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Is There An Aber Who Can Converse About The Charles Bonnet Syndrome. ?

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HansUrbancka | 16:10 Sun 02nd Aug 2015 | Health & Fitness
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The reason I am asking is because in my wife has a very good friend of 50yrs whom I am thinking is now suffering from the unpleasantries of the condition......The person concerned is in her early eighties and living alone in an isolated country cottage; where she was born and has always held a wish to have her funeral from her lifetime home.

It is the case that the lady now has somewhat poor eyesight and is getting hallucinations of seeing people in her delightful garden and even within her cottage.

Next Monday, my wife's friend has an appointment to see her Doctor at 4.30pm, but is unlikely to mention her mental aberrations. Consequently, I am wondering if it would be frowned upon if my wife endeavoured to contact the Doctor and 'put him in the picture'. Would any attention be paid to such an approach to a G P.?

Hans.
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Have you read this information. It seems to be more a physical ailment than a mental one.

http://www.rnib.org.uk/eye-health-eye-conditions-z-eye-conditions/charles-bonnet-syndrome
Must admit I had never heard of this syndrome before, but the following is taken from an NHS site:

Many people who lose their sight start seeing things they know aren't real – a phenomenon known as 'Charles Bonnet syndrome'.

These hallucinations may be simple patterns or vivid, detailed images of people or buildings. They are only visual, and do not involve hearing things or any other sensations.

It's important to understand that they're caused by failing eyesight and not any mental health problem or dementia.

People with Charles Bonnet syndrome are normally aware that the visions aren't real, even if they are vivid.

If you're experiencing hallucinations, see your GP for a diagnosis of the cause.
Could your wife not go with her to the appointment?
Sorry, pressed too soon. Would it be possible for your wife to go along to the GP with her friend as a support. Seems these hallucinations are definitely not a sign of any mental disorder.
Who has made the diagnosis...? Have you Googled it?

It is extremely rare and usually in people with severe sight impairment (almost blind) most commonly due to old age, although it is uncommon in this age group.....does that make sense?

There are far more commoner causes for her symptoms and your GP will put you in the right direction.

What would be the advantage of diagnosing it?..........there is no treatment.
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@Sqad.... I was hoping that you would comment on matters.

To be quite honest I have ( for want of a better expression) Googled and have established that my wife's friend appears to tick all the boxes as being a sufferer of the Charles Bonnet Syndrome. I appreciate that there is Not any cure of the problem but I do think that, if a sufferer is aware of what is happening, they are then able to live with it. However, if they refrain from discussing matters with their GP, there is Not any way their friends and relatives can be of any help.

My big question is therefore...'How does one get the lady in question to discuss matter with her GP". ? Will the GP be interested in anything which my wife says and what is the best way to contact the GP.? It can be arranged at some considerable cost (Taxis and Community cars) for my wife to accompany her friend to the GP's Surgery.......But what is the point if my wife is Not allowed to be present when matters are discussed with the GP.

Hans.
Hans......I appreciate all the comments that you have made.

Can't your wife accompany her friend to the GP? I suppose that you could contact the GP and no, it would not be frowned upon.

One must consider much commoner reasons for her hallucinations and they include dementia and Alzheimer, also certain types of BP tablets can also cause hallucinations in the elderly.

I look forward to further moves, as this is not my area of expertise.
Question Author
Thanks Sqad for your helpful views on the issue concerned.

At the moment (for the last hour) my wife has been on the telephone to her friend and has been trying to convince her that there is Not anyone sitting in her lounge. My wife is now going to 'ring-back' and endeavour to arrange to accompany 'the patient' to the Surgery; but I am of the opinion that it should be on condition that my wife is allowed to be present when matters are discussed with the GP because her friend is likely to avoid the issue and just concern herself with the results of recent blood tests for internal pains, diabetes etc.

My wife is back on the telephone and I shall, in due course, up-date you on matters.

Hans.

Hans, my elderly aunt ( 86 this Sept ) suffers with Charles Bonnet syndrome, she tells me about the weird hallucinations that she has.
Forgot to say that she also has cataracts.
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@tonyav......It does appear to be the case that 'bad eyesight' is a prime factor.

Interesting that your aunt is in her eighties; my wife's friend is 83yrs of age.

What now bothers my wife and me is that, initially, the lovely lady I am referring to was accepting the visions to be illusionary, but is now thinking that they are real.

At the moment she is Not too keen on my wife going with her to see the GP tomorrow. Hopefully, she might change her mind by tomorrow morning.

Hans.
My mother has aged related macular degeneration for several years and she thought that she was becoming demented by seeing little people out of the corner of her eye and Cheshire cats when there was none there. She went to a conference on MD and an expert spoke about this Charles Bonnet syndrome and my mother was so relieved she still sees them at times of stress or tiredness but doctor says it is very common in people with eyesight problems
the lovely lady I am referring to was accepting the visions to be illusionary, but is now thinking that they are real.


Now that does sound like it could be a problem, Hans.
The low vision man at the eye hospital has told my aunt to inform her GP that she has CBS, apparently not a lot of GP's know very much about it.
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It is a problem Tony and I would agree that Not a lot of GP's know about it. gordiescotland1 is spot on to say that tiredness and stress is a contributory factor.." but doctor says it is very common in people with eyesight problems ".

Hans.
Hans, has she described what type of illusions she see's to you or Mrs Hans ?.
My late MIL who did not have much in the way of visual problems also had hallucinations of people being in her living room, preventing her from going to bed etc.
It was distressing for her.
She was at the start of dementia when these halluconations began. I cannot honestly remember whether it was the GP or her mental health specialist who treated her, but someone prescribed medication which removed the hallucinations.
I would suggest that your wife telephones the GP or even just leaves a message with the receptionist saying that her friend is being troubled by hallucinations.
The GP cannot discuss the friend's problems with your wife, but they can take notice of information given to them.
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@tonyav...Yes; so many, I shall only give you a few examples.

People sitting on her lawn and eating sandwiches. Chaps digging in a car parking area of her garden. Children stealing flowers. Unidentified man sitting on chair in lounge. Baby on a step of staircase. etc. etc,

Hans.
Mmmm, my aunt see's people as well and she also see's animals.
Question Author
My wife's friend ( she's mine as well; a lovely lady) has seen a black dog in her house and it is difficult trying to convince her that no way could it get in when the doors are locked.

Hans.
Yes Hans my aunt see's a Dachshund and also snakes, but she does realise that they are illusions.
Good night Hans, I'm off to bed now I will catch up with this thread tomorrow.

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