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Parathyroid Surgery- Negative Results

About 3 months ago, my mother in law had surgery on her Parathyroid.  Prior to this surgery, she had partial thyroid removal due to cancer, and had been on medication for several years to increase her levels.  Up until the surgery, she lived a very normal life.  It's been 3 months and she is now a completely different person.  In fact, its safe to say that she has completely lost her mind.  We have been to several hospitals, doctors, psychiatrists and no one can seem to figure out what is wrong.  She is 65 years old and is currently being treated for depression with psychosis.  Currently, she thinks she's a young girl and is asking for her mother.   She has her periods where all she does is cries.  One of her sisters passed away from AD, but I find it hard to believe this is the case considering the person she was prior to surgery, and the short time that has passed.  She is deteriorating rapidly, and we have lost all hope.  I know that AD can sometimes be misdiagnosed, and actually be Hypothyroidism.  Have you had any experience with this and the symptoms involved?  We don't know what to do, or how to proceed.  Thanks.
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Avatar universal
I was Medical Administrator in a High Care Aged Dementia Facility and feel the need to say that I really dont think she has Alzeimers Disease.
What I can say though is maybe she has sufferred a 'mini stroke' and this has brought on the 'confusion'.
I feel Dr. Lupo is right and needs to see a Neurologist as there can be complications to all operations.
By seeing a neurologist, this would rule out an annuerism and a stroke.
The frontal lobe of the brain is affected when a person has experienced a stroke, regardless of how mild or severe it was.
This in turns causes the other lobes of the brain to be disorientated.

Alzeimers is where the brain starts to deterioate and I dont think she has this as I have seen many cases and not come across this after surgery.
Sometimes a stroke can be so minor under or after anaestic that it isnt detectable without a CT scan.
Hope this helps.
All the best :)
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Avatar universal
hello.
i feel for you and am so sorry for you and your family's situation.  my mom was extremely depressed and had psychosis for years...bedridden, lost weight, cried, didn't get dressed, do makeup or hair, shower, brush teeth...it was just AWFUL.  it's so so hard to watch and to know what to do because when people are like this, there's no logic; nothing makes sense; nothing registers; they're STUCK in this horrible world.

i can offer you hope in that my mom responded well to electric shock treatments.  with each treatment she became more alive.  it was quite amazing.  it's almost like the treatments reset the neurons and brain chemistry.  today she is back to herself and is working again and is a fully functioning wife, mother, grandmother.  

my mom's onset of symptoms started when she was about 56.  she didn't have any diagnosed thyroid or other medical conditions.  i don't know if menopause and losing those hormones played a role, but i've heard of many older women going through similar but less extreme episodes.

definitely continue with the psychiatric workup and care.  hopefully the doctors can find a treatment that will work for her.  i know it sounds barbaric, but ask about the electric shock therapy.  it just may work.

take care,
mtkst13  
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Avatar universal
Thank you Dr.  We have done one psychiatric evaluation and they have diagnosed her with Depression with Pychosis, or Psychosis with Depression.  She has had numerous xrays, blood work, etc.  They checked for stroke already and there was no sign.  
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97953 tn?1440865392
MEDICAL PROFESSIONAL
This is very unusual after thyroid or parathyroid surgery.  Would certainly make sure that the thyroid levels (TSH and T4) as well as calcium and magnesium are all normal.  One must wonder about a stroke which caused personality changes with such an abrupt change in character and mood.  This would not be Alzheimers.  Would consider a neurological evaluation.
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