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Home > Archive > Alzheimers support > June 2006 > John's doctor's appointment
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John's doctor's appointment
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| 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
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| Adelle 2006-06-16, 2:26 am |
|
"Char" <ksera@cableone.net> wrote in message
news:1293sgfndm7ei4a@corp.supernews.com...
> 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.
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
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| Mary_Gordon@tvo.org 2006-06-16, 9:25 pm |
| 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.
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| ladylove77 2006-06-16, 9:25 pm |
| Char, hope you get only good results from this neurologist for John.
Gwen
"Char" <ksera@cableone.net> wrote in message
news:1293sgfndm7ei4a@corp.supernews.com...
> 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
| |
| Dennis P. Harris 2006-06-17, 2:28 am |
| On Thu, 15 Jun 2006 18:49:32 -0500 in alt.support.alzheimers,
Char <ksera@cableone.net> wrote:
>
> 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.
| |
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| Mary_Gordon@tvo.org wrote:
> 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
| |
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| ladylove77 wrote:
> 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
>
> "Char" <ksera@cableone.net> wrote in message
> news:1293sgfndm7ei4a@corp.supernews.com...
>
[vbcol=seagreen]
>
>
>
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| Dennis P. Harris wrote:
> On Thu, 15 Jun 2006 18:49:32 -0500 in alt.support.alzheimers,
> Char <ksera@cableone.net> wrote:
>
>
>
> multiple sclerosis (MS). diabetic neuropathy. pinched spinal
> nerve.
>
> 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
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| Adelle 2006-06-17, 4:24 pm |
|
"Char" <ksera@cableone.net> wrote in message
news:1298prk7jf4205a@corp.supernews.com...
> Dennis P. Harris wrote:
>
> 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?
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
| |
| Mary_Gordon@tvo.org 2006-06-18, 2:28 am |
| 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
| |
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| Adelle wrote:
> "Char" <ksera@cableone.net> wrote in message
> news:1298prk7jf4205a@corp.supernews.com...
>
>
>
> 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
>
>
>
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
| |
|
| Mary_Gordon@tvo.org wrote:
> 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
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