Prince Henrik Diagnosed with Dementia: September 2017 & Further Health Issues

[Biri]

But don't patients with Alzheimer's disease have reduced immunity?

 

[French Toast]

Should there be no eligible descendant of King Christian X and Queen Alexandrine, the parliament has the right to elect a monarch and determine a new line of succession.

But today Princess Benedicte wasn't present, so the Crown would devolve to her.

With all due respect what does this have to do with HRH Prince Henrik's hospitalization?

 

[O-H Anglophile]

With all due respect what does this have to do with HRH Prince Henrik's hospitalization?

It was an answer to this:

True, they would stand out like a sore thumb. Another thing I noticed was that they all seemed noticeably hypervigilant which surprised me because I have never noticed before. However, on further thought, the entire DRF was present in one place, at one time, in a public and open area. Must have been the PET officers nightmare with unpredictable comings and goings and no way to have secured the area ahead of time.

so true! Goodness where would the Crown go?

 

[Muhler]

so true! Goodness where would the Crown go?

To Joachim's youngest son, Henrik.

French Toast. - I think we are trying to fill out time with small-chat while waiting. It's actually weird, in a sense I feel many, if not most, of us here are literally feeling with the family, in the sense that we are also waiting.
Waiting for the end or for PH to get better. It sure is a pattern I recognize from similar occasions where I have been waiting when a family member is going one way or the other.
I think it's positive that we we empathize with the family this way.
- Well, I can only speak for myself, of course, but am I completely off the mark?

I am not sure the Prince's Alzheimer or dementia (there is a difference) has worsened. The Prince suffers respiratory problems, if I understood it correctly. On itself everyone can develop respiratory problems, also healthy people.

Absolutely. I went down with severe case of pleurisy a few years back. Apart from a traffic accident I've never been so ill in my life! And I was in good health, yet it knocked me out.
It's no wonder elderly and weak die from pneumonia.

 

[French Toast]

To Joachim's youngest son, Henrik.

French Toast. - I think we are trying to fill out time with small-chat while waiting. It's actually weird, in a sense I feel many, if not most, of us here are literally feeling with the family, in the sense that we are also waiting.
Waiting for the end or for PH to get better. It sure is a pattern I recognize from similar occasions where I have been waiting when a family member is going one way or the other.
I think it's positive that we we empathize with the family this way.
- Well, I can only speak for myself, of course, but am I completely off the mark?

Not at all, Muhler.

I, like many, have experienced the loss of a loved one specifically both of my parents.

The pain, the uncertainty, the confusion etc the members of the Danish royal family are going through is something I can relate to very much. I have much empathy for them.

My prayers are with HRH Prince Henrik and his family.

 

[AdmirerUS]

From experience, people with advanced Alzheimer's or Dementia start to experience physical issues. They often hit a point where the issues seem to speed up or multiply in their onset. In the US, we call this cascading.

My father, who died with dementia, actually died from pneumonia. Immediately before that, he suffered cascading physical failure: loss of the ability to move his legs, a UTI and a blood disorder.

Even though I have a niece who had worked in elderly care and who was able to explain to us the range of issues that we could expect, I know we were all shocked at how quickly my Dad went at the end. I was quite sure he would recover and be able to come home after some physical therapy.

Instead, on the same day we updated his advance directives, within an hour, he was diagnosed with pneumonia and the nursing facility decided he needed to be sent to the hospital for greater care.

We have two local hospitals in the area, and while I went to the emergency room for the hospital of our choice, the ambulance diverted to closer care as his ability to oxygenate his blood plummeted. This all occurred over less that 15 minutes. And the ambulance did not bother to let anyone know of the change.

The upshot was that I arrived in one emergency room and he in another. I had literally "lost" my Dad but it took me over an hour and a half to confirm that. And a half hour to get over to the other care facility. Some people wander off from home when they have dementia. My Dad's ambulance did the wandering for him.

He was dead before midnight and released from his misery. We were with him at the end which was a blessing for us all.

I cannot possibly explain to anyone how utterly unpredictable the progress of this disease was for us. I am guessing that the Royal Family is experiencing the same thing.

