Since then, John has been stable. His mental capacities never did come back 100% since the bout of Dementia. Socially he is like a child. His long term memory is still intact. Short term though is not so good. He can carry on a conversation well enough, but there are many times that he just acts like a child. He can't add simple math. There are many times that he remembers things though, like Doctors appointments, so it just seems hit and miss.
We made a move from high altitude to sea level in August 2008. He went without oxygen for about 6 weeks. And his sugars were controllable for the first time in years. Within 3 months John was back on oxygen and sugars were not so easy to control. He had a chest catheter for dialysis until the winter when he had an actual Fistula put in. That has helped for cleanliness and keeping infection down. He also hasn't fallen since he has been back home. He does burn his fingers often and will get an ulcer on his feet occasionally. I have been able to heal them all with Tea Tree Oil.
So now for a list of the complications and symptoms John has:
- Diabetes (1991)
- Truck accident (Semi)-Herniated discs in back (1992)
- Heart Failure (1994)
- Kidney Failure (2002)
- Hemochromatosis (1998)
- Ruptured Achilles Tendon (one in 1997, the other in 1998)
- Impotence (1997)
- Hiatal Hernia
- Chronic Diarrhea
- Depression
- Anxious
- Neuropathy-hands and feet
- Bones spurs C4-6, T10-11, L5-S1 the worst
- Very picky eater
- Sleeps up to 20 hours a day
- Hands crippled
- Many nights he can't sleep
- Can only walk short distances
- Gets painful pressure when he urinates (what little he does)
- Gets very restless
- Coughing spells
- Can't feel many times when he has had a bowel movement.
- Will have bowel movements many times in the middle of the night.
- Gets shooting pains in his hands and feet at anytime
- Basal cell skin Cancer on his face (surgery for it in July 2009)