My husband is 72 and we are in year 5 dealing with this devastating disease. He has advanced vascular dementia. I educated myself by reading, asking questions, and following this forum. I learned what to expect as the stages of dementia progressed. This week my husband was in the emergency room experiencing fast, shallow breathing episodes lasting only seconds while napping through the day or sleeping at night. He denies any pain ?? but his face will have a look of panic. CT scans of head and abdomen, lots of bloodwork and urine testing were ordered. Everything was good. ER doc feels these breathing episodes are advanced dementia related. Has anyone experienced the same with their loved one?
What do they suggest now? I have heard of very mild anti-depressants helping things that are anxiety provoked? Wondering if something like that is worth a try.
This has to be causing so much panic for you both. I am so sorry. I hope you will update us if there is something that seems to help.
When my husband was in the ER with aspiration pneumonia, the doctor said because he had dementia, his brain was forgetting to close his airways when he ate or drank thus allowing his food and drink to go into his lungs, instead of his stomach.
So perhaps your husbands brain is forgetting to tell his lungs how to breath properly. I don't know, it's just a thought.
I'm sorry you're having to go through this. I know just how hard it is. The only up side(if you can call it that)is that vascular dementia is the most aggressive of all the dementias, with a life expectancy of only 5 years, so our loved ones don't have to suffer as long as some of the other dementias like Alzheimer's.
My husband was diagnosed in July 2018, although he was showing signs a good year before that, and he passed away Sept. 2020 at the age of 72.
May God bless you and your husband as you travel this journey together.
My mom was diagnosed with Vascular Dementia after a stroke in 2013; I was told that there is usually a 5 year survival. My mom died in 2017 after a fall. She had experienced a precipitous decline that summer.
Breathing difficulties are part of the "end game" scenario in Vascular Dementia. Have you thought about Hospice services being brought in? They might be able to give you some much needed emotional support, as well as a bath aide and perhaps respite.
As to everything looking "fine" in the ER; my mom's "vitals" were good until about an hour before she died.