Hi! My mom was 95, and recently passed away. A few weeks before she went from her nursing home to ER because of a GI bleed, her Gastrointestinal Dr examined her and said she had an impaction and wanted her to go for GI tests. When we went to set up test appt. nursing home she was in had residents getting covid. Rules were not letting my mom leave so her test was sadly postponed. I’ve read where some symptoms of abdominal problems can appear as weight loss, loss of appetite and swallowing problems. How do I know if the swallowing problem was from natural progression of dementia or if it was the impaction?
What was the autopsy report? What did they find, or did you choose, due to her old age and expected imminent death from something or another in the near future, not to do an autopsy? You will by now/soon have a death certificate. What does it list as cause of death?
And in all truth, might I ask why the answer to this is important? I doubt that if a low impaction were found and Mom disimpacted that it would have mattered to final outcome for her. And if a high impaction, surgery at this age for this condition very dicey indeed.
Sometimes we feel that having all the answers will make a difference, but I think especially in this case it will not.
Swallow problems, as you will know, are VERY common in dementia, and a serious problem.
If we live long enough something will eventually get us. That doesn't make your grief less, but it should provide at least some comfort that your Mom lived a long and full life, that she was now suffering loss upon loss upon loss and there was honestly little quality of life left to her. She was lucky to have you, your love and concern. I am so very sorry for this loss. I hope the day will come soon when you can celebrate her long life and her gifts to you, and joy will enter your heart before, or along with the grief.
Best to you.