JennieLeslie
Member
- Joined
- Aug 4, 2015
- Messages
- 15
- Reason
- CALS
- Diagnosis
- 10/2015
- Country
- US
- State
- CA
- City
- Visalia
Good day,
My husband and I have just moved to central California to care for his 83-year-old mother. We had been concerned for a while because we noticed she has begun slurring her words in our daily phone calls to the point that we can barely understand her. When we arrived, we found that in addition to progressively deteriorating speech, she also has great difficulty swallowing, especially thin liquids, has excess phlegm that she can't cough up because of a weak cough, excessive drooling, unexplained crying, and probable trachea spasms that make her feel as though she's choking. She's also lost quite a bit of weight, but has a voracious appetite. Her mind is quite clear and witty. According to her nurse practitioner, a recent MRI showed no lesions on her brain. A swallow study showed moderate motility issues. After researching, it seems fairly possible that this is bulbar onset ALS.
She's on Medicare, and so doesn't see a GP but rather a nurse practitioner. She has an appointment today to see a speech therapist, which my husband will take her to. He is going to ask the speech therapist if she can recommend to the NP that Mom see a neurologist.
I am at a loss because I've never had to deal with the medical system before. Can I just ask the nurse practitioner for a neurology referral? Mom is so afraid of being kicked out of her clinic, and so we have to tread lightly. There is a clinic about 45 minutes from us in Fresno that specializes in ALS. Can I ask for a specific referral to that clinic? Any advice on how to proceed?
I thank you all that you are willing to help others who are facing a similar future, either as a PALS or a caregiver.
Jennie
My husband and I have just moved to central California to care for his 83-year-old mother. We had been concerned for a while because we noticed she has begun slurring her words in our daily phone calls to the point that we can barely understand her. When we arrived, we found that in addition to progressively deteriorating speech, she also has great difficulty swallowing, especially thin liquids, has excess phlegm that she can't cough up because of a weak cough, excessive drooling, unexplained crying, and probable trachea spasms that make her feel as though she's choking. She's also lost quite a bit of weight, but has a voracious appetite. Her mind is quite clear and witty. According to her nurse practitioner, a recent MRI showed no lesions on her brain. A swallow study showed moderate motility issues. After researching, it seems fairly possible that this is bulbar onset ALS.
She's on Medicare, and so doesn't see a GP but rather a nurse practitioner. She has an appointment today to see a speech therapist, which my husband will take her to. He is going to ask the speech therapist if she can recommend to the NP that Mom see a neurologist.
I am at a loss because I've never had to deal with the medical system before. Can I just ask the nurse practitioner for a neurology referral? Mom is so afraid of being kicked out of her clinic, and so we have to tread lightly. There is a clinic about 45 minutes from us in Fresno that specializes in ALS. Can I ask for a specific referral to that clinic? Any advice on how to proceed?
I thank you all that you are willing to help others who are facing a similar future, either as a PALS or a caregiver.
Jennie