Re: Tricky one! Please advise

[Guest guest]

Cannot read all your message as using phone also cannot snip. But my mother in law who is 93 takes thyroxine which she was given at 90. Also tired but her GP did not put it down to age. LilianOn 29 Feb 2012, at 00:32, "julianadivarna" <julianaraymondo@...> wrote:

My father is 90 years old. He has some symptoms that could be hypothyroidism. He has vitiligo & diabetes. He is grossly under weight due to his stomach being removed when he was about 65. He is complaining of being tired a lot & has had very bad dizzy days & has for years. He cannot stay awake & his blood pressure is always very very low.

Now I know many would point out his age, understandably. However, as I recently learnt I have thyroid antibodies & many other symptoms of hypothyroid (plus like him I have vitiligo) I am wondering if it is feasible or wise to ask his GP to check all his bloods? I have been asked to go with him on Friday to the doctors to get recent blood test results (not sure what they were testing), this is an opportunity to talk to his doctor.

Should he have hypothyroidism, would it be too dangerous to treat now? He was very ill a year ago with small stones in his bile ducts, they did not operate. It would be a mega task for me to get cooperation from my mother with any great change in diet or medication I think - both are exceptionally with it (mum is younger) but I doubt they would stand against their GP if necessary. I do not live near them but visit every few weeks. He is my Dad & it grieves me to think he is possibly suffering a treatable disease.

[Guest guest]

Hi n,

This sounds like Vitamin B12 deficiency. It has all the signs. Due to the stomach being removed there will be malabsorbtion and that means no B12 therefore he will also be anaemic and with all the symptoms you describe. He needs a blood test for B12 and other bloods to exclude Pernicious Anaemia. Has he had these done? When a stomach is cut down in size these blood tests need to be done regularly. Is he already on B12 injections? I find it difficult to believe that he would have had that operation on his stomach and NOT been prescribed it..... (that's what he needs). If he is already on B12 injections then he may need them more often.

Tricky one! Please advise

My father is 90 years old. He has some symptoms that could be hypothyroidism. He has vitiligo & diabetes. He is grossly under weight due to his stomach being removed when he was about 65. He is complaining of being tired a lot & has had very bad dizzy days & has for years. He cannot stay awake & his blood pressure is always very very low. Now I know many would point out his age, understandably. However, as I recently learnt I have thyroid antibodies & many other symptoms of hypothyroid (plus like him I have vitiligo) I am wondering if it is feasible or wise to ask his GP to check all his bloods? I have been asked to go with him on Friday to the doctors to get recent blood test results (not sure what they were testing), this is an opportunity to talk to his doctor.Should he have hypothyroidism, would it be too dangerous to treat now? He was very ill a year ago with small stones in his bile ducts, they did not operate. It would be a mega task for me to get cooperation from my mother with any great change in diet or medication I think - both are exceptionally with it (mum is younger) but I doubt they would stand against their GP if necessary. I do not live near them but visit every few weeks. He is my Dad & it grieves me to think he is possibly suffering a treatable disease.

[Guest guest]

Hi na,

So sorry to hear about your dear Dad – you sound

so caring – could it be that he is anaemic even B12 anaemia especially if

he has had his stomach operated on.

I am not sure thyroid hormone would help immediately

until you find out what else could be going on – even heart failure which

is not as serious as it sounds – he might need digoxin like my 92 year old

Mum takes to keep her heart beating.

I would go along to his GP and have a word about your

concerns – I do about my Mum – have done on several occasions.

I hope this helps – and do hope you get the

help you need.

Thinking of you

Best wishes

Mandy

[Guest guest]

Lilian,

Thank you! That gives me a bit of confidence & I am now prepared to say to his

GP if necessary that I " know of someone Dad's age who is being treated " . Its a

confidence thing to push for care as I guess many GPs will not bother past a

certain age. I remember when I was nursing years ago a consultant telling me

not to bother testing the urine of the older ladies on the ward (orthopaedic) as

I had picked up someone with an infection! It didn't stop me of course!

Its possible that he may not have hypothyroidism but I suspect that with his

other autoimmune problems he probably has. I will ask for his thyroid

antibodies to be tested (plus few other things people have suggested). Asking

for his results might be difficult though as I am not the patient. Dad also has

a bit of a needle phobia!

