pacemaker and memory loss

[honey33]

hi just after some opinions/ advice / thoughts... my dad who is 84 has to have a pacemaker fitted because he keeps passing out now and again maybe once evry few months, the hospital says its something in his brain thats not telling his heart to beat..... is this operation safe in someone of his age ? he is fit he walks for miles every day and there isnt an ounce of fat on him....... also he is getting a little forgetfull and sometimes a bit disorientated... the hospital did a memory test and he got 19 out or 30 correct, do you think this was a good result in someone of his age and do you think it could be early alzhimers... also with him passing out alot over the years ( this has been happening for atleat 10yrs and docs at hospital have only just realised it has been his heart brain problem, he has had numerous tests over the years) do you think this has played apart in his forgetfullness?

sorry for all the questions but a bit worrying as i dont live close

[woofgang]

Yes the operation is safe. I have known 90 year olds get pacemakers and be improved by them. There are risks in every op but I am sure that the docs have made an assessment and think that any risk is worth it for the improvement.
I can't make any comment on the memory loss and any possible cause or treatment as I don't know what else may be wrong with your Dad. The memory test score on its own tells me nothing as I don't know what areas he had problems with.
You could call the hospital and ask the doctors what you have asked here, they will kow more than I do about your Dad.
At age 84, some cognitive function loss is not surprising, Not inevitable but not surprising.

[honey33]

with the memory its mainly him not knowing what day it is, or him sometimes doing things he has already done .... with the pacemaker im just worried as its his heart and thats what keeps us all alive... i just thought that maybe him passing out a lot that maybe the oxygen hasnt been getting to his brain cells and causing damage hence his memory... he is fit as a fidle otherwise and puts me to shame lol he cant sit still he is always out for walks he walks 5 miles everyday and has an allotment lol

[woofgang]

its possible that it might be as you say, an oxygen lack, but there are other reasons. If he only isn't sure of the day or does things twice then functionally that's minor. If he is forgetting his door keys or forgetting to turn the cooker off its a bit more serious. Can you talk to the hospital? has he seen an occupational therapist? He or she will do a functional assessment. What memory problems a person has can be less relevant that how they use what they have. people who have a good routine and are able to use strategies to get round their problems are more likely to be able to carry on being independent. Does he live alone? Have good neighbours and or friends? Does he ever forget where he lives?

[PringlesQueen]

My grandmother had a pacemaker fitted at a similar age to your father.
It was like flicking a switch back on - once she had it fitted it was like she was 20 years younger. Her memory improved and she was so much more alert.
The pacemaker was fitted under local anaesthetic and she had no complications or paim from the fitting.
I am sorry that cannot comment on the memory test as it is something that I have no personal experience of. As woofgang has suggested, I would ask the doctors looking after your father.

[honey33]

he can still do things for him self he cooks and cleans and when i do go and visit every 6-8 weeks for a weekend he knows what hes doing or seems to he even says his memory is terrible, he always knows his way home he always checks to see if the doors locked he is very carefull with safety withing the house.. he does live on his own as my mam died 10yrs ago .....he has also been refered to a memory clinic and the hospital is going to send him for a CAT OR CT scan... my sister sees him every weekend so she knows more than i do as i live away its hard to see him more than i am doing.. i just hope its not alzhimers his brother had it before he died and was in a home for 2yrs at the age of 89 i think

[woofgang]

honey, alzheimers is a catch all term used for memory loss for a multitude of reasons. Does your sis ask questions at the hospital? Can you ask her what to ask?

[honey33]

i suppose we will know more when hes been to the memory clinic... my sis never really asked any questions she just listened to what they had to say