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Yet another Diagnosis (maybe)

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dannie17173
dannie17173

Firstly apologies because I feel this is going to be a long read but apart from anything else I feel such a need to put all this down in writing.

My partner of 28 years who is now 81 started feeling dizzy a lot and very very tired last Springtime. He was always very active especially in the Garden but because how he was feeling spent most of the Spring and Summer laying on the garden bench.

There were numerous visits to the Dr's being continually told to remember his age and to slow down even though it was explained he was falling asleep a lot during the day.

One Dr sent him for blood tests which showed lacking Folate but wasn't Anaemic. He had a course of B12 shots to increase the Folate they said and after the course was different again. Back to his normal self but after about 3 weeks (if that) the fatique and dizziness zoomed in again. I spoke with one of the Dr's asking about the shots but was told his blood tests were okay now so no more shots needed.

In November he appeared to have some kind of "turn". Speech a bit slurred and not making complete sense, I called the Ambulance and they felt he had a TIA. This episode resolved itself

If ever he's in Hospital he becomes so disorientated to the extreme and always has but when he 's discharged home  that confusion leaves him.

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  • dannie17173
    dannie17173

    Posted

    Sorry i'm making a mess up here. I sent the post through too quickly.

    Based on the confusion they said he could have Dementia with Alzeimers combined even though I explained how Hospitals affected him. Anyway CPN's called and then a Dr saying he appeared perfectly alright (mentally) but the dizziness and fatique continued

    In January he had another episode then again in February.

    He was put on anti platelet Clopodogril with Aspirin to try prevent anymore.

    I'll try to sum this up now or I think I might be typing until tomorrow

    He is still feeling completely tired out. Not quite so dizzy though. He does make himself go for little walks hopefully to help with circulation but is completely wacked even though he dosen't go far.

    Now the latest is after we have kept on and on about how he is feeling he's being referred to a Specialist as one Dr "thinks" he could have Parkinsons.Some tablets are being ordered in for him but if there for Parkinsons I won't be giving them to him until  a very firm Diagnosis is made.

    My head is all over the place as this has been going on for nearly a year now and different reasons given from different people as to why he feels this way. I'm not even sure based on past experience that I would "believe" any diagnosis given after his apoinment . I feel because he's 81 he's been left to it .that if he was lets say in his fiftees we would have "perhaps" known a long time ago what's going on with him.

    He is "now" a little confused "at times" since the mini strokes and still very very fatiqued

    I have a mixture of feelings about all this. Worry of course, tire myself out with thoughts rattling around (also reading up on his symtoms on the web) and annoyed .I've no faith now in a Diagnosis if we ever get one.

    Thanks for reading.

  • Tezes
    Tezes dannie17173

    Posted

    It's good he is being referred to a specialist, they will physically examine him, watch him walk etc if parkinsons is suspected ask them to do a DAT scan to make sure. Just a thought but has he had his urine checked for infection during these confused episodes as urine infection in older age cause confusion which would be worse in a strange environment than at home,

    kind regards

    • dannie17173
      dannie17173 Tezes

      Posted

      That's one thing they have been hot on Tezes,testing his urine so it won't be that. Thanks for the info asking for a DAT scan which I will do. I'm also going to ask about his B12,

      The Tablets are through but I'm not giving them to him. It dosen't make sense to me to give him those drugs before an accurate diagnosis and to be honest if the Specialist did say it was Parkinsons I hate the thought of them as I've read there's so many horrible side effects but of course I will if their needed.

      I go by gut feeling very strongly and I just feel he hasn't got that but of course I could be wrong

      Thanks for your reply.

  • tiswas24537
    tiswas24537 dannie17173

    Posted

    this is a very strange one . have you thought of taking a sublingual form of b12 most people will lack in it as they get  older .remember doctors will tell you that all is fine if it comes back as border line. he might just need a small amount each day .

    other things you can look into are q10 that is very important for  energy its in our bodies natrualy and is needed by every celll in the body , it depleates after the age of 30 ,hence we start to slow down . slowly .theres lots of info on line about these two worth a read .neither will kill you iv taken them on and of for years and i am only 55 , and if you try one at the time you can see which if either is helping .

    and dont believe the doctor on the age thing total rubbish ,my neighbour is over 90 and still gets out every day to do jobs in the garden and even fixing his sheds roof , a neighbour of my brothers fell out of a tree whilst cutting a branch he was 79 . you may slow down . as you get older but it dosent nesssary mean its your age its proberly something not right in th body . 

    • dannie17173
      dannie17173 tiswas24537

      Posted

      Tiswas? Your first sentence about it being a strange one? That's exactly how I feel about all this as it's been going on coming up to a year.

      The strange thing is I had purchased the B12 with Folic Acid and D vitamin Patches just last week but when the Dr announced he was referring him to a Specialist I felt I maybe should leave them for now or they might interfere with Blood Tests and no I don't accept from then that it's his age and the last time he had a TIA the Paramedic asked what the Dr's input was with this. When i told him they said it was his age he said very similar to you,that his nan was in her ninetees but certainly wasn;t feeling ill.By the way I 've read about the Q10 and I see what you're saying. Thanks for that,

      Tonight he was snoozing in the chair then suddenly said I'm going to faint which he's said twice before. I told him to gently exercise his legs as I read that while googling and it went off very quickly so i'm guessing it got his circulation going.

