<p>Picking up on marite and nedad’s experiences with painkillers. Probably the most elucidating experience for me in this dealing with age process is that of my aunt. At 85, she was failing badly after heart surgery. In rehab, she was on several medications for pain, depression,… I don’t know what all. What I do know is that she had no appetite at all, could do virtually nothing for herself, had a heart which was weakening, we were told, every moment. I flew down to see her when she was expected to live only a matter of a few weeks and the doctor suggested coming sooner rather than later while she was “still lucid.”</p>
<p>My cousin, her wonderful daughter, decided to bring her to her home for her last days. Aunt Y deteriorated quickly, as expected: had zero energy, could barely move, seemed to know we were there to spend time with her, but that was it. My cousin’s family practitioner (no specialty in gerontology at all), suggested a medication - often used in HIV/AIDs treatment, I believe - which might help her with appetite, as she simply was not eating at all.</p>
<p>That change in medication brought about a noticeable increase in appetite and energy over a gradual (weeks? one month?) period. He changed one other medication, I believe swapping one antidepressant for another.</p>
<p>The change was beyond unbelievable. We celebrated her 86th bday with her living siblings gathered from all points, some 10 months after she was no longer expected to be with us. Today, she is 89! Living with her daughter but quite self-sufficient in almost every way. Mind as sharp as a tack. Memory great too. Gads about with her great-grandchildren. </p>
<p>Moral of the story: Question the medications! I wish it were clear who to turn to for the “last word”, but there seems to be an (unfortunate) element of luck. The MD who turned my aunt’s life around was not at all the specialty one would seek out for advice in this realm.</p>