 

[Tarlita]

You are both right. Hearing about the Princes condition brings back emotions from when I lost my darling dad. Many other members here probably experience the same thing. I do empathsize with the royal family.

 

[dgtns]

To Joachim's youngest son, Henrik.

French Toast. - I think we are trying to fill out time with small-chat while waiting. It's actually weird, in a sense I feel many, if not most, of us here are literally feeling with the family, in the sense that we are also waiting.
Waiting for the end or for PH to get better. It sure is a pattern I recognize from similar occasions where I have been waiting when a family member is going one way or the other.
I think it's positive that we we empathize with the family this way.
- Well, I can only speak for myself, of course, but am I completely off the mark?

I’ve been coming back and checking all day. A bit of work puttering, online check. Repeat about 10times today

 

[kathia_sophia]

Once the brain starts not to function the same way as before, a person's health starts deteriorating really fast. From many people who had Alzheimer's or Dementia, most died from other health problems, though these health problems are associated with the disease because the brain is weak and doesn't function correctly anymore. We can compare (just a reference of example) with AIDS, people don't exactly die from AIDS, but die from health problems associated with AIDS. The "main" disease is the trigger of health problems that come after.
I don't know if I explained well because english is not my mother tongue.

 

[alicia]

Crown Princess Mary lost her mother to heart problems. She'll be well aware of the feelings that the family are experiencing. I am sure she'll be a comforting support to her husband and children, and to the Queen.

 

[suztav]

Many elderly people die from pneumonia or sepsis (blood infection) not of the underlying condition (dementia, heart diseas, etc .,.). I have a feeling this is the situation with Henrik. I experienced it with both parents —- my heart goes out to the royal family

 

[LadyGlendower]

Sepsis took my wonderful mother in law that suffered in the last stages of AD. It was a a quiet end and she was treated quite well under hospice care that saw to her palliative needs. All of the family had left except for my husband and myself and we fell asleep in her room around midnight. I woke up at 1am sensing something had changed, woke my husband and we found that she had finally passed during that hour that we slept.

I want to thank everyone here for sharing their stories today. The commonalities are fascinating. God bless this royal family and the nation that loves them.

 

[Goldberry]

God bless them and comfort them and wrap them in His Peace.

 

[sesa]

A nurse friend told me it is very common for people to die alone no matter how long family have kept vigil by their bedside. She says it's because the final journey must be made alone with only the angels for company.

That is one of the nicest things I’ve ever heard!

 

[Countessmeout]

Are either Benedikte or Anne-Marie there for their sister? Benedikte having been widowed only last year and Anne-Marie's husband's health not good, both sisters likely know how she is feeling.

 

[Lady Nimue]

Are either Benedikte or Anne-Marie there for their sister? Benedikte having been widowed only last year and Anne-Marie's husband's health not good, both sisters likely know how she is feeling.

I suspect there is a lot of mixed feelings. The Queen already 'lost' her husband in a sense with the onset of dementia. She has had to let go already. Grieve for a loss already. There can be a relief when one sees the loved one pass over, their suffering here is over, and if one has the sensibility, one does sense the radiant birth of the individual elsewhere. So life does go on, and all is well.

 

[XeniaCasaraghi]

Is dementia passed through the family? Is Price Frederik likely to develop it?

 

[camelot23ca]

I don’t think Henrik’s dementia is so advanced that he’d have been “lost” to the family, especially considering he was just well enough to travel on holiday to Egypt. If he is coming to the end of his life now the family is lucky, if one can use that word in a situation like this, that he’ll have gone quickly, before the dementia got to the point where there was really nothing left of the man they knew.

IMO the worst case scenario with someone who has dementia is when the mind has been gone for a long time but the person physically lingers. My grandfather lived for over ten years after he was diagnosed and, if he had been able to make a choice, I know he would have wanted to go quickly soon after his diagnosis.

I hope that Henrik is comfortable and content to be surrounded by family and friends at this time.

 

[WreathOfLaurels]

Is dementia passed through the family? Is Price Frederik likely to develop it?

