mum's legs giving way - worried

[crisgal]

here's a tricky one ( i'm kinda hoping sqad will stop by!)

My 73 year old mum has lots of medical issues. In a nutshell, she has a dicky heart valve, a pacemaker, has diabetes, emphasema (sp), stage 4 kidney disease, has had deep vein thrombosis in her leg, two minor strokes and a heart attack.
Apart from that she's fit as a fiddle!
She gets about ok, on her little scooter, tries to look after herself, eating the right things etc.
Recently, her legs have given way from under her, without warning. Twice where there has been no feeling at all, and twice where she had some feeling, but they sort of wobbled and she knew she had to sit down. Fortunately, it has happened when someone has been with her and she hasn't fallen.

It has really kncked her confidence and she is so worried. She thinks that she now has something else seriously wrong, and she won't tell the dr and says she would rather not know - as she won't be able to take another illness on board.
i say, it could be part of something she already has, and they may be able to increase or change her medication.
I can't go to the dr for her, and she really doesn't want to know.
I'm worried it will happen when no-one's around.

Does anyone have any idea what it could be?

[droopdrawers]

Hi. You mention Diabetes.....this may be something to do with the feet and legs giving way. I don't have it but a friend has it quite bad and many other symptoms too.

I believe there can be a loss of feeling in her feet making her suseptible to a fall.
I expect you already know she needs to see her GP asap to get her checked before she really goes down and does more damage.

Hope thr GP see's her very soon

DD

[ttfn]

Hi crisgal - what a worry for her and for you. It doesn't sound like vasovagal syncope - (irregular heartbeat leading to fainting) the pacemaker would sort that out. I cannot suggest anything other than to remove a possible from the list - sorry.

[Mamyalynne]

I have no clear idea as to what it could be, but you could always contact her GP and mention it and he could broach the issue at her next routine visit, which must be quite regular I take it.

Try not to worry but maybe she needs a zimmer for around the home too?


Mamya

[crisgal]

i touched her feet and she has feeling in them straight after.
she attends all her checkups and they are usually pleased with her.
she's been googling and thinks she has motor nuerone disease!

[ttfn]

crisgal - have either of you thought of a medi alert alarm to give you some peace of mind?

[Jemisa]

I think droopy has hit the nail on the head there. Definately to do with her diabetis, nerve endings etc.Please insist she sees her GP.

jem

[crisgal]

if it is her diabetes - what would it mean?
I know she needs to see dr and i will insist she goes tomorrow - i just want to stop worrying and get some sleep!

[Sqad]

crisgal.......don´t panic.....She is a woman of 73 yrs of age with well established chronic disorders, so don´t look for miracles.

Google Diabetic Neuropathy...............that sounds like a prime contender for her falls and there is little that can be done for that diabetic complication.

Motor Neurone Disease is a rank outsider for the diagnosis, so please reassure her on that score.It is not necessary to see you Dr tomorrow, the next one to two weeks will be sufficient.

The description that you give of :

<<Recently, her legs have given way from under her, without warning. Twice where there has been no feeling at all, and twice where she had some feeling, but they sort of wobbled and she knew she had to sit down<<

is not accurate enough for a precise diagnosis, but taking her pre existing conditions into mind, I stand behind my comments.

[Sqad]

crisgal....I have been thinking about your mother and there is, in my opinion a more likelier diagnosis than diabetic neuropathy...........DROP ATTACKS........Google them if you wish............sudden attacks if diminished blood flow to the brain, not life threatening and over in around one to two minutes.
We already know that the blood supply to her brain is compromised.e.g stroke,diabetes, pacemaker etc and my money would go on that diagnosis rather that diabetic neuropathy.

Again, no need to "dash" to the doctors.

[crisgal]

many many thanks sqad ♥