      Igo cross eyed early morning because I creep into the other room and continually google and read non stop about his symptoms.

      He has changed personality because he was very calm and laid back but he's nervy if I even go down the Garden while he's napping. If he wakes up he comes straight to me looking worried saying he wondered where I was.

      I know there's loads of different types of Dementia but we had my Mum living with us for just under five years with Cardio Vascular Dementia and though she was in turmoil a lot as it progressed she didn't feel physically ill with it,

      The problem is that because there's been conflicting views about what's going on with him I honestly don't know if I will even take on board what the Specialist says. I hope I can though.

      Thanks for your reply.

    • tiswas24537
      tiswas24537 dannie17173

      Posted

      when you have seen the specialist and got the infomation see if you can find a registered homeopath and go along and see what they think they can help in more gentle and non invasive ways might be worth ago .
    • dannie17173
      dannie17173 tiswas24537

      Posted

      That I will certainly do tiswas. I live in a small Village but there are a few registered not far away. There's only three Dr's in the local practice but one I think would talk with me about natural remedies and whether they would be okay to mix with the meds he's on at the moment. I really don't relish the thought of giving him Parkinson drugs "if" it is diagnosed as that. I don't suppose everyone has the side effects iv'e read about but they sound quite gruesome.

      Thanks for that idea and I will definitely follow that up.

      Happy Easter and to everyone.

    • tiswas24537
      tiswas24537 dannie17173

      Posted

      if you see a homeopath they will reccomend homeopathic treatmeants these work along side meds with out interference 

      as most medical opion say this kind of medincine is a lot of hooey i dont think you will get a lot of support from any gp .

      iv used these remedies for my health and iv had good results better when reccomended by a practitioner . its a bit of hit and miss when you self diognose.

      remember the royal family esp charles are big fans of this medincine .

      i look up the homeopathic hospitals fro you .and get back 

    • tiswas24537
      tiswas24537 dannie17173

      Posted

      bristol homeopathic hospital 

      hengrove promende

      bristol

      0117 342 9832 

      the royal london for integrated medincine

      Glasgow homeopathic hospital 

       

    • dannie17173
      dannie17173 tiswas24537

      Posted

      Thanks for the help Tiswas. I appreciate it.He's been taken out for a little car ride for a change. He will be really tired when he gets back but will sleep . I wasn't thinking clearly thinking of discussing Natural Meds with the Dr because of course you are right they wouldn't entertain the idea

      I 've been reading a lot regarding diet as well which some foods are said to help with Dopamine if it is PD so if it is I will definetely look deeply into changes there.

      The Tablets are in at the Surgery as they had to be ordered but they can stay there until we get an accurate Diagnosis. No way am I going to give him PD drugs not knowing that is the problem.

      I really wish so much he could have the Appointment I asked for (several times) at this really great Hospital to look into circulatory problems.

      I am in angry mode today thinking they don't really care but I can';t make them refer him for an Appointment

      A few years ago he had an artery cleared there as he was feeling very dizzy bending and this rolls around in my head too butI've asked so many times I honestly think their fed up with me going on.

      Hope you're having a good Bank Holiday.

    • tiswas24537
      tiswas24537 dannie17173

      Posted

      hope you get something sorted soon  

      it does sound rather urgent .

      please let me known how you get on 

      its so wrong that we have to fight for what should be our right 

    • dannie17173
      dannie17173 tiswas24537

      Posted

      I hope so too tiswas. I will definetly post the outcome and yes it is wrong to have to keep on at Dr's. Iv'e been reading through some of the Forum and that helps a lot as I see there are a lot of people just not knowing what is wrong and feeling terrible with awful symptoms. Thanks again.
    • tiswas24537
      tiswas24537

      Posted

      these are nhs homeopathic hospitals  

       

    • dannie17173
      dannie17173 tiswas24537

      Posted

      Even though i'm googling crazy tiswas i had no idea there was. Thanks for that i will get in touch with one.

      Two CPN's called and I said how frustrated i found it that he couldn't have an appointment at the Hospital  that i keep on about (sorry about the repeating) to which one said to me they must feel it's not necessary but i asked then why has he been put on meds to help with circulation and heart. I did get slightly uptight with them saying "if" he did have PD why would other issues not be adressed.

      I've read and read about PD and he dosen't have symptoms relating to that unless its early days but as he so severely fatiqued and it;s been going on for coming up to a year i did tell them i felt it was all very lapse.

      Still haven't given him the new meds and i'm not going to until there's a "proper " diagnosis but i see by reading messages on the Forum i'm certainly not the only one feeling very frustrated .

      I'll just wait now for this Appointment he has and see what this one has to say but i'm afraid i'm now not feeling very trusting as we keep being told different things from different "professionals"

      Thanks for the info tiswas, I appreciate it.