Depends on the specific type of dementia it is and a whole lot of other factors like lifestyle and some other linked medical conditions (eg drugs and knocks to the head) in other words who knows? There really isn’t enough info about Fred’s medical history to make that call or for that matter the chances of his brother developing it either; and there does not seem to be much of a history of dementia on Daisy’s side of the family...

 

[Duc_et_Pair]

The Prince's dementia is just recently diagnozed. Just at New Year's Eve the Queen and Prince were in high spirits at a masquered theme party and our fellow poster Mühler told the Prince also played bridge (which really is a game in which your brains are used). It is not usual that a diagnose of dementia leads to such a serious decline in condition in one year. We must not forget that the Prince, once a slender and athletic James Bond look-a-like has always lived his burgundian lifestyle in maximum gear. He simply was not in the best of health anymore, already not for the last two decades.

 

[dee4855]

I lost my husband of almost 42 years on 1/20/18 after he was admitted to the hospital on Christmas day with pneumonia. He contacted a staph infection while he was in. It was a rough time for him with his respiratory problems. The staph infection only exacerbated all the respiratory problems he kept having. He also suffered from dementia and was very hard to deal with at times. We have no family at all so I did not have to deal with helping a small child to understand where their beloved grandpapa has gone. My heart goes out to the DRF. I pray he will go peacefully and quickly if it is his time to leave this earth.

 

[Countessmeout]

I suspect there is a lot of mixed feelings. The Queen already 'lost' her husband in a sense with the onset of dementia. She has had to let go already. Grieve for a loss already. There can be a relief when one sees the loved one pass over, their suffering here is over, and if one has the sensibility, one does sense the radiant birth of the individual elsewhere. So life does go on, and all is well.

Henrik was at New Years and on vacation in Egypt when this happened. His dementia certainly wasn't very advanced. Its a bit cold hearted to think the queen said 'oh you are sick, you are dead to me' and started grieving already. Its not a matter of not being sensible, its a matter of having to learn with the changing relationship with your partner of decades, while he slowly slips away from you. It certainly hasn't been years since he was ill, and she hasn't had time 'to make peace'.

Is dementia passed through the family? Is Price Frederik likely to develop it?

Dementia has different causes. Certain types, like that caused by Huntington's, is inherited. When it comes to alzheimers, only usually early on set form is inherited, but that is a rare form. If you have alzeimers in the family, you do have a slightly elevated risk for it.

Even if there isn't a long history, sadly it starts some where. My Nana died from early on set dementia. My Uncle, my dad's oldest brother, is now suffering from it. My father and his brothers all thought they avoided the family curse (until them every man on their father's side had a massive heart attack before 61, even in the extended family. My grandfather and his 2 brothers who reached adulthood all did. My grandfather and his eldest brother died of it. His younger brother is alive and healthy, works at 85, but did survive 2 massive heart attacks. Went to a family reunion in North Dakota, met the living descendents of my great-great grandparents. There was only 1 living man over 70 there, my dad's uncle wasn't there). Unfortunately my Uncle had a massive one at 68, and while he survived, dementia set in soon after. And while my father has escaped both, he was diagnosed 2 years ago with multiple myeloma. My youngest Uncle (dad is middle) faces losing both his older brothers likely in the next 2-3 years. My sister and I know while my dad has not suffered dementia, it is now known in our tree.

 

[Lady Nimue]

Henrik was at New Years and on vacation in Egypt when this happened. His dementia certainly wasn't very advanced. Its a bit cold hearted to think the queen said 'oh you are sick, you are dead to me' and started grieving already. Its not a matter of not being sensible, its a matter of having to learn with the changing relationship with your partner of decades, while he slowly slips away from you. It certainly hasn't been years since he was ill, and she hasn't had time 'to make peace'.

Countessmeout, we have been through this before. I would ask you to keep your responses general, to everyone, rather than focus on my posts. You have a tendency to 'read into' my posts far more than is there. I have no interest (least of all the time) to engage you in a back-and-forth to 'correct' your interpretations of what I have said. Unfortunately, you come across as pontificating the 'correct' pov. You present yourself as having the higher ground, the clearer insight. It's unpleasant.

