st123
Distinguished member
- Joined
- Feb 2, 2012
- Messages
- 304
- Reason
- Lost a loved one
- Country
- US
- State
- Michigan
- City
- Mid
Since my Dad's diagnosis earlier this week, I have spent hours on the internet. There is so much information and so many new medical terms to learn.
My Dad is 78, which seems much older than most of the cases I've been reading about. I'm interested in learning about others' experience with ALS in senior citizens. As if the disease isn't bad enough, I'm concerned about how we're going to deal with all of this as well as with his existing heart, diabetes, blood pressure, gout, and arthritis issues.
We will meet with a specialist next week and I'd like to have a good list of questions to ask.
He's still driving which scares me to death as he seems to be getting so much worse so quickly. Will the doctor advise him to stop?
He is having issues with excess saliva and problems with speech and swallowing. Any thoughts as to what to expect next and when with these problems? Does the Riluzole help?
He's also having a terrible time breathing. The doctor said his diaphragm is affected and not working well. He said that the specialist will determine if he's a if he's a candidate for a diaphragm 'pacemaker'. Does anyone have any experience with this?
I'm going to ask the specialist about mental issues. I'm sure he's depressed, though I understand that the crying is also a symptom of the disease. I'm worried about other issues though - short term memory loss, obsessive behavior, and lack of judgment. I thought that these were due to the stress associated with his house burning down a few months ago, but now I'm wondering if they're related to his disease. How do I know?
I know I sound like a candidate for the worst daughter of the year award since he has so many symptoms and has just been diagnosed, but we've been trying to figure it out for seven months and have had him hospitalized 3 times in that time period, but no one figured out it was ASL until we saw a new cardiac doctor last week. He seemed to suspect it immediately and made the neuro referral and now here we are. I would really appreciate any thoughts anyone has to offer. Thank you.
My Dad is 78, which seems much older than most of the cases I've been reading about. I'm interested in learning about others' experience with ALS in senior citizens. As if the disease isn't bad enough, I'm concerned about how we're going to deal with all of this as well as with his existing heart, diabetes, blood pressure, gout, and arthritis issues.
We will meet with a specialist next week and I'd like to have a good list of questions to ask.
He's still driving which scares me to death as he seems to be getting so much worse so quickly. Will the doctor advise him to stop?
He is having issues with excess saliva and problems with speech and swallowing. Any thoughts as to what to expect next and when with these problems? Does the Riluzole help?
He's also having a terrible time breathing. The doctor said his diaphragm is affected and not working well. He said that the specialist will determine if he's a if he's a candidate for a diaphragm 'pacemaker'. Does anyone have any experience with this?
I'm going to ask the specialist about mental issues. I'm sure he's depressed, though I understand that the crying is also a symptom of the disease. I'm worried about other issues though - short term memory loss, obsessive behavior, and lack of judgment. I thought that these were due to the stress associated with his house burning down a few months ago, but now I'm wondering if they're related to his disease. How do I know?
I know I sound like a candidate for the worst daughter of the year award since he has so many symptoms and has just been diagnosed, but we've been trying to figure it out for seven months and have had him hospitalized 3 times in that time period, but no one figured out it was ASL until we saw a new cardiac doctor last week. He seemed to suspect it immediately and made the neuro referral and now here we are. I would really appreciate any thoughts anyone has to offer. Thank you.