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Wondering if the symptoms my father shows are related to stress.

Posted , 2 users are following.

everway9
everway9

Hello everyone. I hope your all doing good today smile

I have some questions I'd like to ask. If any of you can spare a few minutes of your valuable time I would be very grateful. 

My Dad is 72 years old and is about 5ft 4in tall and weighs approximately 75kg.

He has a very active and healthy life style.

Occasionally over the past few months he has had some strange symptons and I'm wondering if they are caused by stress alone or something(s) else.

It always happens in the late evenings after a very stressful day when he has these episodes. 

He gets wery weak to the point of not being able to stand or walk without falling over, gets confused and has slurred speach. Once he lost bladder control whilst sitting down and I dont think he actually realised that it had happened.

I know that asking on forums is not the way to help someone medically and we have been in touch with the local GP and had scans done at the local hospital including an MRI.

I'm just wondering it's as simple as these symptoms being those of extreme stress and/or anxiety?

Many thanks in advance. smile  

0 likes, 15 replies

15 Replies

  • everway9
    everway9

    Posted

    I forgot to include the frequency of these episodes. They have been very rare. Only 3 times in the past 3 months. Although the last two have been in the last week.
    • everway9
      everway9

      Posted

      Both last Monday and the Monday before.

      I'd edit my post but I cant see any option to do this. If there is a way to edit my posts I'd be grateful if you told me how. Thanks smile

    • everway9
      everway9

      Posted

      Scans came back clear. smile

  • tess33005
    tess33005 everway9

    Posted

    As a nurse, I would personally suspect two things:

    a) some form of epilepsy

    b) transient ischaemic attacks (minor strokes)

    I really do not think these symptoms can be related to extreme stress and anxiety. I am wondering why you are asking this - does your dad suffer from severe stress and anxiety?

    What was the result of the MRI and what have the doctors given as a diagnosis?

     

  • tess33005
    tess33005 everway9

    Posted

    So what did the doctor(s) conclude was the diagnosis?
    • everway9
      everway9 tess33005

      Posted

      Hi tess33005 and thanks for your reply. My father only had his scan today but it did come back clear. He has an appointment with our local GP tomorrow. There is no diagnosis at this time.

      I myself do not think this is stress related. My mother does. She thinks that this only happens when he is stressed and I can understand why as Mondays are particularly stressfull days for him and these episodes have only happened on Mondays.

      The stress may have something to do with it in terms of triggering these episodes but I, like yourself, suspect something more than just high levels of stress and did research the symptoms and read about TIA's.

      Obviously there are many reasons/conditions/attacks which include similar symptons but a TIA is something I wouldnt be surprised at.

      I am not a doctor and do not think of myself as having a lot of medical knowledge but I am extremely interested in medical subjects and I cant help myself but to attempt to diagnose other peoples health problems. I love my father and would never attempt to intervene with a professionals diagnosis. But at the same time I would offer my opinion if I felt that something had been missed.

      LOL.... if I was not 38 I would go to medical school. smile

      Thank you again very much for your input. smile

    • tess33005
      tess33005 everway9

      Posted

      TIAs seem to me to be the diagnosis, but wait till you see the doctor. Since you're well-read about medical subjects, you will have discovered that TIAs are precursors of dementia and of major strokes.

      I think your mother is in denial, quite honestly.

      I'll be very interested in what the doctor says. Do post the diagnosis.

      Love Tess

    • everway9
      everway9 tess33005

      Posted

      Yes... The dementia is something I have been thinking of. And I also believe that my Mother will be refusing to think of too. It's only natural. But thankyou for your input again Tess. Im very grateful. I will be sure to post back as soon as anything is confirmed or denied.  

      Andrew. 

    • tess33005
      tess33005 everway9

      Posted

      You can PM me any time, Andrew. I'm a Specialist Dementia Nurse.

      Tess.

  • everway9
    everway9

    Posted

    Hi again.  smile

    Would I be correct in assuming that MND or ALS are slow in progression and therefore with these episodes having a significant amount of time between them mean that MND or ALS is not a factor?

    • everway9
      everway9

      Posted

      My reason for this being that these episodes are quick to progress to the stage where loss of motor function occours. Opposed to a gradual worsening over months or years. 
    • everway9
      everway9

      Posted

      By quick I mean over a few hours. 
    • tess33005
      tess33005 everway9

      Posted

      Hi Andrew,

      Yes, your suppositionn is correct.

      But this is far more likely to be the beginning of vascular dementia.

      When all the results are in, let me know - by PM, ok?

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