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Could this be Alzheimers?
My mother is 53 years old, and I've noticed some alarming changes in her behavior as well as her health. She has put on at least 70 lbs in the last year despite no change in her diet (she eats like a bird. Barely anything at all and very small portions). She was a size 5, and now is to embarrassed to even wear pants. She has a staph infection in both ears that the didn't discover until last week and she's been having problems with it for over 3 years because they misdiagnosed it as psoriasis. I know she has high blood pressure and cholesterol. The last year or so, I've noticed a progressive, severe change in her personality. Her short-term memory is very bad, she very quickly escalates when confronted about literally anything that's not sunshine and roses (like a 6 year old throwing a massive fit over a toy escalating. Complete with whining and childish voices), her ability to process new information and reaction times are shot. She is not the person I remember. My great-grandma had alzheimer's and i'm afraid that's what we're dealing with. Please help.
My mum was mid way through menopause when I noticed changes. I have managed to get her to see a Neurologist but the wait list is long so she will go late February.
It took my father & I a lot of persuasion to get her to even consider seeking help. She won't let either of us attend the appointment with her but she will let us drive her there. I do know the Neurologist she is seeing & he will hopefully assess her properly & hopefully get past my mums "I'm fine...there's nothing wrong with me" comments.
She has progressed quite rapidly unfortunately & isn't on anything to help. I hope that you can maybe talk to other family members about this (if any) & do what my father & I did. We would just keep plugging at her over a period of 2 weeks. It's hard & I hope you find help for her soon.
It took my father & I a lot of persuasion to get her to even consider seeking help. She won't let either of us attend the appointment with her but she will let us drive her there. I do know the Neurologist she is seeing & he will hopefully assess her properly & hopefully get past my mums "I'm fine...there's nothing wrong with me" comments.
She has progressed quite rapidly unfortunately & isn't on anything to help. I hope that you can maybe talk to other family members about this (if any) & do what my father & I did. We would just keep plugging at her over a period of 2 weeks. It's hard & I hope you find help for her soon.
Having had Cushing's and knowing hundred of people with it - I can tell you the testing is loaded with pitfalls.
If she did not go to the lab at 8am fasting, the testing was not valid. If the ACTH test was handled correctly by the lab (it is sadly rare), it is not valid - ACTH degrades right after the draw!
24 hour urine testing has to be kept cold all the time, even if there is a preservative, and patients often don't do the test well, and if there is multiple jugs, the labs may not mix the jugs before taking the sample.
If the doctor ordered the dex suppression test (a test I failed every time even though I have pathology to show I have Cushing's), they may tell you the wrong time to take the medication, or the wrong time to show up at the lab etc.
It also can take several rounds of testing.
Not to push - but it took me 12 years to get diagnosed. It can also lower thyroid readings. Just food for thought. I learned the hard way doctor's don't know how to test for it, interpret the tests properly or send a patient on to a specialist.
I personally hope it is not that disease.
If she did not go to the lab at 8am fasting, the testing was not valid. If the ACTH test was handled correctly by the lab (it is sadly rare), it is not valid - ACTH degrades right after the draw!
24 hour urine testing has to be kept cold all the time, even if there is a preservative, and patients often don't do the test well, and if there is multiple jugs, the labs may not mix the jugs before taking the sample.
If the doctor ordered the dex suppression test (a test I failed every time even though I have pathology to show I have Cushing's), they may tell you the wrong time to take the medication, or the wrong time to show up at the lab etc.
It also can take several rounds of testing.
Not to push - but it took me 12 years to get diagnosed. It can also lower thyroid readings. Just food for thought. I learned the hard way doctor's don't know how to test for it, interpret the tests properly or send a patient on to a specialist.
I personally hope it is not that disease.
Karryon55-Did your mom also go through this around the beginning of menopause? What you described is incredibly similar to my mom. We also have a history of Alzheimer's in our family and she currently works as a home caregiver. She also was pretty heavy into drugs and alcohol for a lot of years, so part of me wonders if that has anything to do with it.
She's been to the doctor multiple times so far, and is on a bunch of medications from them but there's never any actual diagnoses. :(
We thought it was Cushing's for sure about a year ago, but all the tests came back negative. I almost think it might have something to do with her thyroid?
We thought it was Cushing's for sure about a year ago, but all the tests came back negative. I almost think it might have something to do with her thyroid?
Hi there, I saw your post & felt like I was reading about my mum. My heart goes out to you as I know what you are going through. My mums father had Alzheimer's in his 50's & it looks like my mum is now heading in the same direction. Her mum also had dementia.