Thanks Lilian,

(sorry, I missed my name off the original post)

>

> On 29 Feb 2012, at 00:32, " julianadivarna " <julianaraymondo@...> wrote:

>

> > My father is 90 years old. He has some symptoms that could be

hypothyroidism. He has vitiligo & diabetes. He is grossly under weight due to

his stomach being removed when he was about 65. He is complaining of being tired

a lot & has had very bad dizzy days & has for years. He cannot stay awake & his

blood pressure is always very very low.

>

> >

> >

>

[Guest guest]

Hi ,

Good point - thank you! I had forgotten, he did say years ago that he can tell

when he needs his B12 injection as he started to feel rough. Perhaps like you

say he deficient and is perhaps not getting it soon enough. He does take an

iron tablet but I'm not sure how much & he has tending to reduce the dose

himself so I will check that out. I did notice last time that I saw him that he

was slightly breathless. Perhaps I should ask for B12, heamoglobin and

ferritin. I am not sure if there are other tests for pernicious aneamia.

He actually had a total gastrectomy for cancer, they didn't leave any of his

stomach at all. He has done so well to survive it, thank God.

Best wishes to you and thank you for taking the time to help, much appreciated

>

> Hi n,

> This sounds like Vitamin B12 deficiency. It has all the signs. Due to the

stomach being removed there will be malabsorbtion and that means no B12

therefore he will also be anaemic and with all the symptoms you describe. He

needs a blood test for B12 and other bloods to exclude Pernicious Anaemia.

>

> Tricky one! Please advise

>

>

>

> My father is 90 years old. He has some symptoms that could be

hypothyroidism. He has vitiligo & diabetes. He is grossly under weight due to

his stomach being removed when he was about 65. He is complaining of being tired

a lot & has had very bad dizzy days & has for years. He cannot stay awake & his

blood pressure is always very very low.

>

[Guest guest]

Thanks Mandy,

I feel more focused now. Last time I saw him I noticed he had become slightly

breathless and wondered if he had heart failure. I had not considered that low

B12 or iron deficiency could be contributing. I will ask his GP on Friday about

aneamia and his B12 & ferritin level plus thyroid antibodies, ( I am really

hoping he will let me go in with him, he has in the past). I hope his GP will

give me the time.

Thanks for taking the trouble to help, what a brilliant help & resource this

forum is!

x

>

>could it be that he is anaemic even B12 anaemia especially if he has had his

stomach

> operated on.

>

>

> I am not sure thyroid hormone would help immediately until you find out what

> else could be going on - even heart failure which is not as serious as it

> sounds - he might need digoxin like my 92 year old Mum takes to keep her

> heart beating.

>

[Guest guest]

, your Dad might benefit from the sublingual B12 caplets

1000mcgs twice daily. A good brand is Solgar and you can buy these from a good

health food store. These dissolve under the tongue and are absorbed directly

into the blood stream through the tiny capillaries. Also, you can buy B12 drops

that are potent, and you put these under the tongue too.

Luv - Sheila

Good point - thank you! I had forgotten, he did say years ago that he can tell

when he needs his B12 injection as he started to feel rough. Perhaps like you

say he deficient and is perhaps not getting it soon enough. He does take an

iron tablet but I'm not sure how much & he has tending to reduce the dose

himself so I will check that out. I did notice last time that I saw him that he

was slightly breathless. Perhaps I should ask for B12, heamoglobin and

ferritin. I am not sure if there are other tests for pernicious aneamia.

He actually had a total gastrectomy for cancer, they didn't leave any of his

stomach at all. He has done so well to survive it, thank God.

[Guest guest]

Hi ,

Pleasure!

No good taking Iron if not enough B12 as it is the catalyst that makes the iron

work. Ask the GP straight out about it, he will then know that you know and

hopefully he will do all the bloods necessary.

Re: Tricky one! Please advise

[Guest guest]

Just thought I'd say if you ring the practice and ask them to book you a double appointment that means he will have enough time, and you do not have to tell the receptionist why, It's confidential!

