Surgery eliminated her cardiac symptoms, but the elderly patient continued to bring a list of complaints to every visit. Mrs. W, 84 years old, was referred for ongoing care after successful cardiac bypass. Her history was significant for CAD, hypertension, diverticulosis with a GI bleed one year earlier, osteoporosis, osteoarthritis, irritable bowel syndrome, and gastroesophageal…
The elderly woman saw people who would not respond to her, but she had no dementia or psychiatric conditions. Mrs. T was an 87-year-old widow whose sons were worried that she might be suffering from hallucinations. Concerned, too, about their mother’s gradually increasing frailty, they had recently moved her to an apartment building for senior…
The patient’s cardiopulmonary symptoms had improved, but now her GI tract was misbehaving. At age 78, Mrs. W had a history of atrial fibrillation, painful peripheral neuropathy, osteoarthritis, chronic steroid use, CAD, and iron deficiency anemia due to clopidogrel (Plavix). Recently, palpitations and shortness of breath had led to a stay in the hospital. Evaluation…
