B12 deficiency & Alzheimers

[JANEHP]

My mother was diagnosed with Alzheimers about 3 years ago, she is now 84 years old. She was diagnosed from mental tests  and not from medical tests. Since my gut feeling telling me that there was something wrong I started attending clinic with her & my father, this was Feb 2008 when I asked what medical tests had been done, I was told they had been overlooked. The physciatrist duly did some basic blood tests & the results were OK. After this she had been falling and did so when she was out, ending up being ambulanced to hospital. They tested her & put her on fludrocortisone as her blood pressure was dropping from laying to standing. They also ordered a brain scan, this I was delighted with. The brain scan was done & was said to be very good for her age, the lady doctor was staring at the scan and obviusly looking for another reason as Mum always was cold. She tested for Iodine, potassium & thyroid. Again nothing showed. We went back again and another male doctor said he didn't want to see her again as the blood test were fine. I asked what he had found on the brain scan & he explained that the small branch like bits on the ends of nerves had died.I then asked , having done loads of research, if she had ever been tested for B12 deficiency,and he abruptly siad she would have been tested for this before diagnosis of Alzheimers, he looked through the notes and saw she hadn't had a B12 test, duly filled in the card & gave it to me.
To my delight when I finally managed to get through she was deficient and has been put on b12 injections weekly for 6 weeks and then 3 monthly.
She now sleeps all night which she hadn't done for years, leg cramps have disappeared, her shallow breathing has gone and she still has continence trouble but this changes daily.
Things were looking promising and her short term memory is starting to work slowly but she has had some bad hallucinations thsi week seeing people that are not there. I wonder is this is because of the exelon tablets she is on.
Over the last 2 months her physciatrist was going to lock her away for assement in out local physciatric unit as she had failed to stay in respite without getting angry.I refused this, sent my Dad away for a break & looked after her 24/7 for 3 days. She was wonderful, walked, shopped, slept fairly well, ate plenty, went on the bus to the shops with me & had no adverse effects, everyone said she looked 10 years younger.After this to give dad a break I took her away to Ireland for several days, her childhood home, we went on the plane & she was as good as gold all weekend. It was busy with seeing relations but she was happy, she got upset once when she didn't know where she was but she could see me & my friend so knew she was ok, thats logic. She does this quite often.
What I really need to know is if the nerve damage can be reversed and why the hallucinations have appeared. If the blood was not getting to the nerves because of B12 can it repair itself. She has had loads of other symptoms but won't go on anymore.
I hope someone can provide me with some help. Many thanks

[selmaS]

giving u a )))))))bump((((( up on the list......so someone has another chance to answer this for u.


Good luck
"selma"

[JANEHP]

Thay ank you for helping. I haven't much idea how to use this site!

Mum improving with 4th B12 jab, go to see phyciatrist Monday  so need my questions ready.

Kind regards

Jane

[selmaS]

...u r doing fine.......this was the right place for the command made....and I am glad ur mum is improving with the B12.I pray someone ia able to add to ur list of questions....did u try the expert forum?


Godspeed
"selma"