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Avatar universal

FAther with drastic personality and mood cahnges

Hi. My father is 63 years old. He has always had a very laid back, grounded personality. He rarely worries or gets anxious, enad enjoys his hobbies. In the last 4-6 months, he has gone from being his usual self, to displaying some out of character and strange personality traits...It seemed to start out as a little fatigue, and some very moild depression, and trouble sleeping. He now has started to show some anixiety symptoms, such as worrying over small things. He also has started asking my mom questions about what she is doing, which is very unlike him. My parents have been married for over 40 years, and own a business. They have activities they like togehter and their own hobbies. They have had a well balanced marraige. Recenlty my father began questioning her about a trip she took 7 years ago, and things of that nature. When I visited them recenlty, my dad seemed his normal self until I started to chit chat with him. Its hard to pinpoint, but he just seems "off" a little bit. My mother says he has lost about 10 pounds in the last few months and isnt eating or sleeping well. He also seems to suddenly worry about something very small out of the blue. ALthough he hasnt had any blatant memory issues, a few months ago when he was putting in a door (a hobby of his is remodling, building) he said it tooke him 30 minutes to remember how exactly to do it, even though he has done things like this for years. He hasnt had any memory loss as to person place or time, or any day to day living sort of memory loss...My father only goes to the doctor for a routine checkup about every 2 yrs or so. He is very healthy normally. His past medical history if only significant for episodic vertigo, for which he underwent MRI and blood work about a year ago, which were negative. He has not had any vertigo since abiut a year ago, so I dont know if that is even related. My dad is "countryfolk" minded. He does not take any medicine, other than a tylenol rarely for aches and pains. My mother thinks he is depressed. My gut feeling is that he is ill. My mother has mentioned to him about seeing a doc to maybe take something for depression, but he thinks that "all those drugs" are addictive. Just looking at my father, I can tell he does not feel well, and talking to him, I can tell he is not his usual self. If anyone here, a doctor or someone with similar experience could give me advice as to what mught be going on, maybe I can get him to listen to me and go to a doctor. I am very worried about him. Thanks-MM
Best Answer
351246 tn?1379682132
MEDICAL PROFESSIONAL
Hi
Welcome to the MedHelp forum!
Well, it can definitely be depression. From your father’s symptoms alone it sounds like chronic fatigue syndrome. This usually presents with widespread myalgia and arthralgia, headaches, chronic mental and physical exhaustion, cognitive difficulties, concentration difficulty and memory problems.
Then you also need to get your father investigated for other causes of such problems like liver dysfunction (get liver enzymes done—liver function test), kidney dysfunction (get kidney function test done), and anemia.
Do discuss this with your doctor and get him examined. Hope he is fine soon.
Please let me know if there is any thing else and do keep me posted. Take care!
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Avatar universal
Maybe a support person with him would help for reassurance.

Good luck!  Hopefully it's nothing too serious.
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
Thank you very much for your advice. He is reluctant to go back to the doctor (after his ordeal with tha battery of tests he went through for his vertigo spells a year or so ago, for which they never found a clear cause). My mother has had no luck getting him to go. I am going to talk to him about seeing a doctor, and hopefully he will consider it. Thank you for your concern.

MM
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
Mental illness doesn't discriminate.  While a previous history may increase risk it isn't a prerequisite for someone to become depressed.

No perceived events or stressors from your perspective.  Your father may process things differently.  Retirement is a life transition which by itself can be very stressful.  There may be a lot of questions he is beginning to ask himself.  Existential questions.

To me it sounds psych related but by visiting his doctor the doctor should be able to rule out other possible causes.  Weight loss can be due to depression but unintentional weight loss can also be related to other illnesses.  Maybe someone your fathers age prostate cancer, etc.  I don't know.

He really needs to see his doctor to be assessed.
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
Thanks for the advice. This is a man who has never been depressed, bi polar, or had ANY mood or psychologic issues his entire 63 years. There have never been any trust issues with anyone either. I thought that most people who battle depression/mood disorders pretty much have had issues with it to some degree thier entire life....All of these things presented suddenly. Since there have been no "events" or stressors that could cause a psychological issue, no losses, and he is doing well financially and has a great retirement ahead of him. I wonder if he now has a chemical imbalance (like serotonin etc) since I know that can cause all of these symptoms. Can a person who has never had a chemical imbalance suddenly developed reach his age?
Helpful - 0
1289299 tn?1274810946
he very well might have deppresion if mood swings even bi-polar and you need to ask the doctor about all timers it starts out little but it can turn very bad, so check youd rather be safe then sorry...and maybe you can help it before it gets to bad..brittany
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
It sounds like depression (and maybe anxiety).

I would have him see his doctor.  If he isn't keen on meds then psychotherapy can help.
A doctor can rule out possible physical causes too.

It sounds like all the classic symptoms of depression.  Lack of energy, trouble sleeping, loss of appetite, etc.

I felt pretty depressed when I was iron deficient though too.

Sounds like he is questioning things.  It sounds like a trust issue but could have more to do with feeling inadequate.
A recent loss could also trigger a decrease in mood.

He should definitely talk to his doctor.
Helpful - 0
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