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What's wrong with my mother?
My mother is 70 years old. In the past year there have been many significant changes in her health for the worst. I've gone through 2 family doctors and 2 neurologists and none can explain what is wrong with her. First I'd like to tell you what medication she is currently taking then I'll tell you what's wrong with her. A) Verapamil 240 mg B) clonozepam 1 mg C) simvastatin 20 mg D) levothiroxin 50 mcg E) Benicar 40 mg F) ramapril 10 mg.
About a year ago my mother was complaining about feeling heavy, not fat but feeling like she was walking with weights on her shoulders. The family doctor assumed it was because her blood pressure was too low so she told her to stop taking Verapamil 240 mg cold turkey. My mother has been taking Verapamil 240 mg for 10+ years so I don't know why she suggested that. My mother's blood pressure shot up through the roof. She was like a pressure cooker about ready to blow her lid. I had to take her to the emergency room. We immediately got her back on Verapamil 240 which got her back to normal accept now she started having these spuratic blood pressure episodes where her blood pressure would shoot up after 4pm. Please note that for the past 10+ years my mother has been taking Verapamil 240 mg in the morning and Benicar 40 mg at night. Her blood pressure spike really high which is why she takes the strong Verapamil in the morning and a softer blood pressure medication (Benicar) at night. Anyway, after the episode where I had to take her to the emergency room we got her back on her usual routine of Verapamil and Benicar. The problem was after the emergency room episode these two medications were no longer enough so another doctor is having her take Ramapril in addition to Verapamil and Benicar to keep her blood pressure under control.
For the past year my mother has complained about feeling shaky. She describes it like someone standing on a boat that is rocking back and forth. She even stumbles when she walks sometimes. The shaking is not visible. The family doctor describes it as vertigo. When we are sitting at the dinner table and she reaches for food on the table she says she feels a thrust in the direction she is reaching. Almost like falling over towards the food she is trying to grab. She feels like she is walking with weights on her shoulders. She's constantly tired. She doesn't want to leave the house anymore.
The odd thing is it all started about a year ago. Not sure if it relates to the blood pressure episode. All the doctors say she is structurally fine. But I know my mother. Something is wrong. Please help.
About a year ago my mother was complaining about feeling heavy, not fat but feeling like she was walking with weights on her shoulders. The family doctor assumed it was because her blood pressure was too low so she told her to stop taking Verapamil 240 mg cold turkey. My mother has been taking Verapamil 240 mg for 10+ years so I don't know why she suggested that. My mother's blood pressure shot up through the roof. She was like a pressure cooker about ready to blow her lid. I had to take her to the emergency room. We immediately got her back on Verapamil 240 which got her back to normal accept now she started having these spuratic blood pressure episodes where her blood pressure would shoot up after 4pm. Please note that for the past 10+ years my mother has been taking Verapamil 240 mg in the morning and Benicar 40 mg at night. Her blood pressure spike really high which is why she takes the strong Verapamil in the morning and a softer blood pressure medication (Benicar) at night. Anyway, after the episode where I had to take her to the emergency room we got her back on her usual routine of Verapamil and Benicar. The problem was after the emergency room episode these two medications were no longer enough so another doctor is having her take Ramapril in addition to Verapamil and Benicar to keep her blood pressure under control.
For the past year my mother has complained about feeling shaky. She describes it like someone standing on a boat that is rocking back and forth. She even stumbles when she walks sometimes. The shaking is not visible. The family doctor describes it as vertigo. When we are sitting at the dinner table and she reaches for food on the table she says she feels a thrust in the direction she is reaching. Almost like falling over towards the food she is trying to grab. She feels like she is walking with weights on her shoulders. She's constantly tired. She doesn't want to leave the house anymore.
The odd thing is it all started about a year ago. Not sure if it relates to the blood pressure episode. All the doctors say she is structurally fine. But I know my mother. Something is wrong. Please help.
Btw My mother is 94 and takes supplements to help herself. She takes: Cod Liver oil, Magnesium, Milk Thistle, and Flaxseed oil. Her cholesterol levels are good and the only medication she takes is one Glipizide a day for her Diabetes which is almost reversed. She uses only Olive Oil to cook with and loves fried foods! This little old lady runs circles around me and I am 69! I sincerely hope your mother starts feeling better soon. - you might want to wean her off the statins though. Don't just take them away too quickly. Also, Red Yeast Rice is a natural statin - but you have to get the one at the health food store because the FDA is up in arms against the real thing because it works better than the chemical statins.
She may have to be off the Simvastatin for more than just a few days.
As she has been on them for a while, the side effect symptoms may not stop.
