Help For Elderly Friend

[emmie]

he is over 80 and is having trouble going 5 yards without stopping for breath, has been given an inhaler which doesn't seem to be doing much, he has been informed there is some residual damage to lungs due to smoking, he quit over 30 years ago. Not to mention severe pain in legs on walking, so hasn't been out the house for some while, doctors are some distance away
he did go a few days ago, but doesn't seem to have been helped, told it was his age, any advice as to what he could do next. I know what i would do, but i am not him...

[Sqad]

Aged 80...short of breath,pain in legs (intermittent claudication) due to smoking............the best advert for not smoking or at least giving it up.

What should he do next?..........difficult one. He needs a drug to turn back the clock 50 years.......to change his lifestyle........there isn't a drug and it is too late for a lifetime change.

He either accepts his gross disablilty or asks to be referred to a consultant Chest Physician for assessment.

Don't expect miracles here.

[emmie]

he had a chest x ray which didn't show up more than as explained. Is this really serious, i would like to advise, help him in some way. Add in deep depression, anger, as he has always been pretty fit...

[emmie]

what is claudication..

[emmie]

he has had cancer of the bladder as well...

[sandyRoe]

a limp named after the Roman Emperor Claudius

[EDDIE51]

not much medical help but he should be getting high rate DLA with both the mobility and the care component, plus someone can get carers allowance for looking after him. Severe disability payment almost certainly due as well. If he is not getting these then get advise from the CAB and put in a claim. They are worth well over £150 a week, and not income related

[Sqad]

Intermittent Claudication is pain in the legs, mainly the back of the legs on walking mainly due to blockage of the main arteries as the result of smoking.

I have given you the two options.

[Sqad]

sandy......never knew that...........

[sandyRoe]

Or maybe Claudius got his name from, 'claudicare' Latin for limp.
I shouldn't venture into areas when I know next to nowt.

[Sqad]

sandy....you are just showing off your classical education, probably Eton at a guess, against mine Gladstone Street Juniors Peterborough....;-)

[keithlbw]

EDDIE51 . He will not be able to claim DLA (PIP) as he is over 65 .

[sandyRoe]

St Josephs Primary School, St Patricks Secondary, and I missed 3rd level education, Borstal, by the skin of my teeth.

[emmie]

he gets attendance allowance.. but for reasons seems reluctant to ask for any help. so the pains in legs could be very serious...

[Mosaic]

Em, it might be that Age UK in your area are able to visit and assess the gentleman's needs, then advise what to do next.
You are a very kind person to be helping him, I hope someone's prepared to bother about me when I get to this stage.

[Sqad]

Depends what you mean by serious.
Will they kill him?...probably not.
Can they be treated?....probably but that would mean a bypass procedure.
Should they be treated? probably not, as that would enable him to walk further, but that would be fairly useless as he gets short of breath.

Can one improve his shortness of breath?...probably, but that wouldn't be much good to a guy who gets pain in his leg when he walks.

Are you getting the picture?

A right mess.

[emmie]

previously fit as a fiddle, this latest stuff has apparently occurred within the last 6 to 12 months, keeps being told it's age related, and pretty depressed about that remark

[emmie]

so best advice see doctor for a referral to see chest specialist, ok will do that, i am not sure he will, bit of a stubborn old cove, but will give it my best shot.
Thank you for the advice.

[DJHawkes]

so it's a fairly reason onset of a chest issue? Do smokers suddenly age at some stage?

[whiskeryron]

Needs Femoral Arteries clearing ( not a major operation these days but bothered about breathing difficulty) meanwhile motability scooter for him to get out & about.

WR.

[emmie]

the breathlessness has occurred in the last six or so months.