Advise Of A Dutch/Western Physician Wanted, Old Mum Her Condition Getting Worse (Chiang Mai Area)

[bangkokcitylimits]

Living here with 80 y.o. mum, she's getting older (and 2 tia's in the past back home) since 3 months she can't walk anymore. Not sure if going back home is a very good idea, seen her fragile condition. Back home in an elderly nursing home they won't have much 'personal' time for her, it all may be very confusing for her, too old to adapt to strange situation, 'never move an old tree' etc. She has a 24/7 caretaker from Burma, and an extra one in the morning, but we all know the avarage level here. But at least she has her freedom to live the way she like, getting full time care etc and stay with her son and dogs.

I would like to have a western (prefer Dutch) physician e.g. someone who is retired and living here, have a look at her and tell me what I may expect for the future, how much worse eventually she can get ? From what point things eventually could become very serious and not being handled anymore by a non-professional ? A serious complication is that due to a stupid mistakes by our Dutch insurance company we both lost our health insurance, and mum can't get a new one seen her age. Beside this the low euro/rising bath that becomes a serious one too, like for many. So a professional view on mum her mental/physical condition is needed, and may help me decide to stay here or, for better or for worse, go back 'home'.

Thanks.

[Sheryl]

I don't know of any western MDs living in the CM area (which is not to say there aren't any). However even if there were one:

(1) Just "looking" at her isn't going to be much use and

(2) There is a considerable limit to the extent to which anyone can predict the future for a person of that age.

You say she cannot walk, can you elaborate on that? Is it due to a stroke (one sided weakness/paralysis), or to arthritis or what?

Also what sort of work-up was done after her TIAs and what treatment given? Carotid doppler done to assess any blockage in the artery etc??

Any other known health issues? Diabetic? Hypertensive? Last complete physical?

And what is her mental status, is she fully alert?

These things all make a difference in terms of immediate risks she may face.

Regardless though you can be sure that she will only get older and frailer, even if she does not in the very near future face a major health crisis.

From what you describe she has a much better quality of life here than she would back 'home'. She is in her final years of life under any scenario and which is more important, ensuring the quality of each day or ensuring a maximum number of days regardless of quality? I think most people would say the latter.

Assuming your Mom is alert, you need to have a good heart to heart talk with her on this issue as well as around how happy she is/isn't living here, and what she would want done if she should, for example, have a major stroke or heart attack. Would she wan t to be placed on an artificial breathing machine (ventilator) and her life prolonged at all costs? Or would she prefer a more conservative approach?

[Sophon]

and which is more important, ensuring the quality of each day or ensuring a maximum number of days regardless of quality? I think most people would say the latter.

I think you probably meant to say the "former" rather than "latter".

Sophon

[bangkokcitylimits]

I don't know of any western MDs living in the CM area (which is not to say there aren't any). However even if there were one:

etc. etc.

Thanks, I will come back to this via pm.

[Sheryl]

and which is more important, ensuring the quality of each day or ensuring a maximum number of days regardless of quality? I think most people would say the latter.

I think you probably meant to say the "former" rather than "latter".

Sophon

you're right!