high blood pressure as well. Just worried about him and not sure what I should be doing as the next step for him.
If you don’t get anywhere with the eye surgeon, call his regular doctor. I know anesthesia does knock elderly people for a loop, but you need to find out what’s going on and what you can do.
I know it's so difficult to see your dad in this shape. It hurts your heart. It makes you feel helpless. Do the best you can to make him comfortable. Come back after his surgery and tell us how he (and you) are doing. Prayers for a successful surgery.
I just know how hard it is to make medical decisions for a parent. and never knowing if im making the best decision. and it makes your heart ache. looking back on my mom and dad. what I did for them, seemed to work out for the best. my dad passed away in 2015 age 92(almost 93) and my mom is almost 89.
and sometimes it seemed I got one situation figured out. only to have another problem pop up.
they are going to continue to decline. no matter how hard you try to keep them healthy.
and its scary/stressful having to be responsible. but if something happens, you must understand its not your fault. I can tell you care very much. I worry a lot too about everything. my moms dementia, her teeth, her eyesight, falling ect ect ++ ....bottom line...shes just getting old and I have no control over that :( I wish you good luck taking care of dad.