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My mom can't walk, doctor's don't know why

Posted by ablack2008 @ablack2008, Jun 19 11:29am

I'm so scared for my mom. Something's wrong but nobody knows what. She's been admitted into the hospital. She has had weakness for a few months now.

Her weakness has progressed to spells where she gets this foggy-headed, dizziness, her whole body gives out and a massive headache. They did an EEG but it's normal.

Sunday, when I went to see her, she was fine. She had energy, she stood and moved around. An hour later, while sitting, she got this glazed over look and said she was dizzy. Then her body went weak and she had to lay down. Then the headache started. It lasted about 30 minutes. Then it all faded away and only the headache stayed, though lessened too. It took an hour or two for her strength to come back.

Monday, she was barely able stay awake and now she can't walk. She can stand, but weakly and has to sit back down. Her entire body shakes when she stands and she would fall if nobody was with her.

They've done multiple imaging tests and blood work that have all been normal. She talked to different doctors while in the hospital.

They did a test for orthostatic hypotension and it didn't show anything. They tested her BP laying down, sitting up, then standing. If anything it elevated a bit, but not enough to alarm the Dr. Her heart issues were controlled. She has diabetes, but that isn't related to this. The doctors are stumped. She's too weak, apparently, to go to intensive rehab. They want to send her to a nursing home/rehab. She's only 62. They've done multiple blood tests and haven't found anything.

But a person doesn't go from walking to practically bed bound within six months for no reason.

We feel hopeless.

I plan to take her to the Mayo clinic when she's discharged. She will most likely need to be in a wheelchair.

I just want her back to her normal self. It was just six months ago that she was up walking around, cleaning, going to the store, and playing with my son. Now, she can barely move.

My grandma had Addison's disease and her symptoms were very similar, but they tested mom's cortisol and it was normal. So the doctor's didn't go any further. Plus she doesn't have the hypotension.

Somebody please give me hope.

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larry68 | @larry68 | Jun 27 3:28pm

Earlier this year i was in hospital for 4 days where tgey ran all kinds of test because i could not walk,talk or write.Seen 2 different neurologist and was told i would never walk unassisted again.Was sitting home googling all my drugs and found the one drug that its side effects matched my problem.I quit taking it and was walking,talking and writing 3 days later.Check your drugs carefully.Amiodarone was mine.Never again for me.

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2 replies
Mentor
Becky, Volunteer Mentor | @becsbuddy | Jun 27 6:39pm
In reply to @ablack2008 "We plan to have a highly rated local neurologist look at her for now while we..." + (show)
@ablack2008

We plan to have a highly rated local neurologist look at her for now while we get her heart figured out at Cleveland. If they can't figure it out or they don't find anything neurological, we will be going to the Mayo clinic. I do feel more hopeful because she is walking. And she was weak for only an hour after her spell, whatever it was. She was able to go back to physical therapy about two hours later.

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@ablack2008 I’m so glad that your mother is getting the help she needs. And YOU have been such a great advocate for her. While your mom is in the hospital, take some time to do something for yourself. You need to “feed” yourself in order to continue caring for your mom. Be sure to continue to keep us informed as your mom’s health improves.

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1 reply
ablack2008 | @ablack2008 | Jun 27 8:47pm
In reply to @lkirnbauer "I was diagnosed recently with Hashimoto’s and Hypothyroidism. I too was weak, tired and had not..." + (show)
@lkirnbauer

I was diagnosed recently with Hashimoto’s and Hypothyroidism. I too was weak, tired and had not much energy. I had my Thyroid levels checked by a blood test and to the doctor’s surprise, mine were off the charts! Ask your doctor to have your Mom’s TSH, T3-Free, T4-Free, Thyroid Antibodies tested. It’s a simple blood test. I sure hope your Mom gets better, she’s too young for this to be happening to her. I’m sorry she’s suffering, good luck to you and your Mom.

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She has hypothyroidism but her levels were normal

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1 reply
ablack2008 | @ablack2008 | Jun 27 8:53pm
In reply to @larry68 "Earlier this year i was in hospital for 4 days where tgey ran all kinds of..." + (show)
@larry68

Earlier this year i was in hospital for 4 days where tgey ran all kinds of test because i could not walk,talk or write.Seen 2 different neurologist and was told i would never walk unassisted again.Was sitting home googling all my drugs and found the one drug that its side effects matched my problem.I quit taking it and was walking,talking and writing 3 days later.Check your drugs carefully.Amiodarone was mine.Never again for me.

Jump to this post

There have been some newer meds within the last few months. I will check on it. That would have been so scary.