My next door neighbour stopped taking them after a few days because they made him ill.
I advised my husband not to take them because of all the nasty side effects, that it wasn't worth taking the risk.
Simvastatin is also known to make dementia and Altzheimers worse. So once I got to know that I got my dad off them as he already has Altzheimers.
With the blood pressure, is this being measured at the doctor's surgery?
Some people get so stressed about going to the doctors that their blood pressure goes up, this is called "white coat syndrome". You mother may be better off having a 24 hour blood pressure monitor that is attached to her body. We had to do that with my mother because she gets "white coat syndrome".
Another way to check your mother's blood pressure, is to buy a monitor and measure her pressure when she is relaxed in her own home. Make sure she does not talk or has had any hot drinks before you take the pressure, because this will affect the reading.
When older people start to feel shaky, this can sometimes be from urinary infection as well as ear problems and blood disorders.
Best wishes.
As she has been on them for a while, the side effect symptoms may not stop.
My next door neighbour stopped taking them after a few days because they made him ill.
I advised my husband not to take them because of all the nasty side effects, that it wasn't worth taking the risk.
Simvastatin is also known to make dementia and Altzheimers worse. So once I got to know that I got my dad off them as he already has Altzheimers.
With the blood pressure, is this being measured at the doctor's surgery?
Some people get so stressed about going to the doctors that their blood pressure goes up, this is called "white coat syndrome". You mother may be better off having a 24 hour blood pressure monitor that is attached to her body. We had to do that with my mother because she gets "white coat syndrome".
Another way to check your mother's blood pressure, is to buy a monitor and measure her pressure when she is relaxed in her own home. Make sure she does not talk or has had any hot drinks before you take the pressure, because this will affect the reading.
When older people start to feel shaky, this can sometimes be from urinary infection as well as ear problems and blood disorders.
Best wishes.
Thank you for your suggestion. I looked up the side effects of Simvastatin today and many side effects sound like what my mother is complaining about. I told her to stop taking it for a few days to see what happens. I agree, her doctor is questionable. This is my first time using a forum and I'm finding it to be a lot of help. Thank you...
Thank you for your suggestion. As a matter of fact, she began taking the Simvastatin 20 mg a few years ago because her insurance no longer covered her usual cholesterol medication so the doctor had to switch her to Simvastatin. I remember when she first had to switch to Simvastatin, she complained about how her stomach hurt and how it gave her headaches. Since then she has just accepted it and taken the medication. Perhaps the Simvastatin is taking its toll on her. I just talked to her today and told her to stop taking Simvastatin for a few days to see what happens.
I hope it works, thanks for the suggestion.
I hope it works, thanks for the suggestion.
I'm not sure if they have tested her Potassium levels. I will find out. Thanks for the suggestion. This is my first time using a forum and I'm finding it to be a lot of help. Thank you...
Thank you for your response. I agree, I really do not have much faith in her current doctor. She's a nice woman but I found it odd that she would be ok with telling my mother to stop taking a blood pressure medication. This is my first time using a forum and I'm finding it to be a lot of help. Thank you..
Thank you so much for your response. I was starting to lose hope. It's so easy for doctors to just say,"she's fine". This is my first time using a forum and I'm finding it to be a lot of help. Thank you...
She needs to see another doctor who knows that statins are not for women. Her cholesterol can be reduced by natural means - Perhaps an Osteopath would help as they know more about natural medicine than regular doctors.
Simvastatin 20 mg is a cholesterol lowering medication and has lots of side effects. There have been a lot of reported ill health due to taking this drug and there was television programme about the use of statins on the UK TV last year where it made people very ill.
Can you remember the time she started taking any new medications that may have caused her problems?
It may be that the statin is the cause of her symptoms.
With the blood pressure medications, make sure that your mother has a liver and kidney function blood test taken every year.
It would also be worth her having a blood test for anaemia, diabetes, Vitamin B12 deficiency, thyroid and any other blood test that the doctor may feel relevant.
Can you remember the time she started taking any new medications that may have caused her problems?
It may be that the statin is the cause of her symptoms.
With the blood pressure medications, make sure that your mother has a liver and kidney function blood test taken every year.
It would also be worth her having a blood test for anaemia, diabetes, Vitamin B12 deficiency, thyroid and any other blood test that the doctor may feel relevant.
sounds like she need new doctor. any doctor would know you cant just stop giving someone meds after that period of time. I don't know those meds. but there is a lot of people on here that all kinds of problems and may help. you to find her problem. but please try to find another doctor. mandy876
Sounds neurological. I suggest you take her to a neurologist for evaluation and treatment. Blessings - Blu
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