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Spoke too soon???
Well, maybe I spoke too soon about nothing new. I just had a long talk with my sister. She doesn’t work (outside the home) and so she sees Mama the most. She goes by everyday after taking the kids to school. Anyway, she said that Mama is having memory issues. She has noticed it and Mama even said she can’t remember things (short term). She says the same things over and over. Can’t remember what day it is. She gets in bed and can’t remember if she emptied her bag etc. My sister also said she is very irritable. She keeps getting mad at Daddy and saying things like “over my dead body” and “when I’m gone…” This is SO unlike her. I know she is under a lot of stress but until now hasn’t really shown much emotion. I know the irritability is easily explained, but the memory issues? Anybody else seen this? Am I making mountains of molehills?
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9 Replies
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Pat, Dick still has his ileum. There is a relatively common problem associated with aging of not getting B-12 through the digestive process. He had been taking cycobalamin but we were having hassles when our insurance coverage changed to Medicare and a different prescription coverage. Then we moved to new state and if he could use the oral form why not. There is solid research stating that the oral form will work. In his case it may be related to his diabetes. I’m the one who will need testing as I had my sigmoid colon removed last year.
Volunteer Coordinator
ABLSCJulie you can take the sub-lingual Bl2 but the oral kind won’t make a difference if you don’t have your ileum. And you should take it in the form of methylcobalamin. There is also a small B l2 patch out there that i know Marigold uses….and that seems to have worked for her. Pat
My husband was on a B-12 shot for years but I read that taking it by mouth may do just as good. His Doctor researched the research and told him to try oral B-12. He is taking 1000mg about once a week. He was taking it oftener but his levels were too high.
It was a real pain to get the B-12 injectable as our insurance wouldn’t cover it as it is a vitamin. He has to take B-6 as an antibiotic he is on uses it up.It is a good idea to have the B-12 level checked as it is a common problem.
Volunteer Coordinator
ABLSCJulianne, B-12 certainly cannot hurt, I was getting a B-12 shot once a week when I was on a diet program, and Gene is on it now after his r/c. It ca only help. Ginger
Thanks you guys. I will mention the B12 for sure. ‘s is just hard to know if we are noticing things because we are ooking too hard or if we are overreacting about the things we notice. She also has this chronic hoarseness. Is that anything? I guess I have just been feeling anxious the last couple days. Thanks for helping.
I know i preach about the Bl2 deficiency but doctors overlook it…..about l/3 of patients in nursing homes have Bl2 deficiency…..we lose our ability to absorb it as we get older….and in the case of cystectomy with a pouch the surgeon takes the ileum which is exactly where we do absorb it and uses it for the pouch…now they will tell you that you have a 5 yr supply in your liver but that just doesn’t hold truth for a lot of us…I ran out of it in 7 months and need now monthly shots…I had to have them once a week until my levels got into normal range. The Umma test (urine test) is the best indicator of Bl2 deficiency but half the doctors don’t even know about it and order the blood serum test. Check out these sites….http://www.b12.com/
and here’s a page from wrong diagnosis.com……..http://forums.wrongdiagnosis.com/showthread.php?t=9948&page=2
Pat
I’ve noticed these same things with Bob- I’m going to contact the family Dr. & ask about the B-12. His personality started to change for the worse long before he got sick- but now,everyone must walk on eggshells around him. I felt so bad on the weekend when we had the 2 older grandkids overnight- he was so short with them, not the fun Grandad that he should be. His memory is awful- can’t remember anyones name anymore, he has gotten so opinionated that no one wants to talk to him- especially me. Could it be something as simple as a vitamin deficiency? He was prescribed anti-depressents quite awhile ago but doesn’t take them as he doesn’t think he needs them.
Julieann,
I would suggest that your mother make an appointment for blood work. Pat has mentioned many times about this B-12 deficiency and it really holds a lot of weight!
Also what medication is she on? There are some that can effect Memory too. My husband couldn’t remember if he called his mother on her birthday and was so upset…he did call her but it really bothered him that he could not remember it at all.
Is your mom on an anti-anxiety medication like Xanax or Valium, Ativan? They do help her to even things out so to speak.
Lastly, Your mom also knows that she is dying…there are a range of emotions involved
in that alone. She is going to have good days and bad days physically and mentally. You shouldn’t judge her for it. But you should be prepared for it. She will lash out at others, but primarily those closest to her. Think of it as a compliment of how strongly she feels. I know that sounds strange, but this whole process is a learning experience…one we don’t want to learn, but will regardless.I hope this helps somehow,
Karen
Caregiver for my Wonderful Husband Angelo, who has Metastatic Bladder Cancer.Life isn’t about how to survive the storm, but how to dance in the rain.
Julieann…a person who is aware that they don’t remember things may just have something as simple as a B l2 deficiency. Its when you don’t remember that you don’t remember that you’re in trouble. At any rate i would surely mention this new behavior to her physician. Pat
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