Re: Tricky one! Please advise

Thanks Mandy,I feel more focused now. Last time I saw him I noticed he had become slightly breathless and wondered if he had heart failure. I had not considered that low B12 or iron deficiency could be contributing. I will ask his GP on Friday about aneamia and his B12 & ferritin level plus thyroid antibodies, ( I am really hoping he will let me go in with him, he has in the past). I hope his GP will give me the time.Thanks for taking the trouble to help, what a brilliant help & resource this forum is!x > >could it be that he is anaemic even B12 anaemia especially if he has had his stomach> operated on.> > > I am not sure thyroid hormone would help immediately until you find out what> else could be going on - even heart failure which is not as serious as it> sounds - he might need digoxin like my 92 year old Mum takes to keep her> heart beating.>

[Guest guest]

Thanks Mandy - and to all who gave such good advice

Dad did let me go with him (with great reservations as he has great deference -

is that the word?) for his GP. He did not want me to complicate things.

I did manage to tell the GP that my Dad was breathless and he took note despite

dad trying to tell him it was just the weather! Also pointed out that Dad has

autoimmune disease (vitiligo/diabetes) and that I have autoimmune thyroiditis.

He then agreed to check his TSH but would not check his antibodies as he said

that if his TSH was normal then there was no point! I said there was some

controversy over the TSH but could not pursue it. He did order another full

blood test which he had whilst we were there. His HB was 14 point something and

he mentioned him taking his iron but said that was normal. He has B12 injection

every 3 months which he booked for next week.

I really couldn't do more than that - it was " tricky " indeed as dad wasn't keen

for me to stir anything up. GP told him that if he heard nothing then his

results are normal, he will know the results Monday. I plan to ring and find

out was his TSH is though, if they will tell me. Incidently his diabetes has

deteriated but I am sure that is because he has a secret stash of sweets and

chocolate, hence he is having his drugs increased. He wouldn't confess to this

when the doc asked if his diet had changed, even when I mentioned his blood

sugar spiked when he ate chocolate!

Thanks again to those of you who replied - it was truly helpful. Maybe when I

get myself sorted out (seeing endo & also Dr P at end of month) then maybe my

parents will see a change in me (hopefully) and they might be more open. I am

now keen to at least learn what his TSH is.

Best wishes and many thanks,

x

>

> Just thought I'd say if you ring the practice and ask them to book you a

double appointment that means he will have enough time, and you do not have to

tell the receptionist why, It's confidential!

> Re: Tricky one! Please advise

>

>

>

>

> Thanks Mandy,

>

> I feel more focused now. Last time I saw him I noticed he had become

slightly breathless and wondered if he had heart failure. I had not considered

that low B12 or iron deficiency could be contributing. I will ask his GP on

Friday about aneamia and his B12 & ferritin level plus thyroid antibodies, ( I

am really hoping he will let me go in with him, he has in the past). I hope his

GP will give me the time.

>

[Guest guest]

HI there ,

You did a grand job – you couldn’t do any

more bless you !

Let us know what the blood test results are

Best wishes

Mandy

[Guest guest]

Just to report back following going to the doctors with my 90 year old father!

I was disappointed that I didn't ask for a few more tests. I actually had a

list in my bag but because dad didn't want any fuss I darent bring it out. I

tried to remember what was on it but miserably failed. However he did have his

TSH done, doc thought it pointless checking his thyroid antibodies even though

he has autoimmune disease as he said if his TSH is ok there is nothing wrong

with his thyroid! I did mention that there was some controversy about that (no

response).

Anyway, when I later rang the receptionist for results she did tell me that

everything was ok (!) and told me his TSH was 3.11 (ref 0.3-5.5). I told mum

that in some countries dad would be treated but she chose the quiet life and

decided not to upset dad. I suppose it would be difficult as he is very

complicated (vitiligo, diabetes, total gastrectomy & 90 & almost certainly

adrenal problems). I would have loved to take him to see Dr P. I feel bad that

he does not know & has no choice. He is very hard of hearing & so it would be a

difficult concept to explain to him. I did manage to ask for a hearing test

though!

Thanks for your interest & help

x

>

>

> Let us know what the blood test results are

>

>

> Best wishes

>

>

>

> Mandy

>