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Grandaughter74 Asked May 2016

Anyone experience a loved one with dementia and chronic anemia?

My grandfather age 89 is in stage 6 of dementia. He still knows me but I can tell his memory is declining fast. Over the past year he has been very anemic. In Dec. 2015 he was given 2 bags of blood and yesterday he was given 4 bags of blood. He is NOT loosing blood. He has had multiple test. Is this normal for dementia patients? He also has only one kidney that was removed due to cancer years ago. It seems to be working fine. He has been in a assisted living facility for the past 3 months. He could walk to the dining area with the walker at first. He began falling shortly after he arrived there. The past two weeks he has fallen everyday. This is why he eventually was taken to the ER. He is having to go back to a skilled nursing facility after his stay in the hospital. He was there last year and went through physical therapy and got well enough to go to assisted living. As I mentioned he declined over a 3 month period. The assisted living facility worked with him diligently trying to make him stronger but it didn't last long. He ate better than I do. Three full course meals a day. I checked it out multiple times and kept up with his care. Home health and physical therapy visited him 2- 3 days a week. Any suggestions or experience would be greatly appreciated.

newtoy1 May 2016
Hi. My grandfather had similar issues. Anemia, pale, fatigue, and constant low hemoglobin. Several trips to er and being admitted. Endoscopy and colonoscopy were clear. The hemotologist determined it was chronic renal or kidney failure . And could be maintained with Procrit which is commonly given to patients underhoing chemo. Gramps has never had chemo but the treatment works. We go every 2 to 3 weeks for blood tests and an injection ofvprocrit if his levels are low. 4 years later and for the most part its under control. Good luck.

Grandaughter74 May 2016
Thank you all for your comments. Grandpa also has a living will which limits some types of treatment. The most frustrating thing I have been through is dealing with the Emergency Room doctors. I honestly believe doctors are trained now to just send them on out with hospice. He wasn't going to treat him for the UTI infection but his living will indicates he wants meds and IV fluids for comfort measures. Grant it he is 89 but, he will pass on when the good Lord is ready for him. The ER doctor argued with me about his living will. I told him I will honor my grandpas wishes and so will the hospital. We don't know the time God will take us home but doctors sure like to put them on a fast train out. The health care system is horrible. Thankfully his family doctor is awesome.

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cwillie May 2016
Another thought, at his age and stage of dementia his doctors may be treating this palliatively, but that doesn't mean they can not do a better job of monitoring his blood levels and transfusing him as needed.

cwillie May 2016
How far have they gone to find a diagnosis? Has he had his bone marrow examined? Has he seen a hematologist? I would insist on seeing a specialist to get to the bottom of this, he will feel much better with proper treatment.

One possibility is myelodysplastic syndromes, some doctors describe it as tired bone marrow syndrome. In many cases treatment is just monitoring the blood and having periodic transfusions if needed.

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