Friday, February 24, 2006
Feb. 23, 2006. Dr. Mendius-Neurologist
Took Willem to follow-up meeting with Dr. Mendius, a neurologist who had completed an EEG test on Willem and to go over his meds. Some brief notes:
- Doctor was 20 minutes late. Pop became a bit anxious and annoyed about that, but we kept him calm. He's been doing better during the last two days, but anxiety can escalate when he focuses on a topic that bothers him, e.g. finances.
- I was not impressed by doctor's bedside manner-but understand he is a top neurologist. Just a bit overworked, I'm sure as there are only two neurologists in Marin.
I think we had less than 10 minutes with him. He didn't really talk with his, but seemed in a hurry and asked us "what the problem was". I asked him to interpret the results of testing for us..
- The EEG showed Willem's alpha waves as slower, indicating memory loss.
- He had displayed some mini-strokes in the Hippocantes region of the brain which would affect memory.
- To help recover some memory he will cut back on clonapsepam drug: that should help. And he will have Willem take Ambien (a sleeping pill)"as needed"..Doctor said Ambien has "A hypnotic effect" on the brain. Sandy and I were thinking, "So what. Willem is 85 years old why not have a good night's sleep?"..But Willem would like to reduce most all the drugs and I can't blame him to a certain degree, though I don't want to see the effects of anxiety and frustration escalate.
- My goal is to avoid letting him become too anxious: I think along with high blood pressure that the combination kicks of the seizures or the mini-strokes.
- We see the doctor in 3 weeks for re-evaluation.
2) I've been processing the Power of Attorney papers put together by attorney Steve Klamm. We've just notarized them and will be sending copies to Reinier, Mariette and financial planner, Mike Ricinak, Willem's bank, the Bank of America.
- I have taken over Willem's bill paying for now...
...We've had some long days here, but I am encouraged by Pop's progress, but will be glad to get the focus off himself and directed elsewhere...His obsessive concern with finances produces great stress for him...
For example, two days earlier he had received a letter from Holland regarding his pension. He wasn't sure of the text, but interpreted as having to pay taxes in Holland on his pension. He would not let it go and became very worked up a bout it and that I must act right away because it worried him so.
Without my knowing it he had asked our good friend Kathi and Peter DeFremery come over to send an email to Holland requesting a translation.
Meanwhile I had faxed it over to Heinjte Van Ardennen (spelling?). She said the letter said that he was to receive an small 1% increase in pension payments. Also, because he is an U.S. citizen he does NOT pay taxes on the pension in Holand, only in U.S..! All that worry for nothing! But this is not unusual...
In the meantime I'm trying to remove the stressors so he can recover his memory - and move on with his daily life.
...I must go for now.
Kees
- Doctor was 20 minutes late. Pop became a bit anxious and annoyed about that, but we kept him calm. He's been doing better during the last two days, but anxiety can escalate when he focuses on a topic that bothers him, e.g. finances.
- I was not impressed by doctor's bedside manner-but understand he is a top neurologist. Just a bit overworked, I'm sure as there are only two neurologists in Marin.
I think we had less than 10 minutes with him. He didn't really talk with his, but seemed in a hurry and asked us "what the problem was". I asked him to interpret the results of testing for us..
- The EEG showed Willem's alpha waves as slower, indicating memory loss.
- He had displayed some mini-strokes in the Hippocantes region of the brain which would affect memory.
- To help recover some memory he will cut back on clonapsepam drug: that should help. And he will have Willem take Ambien (a sleeping pill)"as needed"..Doctor said Ambien has "A hypnotic effect" on the brain. Sandy and I were thinking, "So what. Willem is 85 years old why not have a good night's sleep?"..But Willem would like to reduce most all the drugs and I can't blame him to a certain degree, though I don't want to see the effects of anxiety and frustration escalate.
- My goal is to avoid letting him become too anxious: I think along with high blood pressure that the combination kicks of the seizures or the mini-strokes.
- We see the doctor in 3 weeks for re-evaluation.
2) I've been processing the Power of Attorney papers put together by attorney Steve Klamm. We've just notarized them and will be sending copies to Reinier, Mariette and financial planner, Mike Ricinak, Willem's bank, the Bank of America.
- I have taken over Willem's bill paying for now...
...We've had some long days here, but I am encouraged by Pop's progress, but will be glad to get the focus off himself and directed elsewhere...His obsessive concern with finances produces great stress for him...
For example, two days earlier he had received a letter from Holland regarding his pension. He wasn't sure of the text, but interpreted as having to pay taxes in Holland on his pension. He would not let it go and became very worked up a bout it and that I must act right away because it worried him so.
Without my knowing it he had asked our good friend Kathi and Peter DeFremery come over to send an email to Holland requesting a translation.
Meanwhile I had faxed it over to Heinjte Van Ardennen (spelling?). She said the letter said that he was to receive an small 1% increase in pension payments. Also, because he is an U.S. citizen he does NOT pay taxes on the pension in Holand, only in U.S..! All that worry for nothing! But this is not unusual...
In the meantime I'm trying to remove the stressors so he can recover his memory - and move on with his daily life.
...I must go for now.
Kees
# posted by kees @ 11:12 PM 