I've spent a year now begging, pleading & trying every possible tactic to get her to see a doctor. She has chronic short term memory loss but also has shown childish behaviour, escalates quickly to anger in many situations & also often speaks without any emotion in a sort of monotone.
The problem is what do you do with someone who refuses to seek medical help. I can't drag her to the doctors. She has a lot of knowledge in dementia with having both parents with it but she also worked in the industry for 20 years before retiring. I know she is scared & probably a little of pride is controlling her thoughts but she has got to the stage where she isn't rational about all this.
I'm determined to not give up on her. I love her to much to let her just fade away like my grandfather did. I'm aware that she could have something else going on with her as I'm not a doctor but if she won't seek help it's all useless. Most people have seen the difference in her as well so it's not just me who has seen her changes. I wish you the best with your mum.
I've spent a year now begging, pleading & trying every possible tactic to get her to see a doctor. She has chronic short term memory loss but also has shown childish behaviour, escalates quickly to anger in many situations & also often speaks without any emotion in a sort of monotone.
The problem is what do you do with someone who refuses to seek medical help. I can't drag her to the doctors. She has a lot of knowledge in dementia with having both parents with it but she also worked in the industry for 20 years before retiring. I know she is scared & probably a little of pride is controlling her thoughts but she has got to the stage where she isn't rational about all this.
I'm determined to not give up on her. I love her to much to let her just fade away like my grandfather did. I'm aware that she could have something else going on with her as I'm not a doctor but if she won't seek help it's all useless. Most people have seen the difference in her as well so it's not just me who has seen her changes. I wish you the best with your mum.
It could be anyone of those mentioned above or it could be just hormonal changes, that are associated with menopause, as many(not all) of her symptoms are typical of this.
Is she on any hormone replacement or other treatment -if perimenopausal or menopausal?
Or it could be a combination of this and early Alzheimer's or any of the other suggested conditions.
Is she open to going having these suspicions ruled out or if diagnosed to be treated accordingly?
Best wishes.
Niko
Is she on any hormone replacement or other treatment -if perimenopausal or menopausal?
Or it could be a combination of this and early Alzheimer's or any of the other suggested conditions.
Is she open to going having these suspicions ruled out or if diagnosed to be treated accordingly?
Best wishes.
Niko
My mom suffers from Early On Set Alz (diagnosed at age 54) and their best guess is that it stemmed from undiagnosed hypertension. So that definitely needs to get checked. As far as the mood and weight gain, infections can cause an unbalance too, and you dont want to wait long on those either. So, yes, get her to the doc and have them do some tests and go from there.
keep us posted and hopefully it will be something like an infection that can clear up.
keep us posted and hopefully it will be something like an infection that can clear up.
I would also like to say that rapid gains in weight and personality can be another disorder - one that I had - potentially Cushing's syndrome.
In either case, she needs to see a doctor. Sadly, Cushing's is often overlooked as a source of issues (it is seen as rare) and one test cannot rule it in or out, making it a complex diagnosis. It is treatable and the weight, infections, blood pressure and cholesterol issue can all resolve on treatment.
If this is suspected, she would need to see an endocrinologist (and then if tests point to it, a neuro-endocrinologist at a pituitary center for treatment and monitoring).
In either case, she needs to see a doctor. Sadly, Cushing's is often overlooked as a source of issues (it is seen as rare) and one test cannot rule it in or out, making it a complex diagnosis. It is treatable and the weight, infections, blood pressure and cholesterol issue can all resolve on treatment.
If this is suspected, she would need to see an endocrinologist (and then if tests point to it, a neuro-endocrinologist at a pituitary center for treatment and monitoring).
COMMUNITY LEADER
I just reread your note and see shes only 53 not 70 lol sorry.
yes she needs see a dr , way to young to be going threw all of that .... Heart
yes she needs see a dr , way to young to be going threw all of that .... Heart
COMMUNITY LEADER
I would take her to A DR the weight gain my mom did not do, so that does not sound like it, the high blood pressure does not either none of that changed with my mom, but the memory loss,
sounds like your mom has other health things going on I would get her to a dr let them do a few test.
the short term memory loss could also just be her age or it could be the strat of it. best just to let a dr tell you because looks like she might need other health treatments with it if that's what she has.
keep us in touch, ..... Heart
sounds like your mom has other health things going on I would get her to a dr let them do a few test.
the short term memory loss could also just be her age or it could be the strat of it. best just to let a dr tell you because looks like she might need other health treatments with it if that's what she has.
keep us in touch, ..... Heart
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