Doctors and facts

Mar 07, 2007 3 Replies

A few years ago my Mother was diagnosed with Alzheimer's. Since then, she has seen a baker's dozen of doctors, each prescribing drugs with more, and worse, side effects.



A couple of weeks ago, one of my Sister's clients (a psychiatrist) noticed my Mother's odd gait and spent a few minutes talking to my Mother. Her diagnosis was that my Mother did not have Alzheimer's, and sure enough, a bit of surgery seems to have solved my Mother's mental problems.



Now, my Dad is a Ph.D with several years of med. school, and he had assured me several times that every aspect of the Alzheimer's diagnoses had been double checked.



I guess those doctors were not as careful as they said they were.



Aaron


THat is incredible, Aaron! I hope that your mother continues to be healthy.

Higs, Katherine

So what was it? My guess would be a blocked carotid artery, but my family and I are getting to the age where things happen and I'd like to know what to watch out for. What connected the gait with whatever it was?

=Tamar

It was hydrocephaly, where the pressure in the skull is not controlled. Gait indicates impaired function of the brain stem, which is different from the memory issues of Alzheimer's. Surgically, they implanted a little pressure relief valve that relieves the pressure. As many as 5% of what is diagnosed as Alzheimer's is actually hydrocephaly.

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