Chapter Ten

"…better than I feared…”

Neurologist's Report, June 10, 2002

From the records of Janet Saunders, MD:

S: Mr. Swift has actually improved remarkably since he was in the hospital in early May. He had a delirium after he had surgery for his inguinal hernia. He did clear to some extent in the hospital but was still having some problems with visual hallucinations and confusion prior to discharge. However, he had cleared enough that his wife wanted to take him home rather than placing him in an assisted living facility. Fortunately this has gone much better than I feared it might. He is actually doing extremely well. The only problem is that he did drive into Anchorage one time. His wife did not even realize that he had left until he called her from Anchorage to ask her what it was that she had wanted to get in Anchorage.

O: The patient is neatly and appropriately dressed and groomed. He is friendly and cooperative, and I think behavior is quite appropriate. His speech is less productive than it has been in the past but it is goal directed and coherent. Today there is no evidence of delusions, hallucinations, or illusions. ...... He does still have problems with his short- and long-term memory.

P: The patient had some problems with his Zyprexa and clonazepam after discharge, but his wife feels that the blisters he had were not related to the medications. We will therefore put him back on his clonazepam and Exelon has been increased ..."

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