benjie

Each person has similar problems whilst having different ones too. In my mother's case I reported regularly that she had an inability to move forwards at a normal pace. Her walk was so slow it became difficult to get anywhere. Over the months this problem increased until she was stumbling and clutching her heart. Eventually angina was diagnosed. Tablets adjusted and still she was not right. An ambulance was called for twice on Sunday, both teams looked at her blood re diabetis and attached her to a machine for her heart rate and took her blood pressure. The machine only showed she had low blood pressure, something already spotted at the doctors some weeks ago. If she goes to hospital and the hospital get the same results they will only send her home we were warned. So on the second 999 call they still gave the same warning but took her in to A & E.
All tests bar the last one showed no problem except low blood pressure. The final test proved what had been the problems for months...she had hardening of the valve to the heart. She was allowed to stay in hospital overnight only because both my husband and I were unable to lift her into the car. We collected her the next day..have now seen our doctor who advised us that she has a murmer caused through leakage of the heart valve. The hospital doctor confirmed that "now i know exactly why your mum has been experiencing all of these problems." "the blockage causes difficulties for the blood to flow to the brain which causes the stumbles and low blood pressure". She is now home and we are looking after a walking time bomb. If she gets up out of her chair she becomes very unsteady, even starts breathing heavily and when I talk to her to relax her body and put her head back she calms and settles until she wants to go to the toilet again. The shivering experienced on and off for sometime has become more violent and now I notice that it accommpanies these episodes. I am telling you all of this because it takes time to evaluate what is going on. They will be doing their best but as a carer we just do not want to see our loved ones in this condition and panic. Your father's problem may be entirely different but Alzheimers is connected to blockages to the brain.

Hi rosalie. many thanks for your comments. Think I've turned the corner now. Still trying to find out what prob is with hubbie but have been to local Alzheimers group mtg and they're getting me in touch with other people to help.