My grandmother is 76 years old. She had blockage in one of her main arteries it caused a piece of plaque to break off and block it. It has damaged about 25% of her brain. I don't think she will be able to recover on her own. They're saying she's to old for anethesia and she isn't getting any better. I know there are miracle drugs and almost anythings possible. I just need to know if there is any possible way to help my grandmother.

**** several things edited out for your protection

I sent you an email. Hope it helps some. :)

My family went through a very similar situation. I don't understand the "too old for anesthesia" decision. People in their 90's have surgery every day.

The Doctors have had no suggestions concerning drugs and/or treatment?

(Not a good idea to post your email address - )

Often people are in too frail health to have surgery, I know my dad got to that point, and also at times doctors view things as to their risk factor. If a procedure has a 90 percent risk of killing someone they most likely would not recommend it for example. Also once the brain has lost O2 and/or blood flow restricted for an amount of time, and the brain is actually damaged, there is often little that can be done except the retraining of some basic skills, often it will depend on what parts of the brain was damaged and exactly how the damage is done.

I do not want to sound negative, but not all things can be cured, and not all things have a miricle cure or some magic forumla. The truth is, we grow old, we get serious health issues and at times out bodies just wear out. This can happen at 60 or at 110, each of us has our days numbered and it is often the quality of each day we live more than the number of days we live.

I know you love her as well you should. And you want her to be like she used to be. Just please be careful and remember not everyone in life you meet will be honest with you, and many will see a chance to take advantange of someone with some miricle that is not really what they claim. Do please get two or three other doctors opinion, never trust just one doctor on any call. There are hospitals and clinics that specialise in variouis things, see about the very best care. But in the end, we all can only do so much

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Originally Posted by Fr_Chuck

Often people are in too frail health to have surgery, I know my dad got to that point, and also at times doctors view things as to their risk factor. If a procedure has a 90 percent risk of killing someone they most likely would not recommend it for example. Also once the brain has lost O2 and/or blood flow restricted for an amount of time, and the brain is actually damaged, there is often little that can be done except the retraining of some basic skills, often it will depend on what parts of the brain was damaged and exactly how the damage is done.

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I was asking about the "too old" for anesthesia comment. Certainly if there are other health issues anesthesia/surgery are not recommended.

And I also agree - sometimes nothing can be done, sometimes it's more about the quality of life than the number of years, sometimes the "cure" is worse than the disease and does nothing but prolong the suffering.

Unfortunately I have half a lifetime of experience on this subject. Sometimes life isn't fair.

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Originally Posted by JudyKayTee

I was asking about the "too old" for anesthesia comment. Certainly if there are other health issues anesthesia/surgery are not recommended.

And I also agree - sometimes nothing can be done, sometimes it's more about the quality of life than the number of years, sometimes the "cure" is worse than the disease and does nothing but prolong the suffering.

Unfortunately I have half a lifetime of experience on this subject. Sometimes life isn't fair.

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To old for anesthesia... if she goes under she might never wake up. She had a stroke.

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Originally Posted by korine

To old for anesthesia.... if she goes under she might never wake up. She had a stroke.

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I don't know why they phrased it that way - it's not her age, it's her general health.

I'm sorry.