    • tiswas24537
      tiswas24537 dannie17173

      Posted

      i know hun they drive you crazy remember when you had a conversation with your doctor and he listened 

      i remember when i used to go as akid and a young adult the first thing he would do was pull your eyelids down ask to look at your tongue feel my glands and ask about my motions and that was all before i said what was wrong .

    • dannie17173
      dannie17173 tiswas24537

      Posted

      It's 4.14am and i sit here laughing my head off.The way you put that last paragraph is funny but very true, I remember too the first thing they said was to stick yout tongue out.

      Thanks for the laugh tiswas. A good tonicsmile

    • tiswas24537
      tiswas24537 dannie17173

      Posted

      thats ok hun we all need a laugh .

      just a thought hun is he drinking enough i know if you dont drink enough it an cause forgetfullness and tiredness .i am not saying thats the only problem hun just might not be helping .

      esp when you said he was worse in hospital probely never had enough to drink when he was in there ,i read a case last year of a young lad with a rare form of dibites that died of lack of hydration

      . in hospital he even rang the police .the nursing staff said they would sort it but they never did and he died . blooming disgusting in 2013 .

    • dannie17173
      dannie17173 tiswas24537

      Posted

      That is something i'm quite a pain with him about tiswas like i was with my Dad and Mum. I make up filtered water with Blackcurrant and Apple cordial for flavor so he does get plenty to drink. I read i think it was about nearly 50% of the elderly in some Homes are dehydrated and nearly that amount are lacking B12. Who knows perhaps some needn't be there if the figures are accurate.

      What makes me grin a bit is if I nip off for a few minutes to do a job when i appear back i always look in the sink to see if it'schanged colour. Sometimes it's changed colour like a light purple so I know that he's tipped it away so i just say " oh good you've finished that one " and refill it. If i said " hey you tipping the drink away" he would no doubt tip excess away somewhere else and i wouldn't be able to keep track so i'll keep playing the game with him.

      So that is truly disgustin as you said if that lad died through lack of fluid plus of course being dehydrated he would have felt terrible and being Diabetic I imagine he would have been craving for a drink.

      It's just starting to break a little light and the Birds are singing their dawn chorus.That is a lovely sound. They've got more to say than i have. Seriously I love listening to this and the collar doves cooing to each other,

      It's quite noisy but a lovely noise.

    • tiswas24537
      tiswas24537 dannie17173

      Posted

      yes i am often up when the birds are singing and i have two collored doves that visit me .

      also you might be interested in signing up to a on line health magazine 

      called wddty,com  what doctors dont tell you have a good day 

    • dannie17173
      dannie17173 tiswas24537

      Posted

      Their lovely arrn't they Tiswas and I find their cooing very relaxing. I'm up later today. I've got some great news. The Dr has now referred him to the Hospital I kept asking for. I can't see any harm saying where. It's Papworth. I'm so relieved he's going there and I know they mighht not be able to correct something going on but this I could (have to) accept because I feel if they can help at all they will. He said he wouldn't have to wait long. I'm so pleased  he's going theresmile
    • tiswas24537
      tiswas24537 dannie17173

      Posted

      great news dannie .please keep me up dated hope all turns out well .

      all any of us want is to lve out our lives to the full with as little bad health as possiable . 

    • tiswas24537
      tiswas24537 dannie17173

      Posted

      i started watching  my box set of dr finlay last night 

      god things dont change much when it comes to the care and treatment between rich and poor .

      but the care and concern for there patcients puts most of our doctors today in the shade

      .i know people will say its only a tv programe but based on fact ,doctors may have been a bit rough around the edges a bit gruff sometimes but they knew what was what and they knew their patceints .and there familes and worked generly well with what they had .

    • dannie17173
      dannie17173 tiswas24537

      Posted

      tiswas. That's made me think back to Dr's some years ago. They never appeared to rush to get the presciiption pad out., They sat back in the chair and listened. You;'re so right things have changed a hell of a lot and quite often not for the better but you might find this hard to believe what i'm going to say now

      I noticed a bluish smearing on my legs some years ago and thought what the hell is wrong with my legs. After a couple of days I made an appointment at the Dr's. He looked at my legs and told me it was circulation problem and put me on some tablets. I felt perfectly alright in myself by the way. Anyway I visited my Mum and Dad and told her about it. She had a good look and frowned a bit but also a slight grin. She got some hot water ,soap and a mild scourer and started rubbing continually just one small area and a bluish color appeared on the scourer leaving that area on my leg clear of a bluey color.

      She asked who the Dr was and I told her he was getting on and about to retire. (im strating to laugh thinkimng back on this)

      What it was I had new Jeans on and it has slashed down with rain. I got soaked and some dye from the Jeans had discoloured my legs.

      Honestly its true because thinking about this it seems unbelievable. I laughed about it thinking it'sa good hes retiring but Mum was/nt. She was a SRN so i think thats why she noticed it just did'nt look right and me feeling perfectly okay as well but the tablets affected my head.I felt it was being blown off myneck.

      Nobody said anything to the Doc. I did stop the tablets thougjh

      I swear thats the truth

      Apart from him making a real blunder the Drs were great.

      I agree the most important thing to hope for is good health above everything else.

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