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Medical Forum / Diseases and Disorders / Alzheimer's / June 2006John's doctor's appointment
Dear Friends, Just checking in quickly---need to catch up on all of your mail again. For those who have been around a long time, you will remember the problems I had getting John to the doctor. Anyway, he kept his appointment with my neurologist & it went pretty well. The doctor didn't put him through all of the coordination tests like he does me---maybe because when John stood up from the exam table, he was very wobbly. So he only had to walk to the door---no heel to toe, touch your nose, etc. The doctor pointedly asked if he has tingling in his hands---John said yes. Does this symptom mean anything to anyone? He had an EEG & MRA Tuesday. When he got up from the EEG, he told me he had one of his episodes of not being able to walk. I am hoping this means the EEG will show something this time. As far as memory goes, he passed everything which was real basic---no counting this time; he only had to remember three items, fold the paper, & draw the diagrams. He knew the date & where we were. The day of the EEG though, he didn't know the date for signing the papers---although I have that problem too sometimes! I did tell the doctor thought that he couldn't remember the name of our second grandson when Stacy & the kids were here at Easter & that he often forgets to turn off the stove. Today we had to have the AC serviced. He remembered that he used to be able to troubleshoot that type of equipment as part of his job. We will get results July 10. I hope we find out something; I have really built up to John how impressed I am with this doctor. Always, Char > Dear Friends, > [quoted text clipped - 26 lines] > We will get results July 10. I hope we find out something; I have really > built up to John how impressed I am with this doctor. Oh, Char - so good to hear from you. Hope this neurologist can figure it out - or at least do a good job of narrowing the possibilities. Adelle Char, I'm wondering if the neurologist was wondering about B12 deficiency. That can cause tingling of the extremities, gait problems, and dementia...among other things. M. > Char, I'm wondering if the neurologist was wondering about B12 > deficiency. That can cause tingling of the extremities, gait problems, > and dementia...among other things. > > M. Hi Mary, I forgot to mention that the same day of the tests John also had a bunch of lab work done. I don't think anything was left out for testing & I know B12 was listed. Wouldn't it be nice if that could be the only problem? I know he was tested for that before & was given a bunch of vitamins which really didn't help. He refused to go for the shots but I think if this doctor orders them he will. This guy has been my doctor for 3 years now, & John has heard & seen how he has helped me so that gives him more confidence in starting over. Always, Char There is some good news about B12 supplements - for those who need the shots, there is now a nasal spray version (approved Feb 2005), which means no need for shots for those who dislike them, and no more inconvenient and frequent trips to the doc. Mary > There is some good news about B12 supplements - for those who need the > shots, there is now a nasal spray version (approved Feb 2005), which > means no need for shots for those who dislike them, and no more > inconvenient and frequent trips to the doc. > > Mary Thanks, Mary. For John I think it was the trips to the doctor more than the idea of the shots, so that would help. I know he won't be thrilled about more pills---he went off everything about a year ago except his stomach medicine. Since then he has gone back on blood pressure medicine too. Always, Char Char, hope you get only good results from this neurologist for John. Gwen > Dear Friends, > [quoted text clipped - 30 lines] > > Char > Char, hope you get only good results from this neurologist for John. > Gwen Hi Gwen, Thanks. It's nice to see a lot of you are still here. I will try to be a better participant & not drop in & out so much. I'm just not one to sit at the computer! Always, Char >>Dear Friends, >> >>Just checking in quickly---need to catch up on all of your mail again. >>We will get results July 10. I hope we find out something; I have really >>built up to John how impressed I am with this doctor. >> >>Always, >> >>Char > The doctor pointedly asked if he has tingling in his hands---John said > yes. Does this symptom mean anything to anyone? multiple sclerosis (MS). diabetic neuropathy. pinched spinal nerve. those are two that come to mind immediately. i'm sure there are more. >>The doctor pointedly asked if he has tingling in his hands---John said >>yes. Does this symptom mean anything to anyone? [quoted text clipped - 4 lines] > those are two that come to mind immediately. i'm sure there are > more. Hi Dennis, Diabetes runs in John's family but he has never been diagnosed with that. John's sister also suggested the MS possibility. I could research it, but I'll ask here first. Will blood work show MS or does that require a spinal tap? Always, Char >>>The doctor pointedly asked if he has tingling in his hands---John said >>>yes. Does this symptom mean anything to anyone? [quoted text clipped - 11 lines] > I'll ask here first. Will blood work show MS or does that require a > spinal tap? Neither. MRI of Brain and spine (looking for lesions) and a neurological test whose name I can't remember (Nerve Conduction study, perhaps?) are considered state of the art. It measures how much voltage is carried through certain nerves. Similar to an EMG, but they do upper and lower extremities. Had them as part of a work up to rule out MS. Turned out I have Rheumatoid Arthritis and Vitamin D deficiency. But together, they resembled the early stages of MS. Adelle >>>>The doctor pointedly asked if he has tingling in his hands---John said >>>>yes. Does this symptom mean anything to anyone? [quoted text clipped - 24 lines] > > Adelle Thanks Adelle. The Nerve Conduction Test was 3rd for me, so I imagine, depending on the results of the EEG & MRA, that will be the next one ordered for John. This doctor is very persistent---that's one of the reasons I've been singing his praises to John for going on three years now. We have a friend who is an ICU nurse at the hospital where he is on staff, & she was thrilled to hear I had talked John into seeing him. Always, Char |
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