My post is totally in keeping with the tenor of the posts on the thread. We know he has become difficult in recent years, and that is a form of 'loss' for the spouse. Plus he no longer does public events, he has 'retired', so another 'loss' for her, and living separate, another loss. So yes she has been grieving losses as we know when she broke down in her speech a year or so ago when she spoke about her marriage. My points are valid. She has been saying goodbye for a while now. No need to hector. Just saying. It's tiresome.

 

[Lady Nimue]

Is dementia passed through the family? Is Prince Frederik likely to develop it?

They believe it may have a genetic component. DNA research is pointing in this direction. However, they also see the possibility of preventing the disease, or slowing it down, through life choices, though it's still research in progress. There is some remarkable work being done with stem cells for a whole slew of conditions, and I think this area is included.

BTW my understanding is that there is a natural decline in cognitive function as one ages. About 10% to 20% is 'normal, so one forgets this or that, a word, etc.. How one manifests depends on where one's starting point was to begin with. So someone who was pretty much on the ball would still have the 20% decline but would still function at a relatively high level and be fine. Dementia is another wrinkle, as is Alzheimer's, to the whole gestalt of aging.

The above is just my opinion. I am sure there are many here who have a far greater grasp of the details. As always, the caveat applies: JMO.

 

[Elektra]

Prince Henrik's sister Catherine de Monpezat is now in Denmark and has visited her brother at the Rigshopitalet.

https://ekstrabladet.dk/flash/konge...har-lillesoester-besoegt-prins-henrik/7034675

 

[Mbruno]

Prince H.enrik's sister Catherine de Monpezat is now in Denmark and has visited her brother at the Rigshopitalet.

https://ekstrabladet.dk/flash/konge...har-lillesoester-besoegt-prins-henrik/7034675

I wonder if, as a nun, Catherine of Monpezat doesn't regret that Henrik, having converted to Lutheranism, could not receive the sacraments from a Catholic priest at this particular crucial moment of his life.

I don't know if Henrik/Henri is particularly religious and that may seem irrelevant to most people, but I know for a fact that it matters a lot to certain Catholic (or ultra-Catholic) families.

 

[Hans-Rickard]

Frederik, Mary and the children is at the hospital now
(source bt.dk)

 

[carina_a]

https://www.bt.dk/royale/lige-nu-kronprinsparret-besoeger-nu-igen-prins-henrik

BT reports that the Crown Prince Couple are again visiting Henrik in the hospital right now.

Apparently all four children came along as well

 

[wyevale]

trying to fill out time with small-chat while waiting

ABSOLUTELY 'spot on', these seemingly inane trivialities, 'gallows humour' and the like, DO ease the tension of waiting, and help make more comfortable a situation in which everyone is uncertain as to how to behave or best proceed.
When My Partner died, I had some close friends with me, when a 'care worker' [who had visited him a few days prior to his death] came to the door asking how he was..
When I told her the poor kind soul was SO embarrassed 'at the intrusion', but we laughed long and hard [she couldn't POSSIBLY have known], and as we all said 'Life doesn't stop being funny, just because things are 'serious' !

Laughter is a 'tonic' for us all 'in good times AND bad'...

 

[Muhler]

I wonder if, as a nun, Catherine of Monpezat doesn't regret that Henrik, having converted to Lutheranism, could not receive the sacraments from a Catholic priest at this particular crucial moment of his life.

I don't know if Henrik/Henri is particularly religious and that may seem irrelevant to most people, but I know for a fact that it matters a lot to certain Catholic (or ultra-Catholic) families.

He is reportedly leaning towards a kind of Buddhism. Certainly much more than Christianity. I don't think he has ever been particularly religious.

I imagine that she, as a nun, hope for PH to find the Christian (preferably Catholic I guess) God towards the end.
I also imagine QMII, being a Lutheran, will think this is a matter between PH and God and that they will sort it out between themselves.

-----------------

TV2 video of M&F and children arriving:
http://nyheder.tv2.dk/2018-02-11-kronprinsparret-besoeger-igen-alvorligt-syg-prins-henrik

And yes, the PET officers are unusually vigilant.
No wonder, there must be lot of press and perhaps others as well nearby and anyone wishing to harm them might be tempted to simply wait for the members of the DRF to show up, which they inevitably will.
So no wonder they are on their toes.