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ablack2008 | @ablack2008 | Jun 27 8:55pm
In reply to @becsbuddy "@ablack2008 I’m so glad that your mother is getting the help she needs. And YOU have..." + (show)
@becsbuddy

@ablack2008 I’m so glad that your mother is getting the help she needs. And YOU have been such a great advocate for her. While your mom is in the hospital, take some time to do something for yourself. You need to “feed” yourself in order to continue caring for your mom. Be sure to continue to keep us informed as your mom’s health improves.

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Yes, I have to keep reminding myself of that

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lkirnbauer | @lkirnbauer | Jun 28 8:43am
In reply to @ablack2008 "She has hypothyroidism but her levels were normal" + (show)
@ablack2008

She has hypothyroidism but her levels were normal

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If your Mom has normal levels for hypothyroidism, she must have something else like possibly Hashimoto’s. Don’t give up!

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ablack2008 | @ablack2008 | Jul 24 9:03pm

Update: my mom got out of the hospital a couple of weeks ago and is doing much better in terms of weakness. She does home health physical therapy and improves each day.

She is still dealing with moments of severe vertigo attacks that make her feel very weak. The attacks last 30 minutes to an hour. Then she gets very sleepy and has to "sleep it off". Once the episodes are over, she's fine again. We don't know when they hit. Because of these, she uses a walker. She could be walking in the kitchen perfectly fine, then Bam! The room starts spinning, she has to sit so she doesn't fall. Then for about an hour she is weak and needs to lie down to sleep. She's scared to go anywhere.

The doctors still aren't sure what's going on. They've said it might be meniere's disease. Does it cause attacks like this? Randomly?

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5 replies
dlydailyhope | @dlydailyhope | Jul 25 7:02am
In reply to @ablack2008 "Update: my mom got out of the hospital a couple of weeks ago and is doing..." + (show)
@ablack2008

Update: my mom got out of the hospital a couple of weeks ago and is doing much better in terms of weakness. She does home health physical therapy and improves each day.

She is still dealing with moments of severe vertigo attacks that make her feel very weak. The attacks last 30 minutes to an hour. Then she gets very sleepy and has to "sleep it off". Once the episodes are over, she's fine again. We don't know when they hit. Because of these, she uses a walker. She could be walking in the kitchen perfectly fine, then Bam! The room starts spinning, she has to sit so she doesn't fall. Then for about an hour she is weak and needs to lie down to sleep. She's scared to go anywhere.

The doctors still aren't sure what's going on. They've said it might be meniere's disease. Does it cause attacks like this? Randomly?

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@ablack2008
Did they say anything about mild seizures? These episodes sound like seizures to me.
https://www.neurocenternj.com/blog/vertigo-and-epilepsy/

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1 reply
dlydailyhope | @dlydailyhope | Jul 25 7:04am
In reply to @ablack2008 "Update: my mom got out of the hospital a couple of weeks ago and is doing..." + (show)
@ablack2008

Update: my mom got out of the hospital a couple of weeks ago and is doing much better in terms of weakness. She does home health physical therapy and improves each day.

She is still dealing with moments of severe vertigo attacks that make her feel very weak. The attacks last 30 minutes to an hour. Then she gets very sleepy and has to "sleep it off". Once the episodes are over, she's fine again. We don't know when they hit. Because of these, she uses a walker. She could be walking in the kitchen perfectly fine, then Bam! The room starts spinning, she has to sit so she doesn't fall. Then for about an hour she is weak and needs to lie down to sleep. She's scared to go anywhere.

The doctors still aren't sure what's going on. They've said it might be meniere's disease. Does it cause attacks like this? Randomly?

Jump to this post

@ablack2008

1.
https://www.neurology.org/doi/10.1212/WNL.82.10_supplement.P3.227
2.
https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/epilepsy/symptoms-causes/syc-20350093

REPLY
dlydailyhope | @dlydailyhope | Jul 25 7:08am
In reply to @ablack2008 "Update: my mom got out of the hospital a couple of weeks ago and is doing..." + (show)
@ablack2008

Update: my mom got out of the hospital a couple of weeks ago and is doing much better in terms of weakness. She does home health physical therapy and improves each day.

She is still dealing with moments of severe vertigo attacks that make her feel very weak. The attacks last 30 minutes to an hour. Then she gets very sleepy and has to "sleep it off". Once the episodes are over, she's fine again. We don't know when they hit. Because of these, she uses a walker. She could be walking in the kitchen perfectly fine, then Bam! The room starts spinning, she has to sit so she doesn't fall. Then for about an hour she is weak and needs to lie down to sleep. She's scared to go anywhere.

The doctors still aren't sure what's going on. They've said it might be meniere's disease. Does it cause attacks like this? Randomly?

Jump to this post

@ablack2008
https://www.verywellhealth.com/signs-of-a-seizure-7882342

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