|
|
Post by putabuttononit on Jan 21, 2024 1:38:13 GMT
Mom is eighty and we lost Dad four months ago. She is a dynamo for her age, and even still works! She’s an aide for the school district. Monday she complained of an ear ache. Was extremely tired. She’s off work and on vacation with me so she rested and relaxed. Tuesday night she suddenly couldn’t remember what year it is or her age etc. She forgot her grandkids names. That lasted three hours and she was all fine again. I even quizzed her a bit. She was getting a bad headache and I insisted on taking her to urgent care. They prescribed ear drops and an antibiotic. I was worried because she was flying home. The doctor told her he didn’t see signs of stroke but follow up when she got back.
She flew home and had a good nights sleep but headache got worse and she got double vision. My sister took her to the ER.
They did an EKG, MRI, And CT scan. Also x rayed her carotid artery. They worked her over! All tests came back great, no sign of stroke etc. Ten hours later she went home.
Today her scalp hurts, headache is severe. Double vision. Ear is better.
She went back to ER and they suspected temporal arthritis. They checked for that and ruled it out.
Head scratcher! I’m worried but she’s been checked out. She doesn’t get migraines and it’s all so worrisome.
Do any of these symptoms ring any bells for anyone? When all else fails ASK THE PEAS 😜🥺
|
|
|
|
Post by dewryce on Jan 21, 2024 1:46:32 GMT
Has she been checked for a UTI? They can cause very odd symptoms in the elderly.
|
|
|
|
Post by Bridget in MD on Jan 21, 2024 1:58:56 GMT
Has she been checked for a UTI? They can cause very odd symptoms in the elderly. That was my first thought too |
|
|
|
Post by peasapie on Jan 21, 2024 1:59:16 GMT
Does she get migraines at all? All those things have happened to me to various degrees during a migraine cycle, which can last for a week or more.
|
|
|
|
Post by stampnscrap1128 on Jan 21, 2024 2:35:34 GMT
I don't have any ideas but I will be praying for her and for you.
|
|
|
|
Post by katlady on Jan 21, 2024 2:37:25 GMT
Has she been checked for a UTI? They can cause very odd symptoms in the elderly. My mom was having strange symptom one day and we took her to ER. They diagnosed her with sepsis caused by a UTI fairly quickly from her urine and blood work. And most ER’s will routinely do a urine and blood analysis when you check in. |
|
mamallama
Full Member
Posts: 138
Sept 14, 2018 7:30:33 GMT
|
Post by mamallama on Jan 21, 2024 3:28:02 GMT
Has she been checked for a UTI? They can cause very odd symptoms in the elderly. This is exactly what I thought too. My friend just had one without regular symptoms and ended up septic and hospitalized. Her biggest complaints were headache and dizziness. And fever. I only knew because I had a asymptomatic UTI at age 32 that landed me in the ICU. It’s a simple test, worth trying. Hopefully they took blood to culture? If they didn’t I would recommend she go in and have them culture everything they can think of. |
|
mamallama
Full Member
Posts: 138
Sept 14, 2018 7:30:33 GMT
|
Post by mamallama on Jan 21, 2024 3:28:42 GMT
Has she been checked for a UTI? They can cause very odd symptoms in the elderly. This is exactly what I thought too. My friend just had one without regular symptoms and ended up septic and hospitalized. Her biggest complaints were headache and dizziness. And fever. I only knew because I had a asymptomatic UTI at age 32 that landed me in the ICU. It’s a simple test, worth trying. Hopefully they took blood to culture? If they didn’t I would recommend she go in and have them culture everything they can think of. Forgot to mention my friend is only 51. So it’s not just the elderly. |
|
|
|
Post by birdy on Jan 21, 2024 3:44:41 GMT
My mom had really bad ear pain for starting about 14 days ago. Last Saturday it got bad enough she got it checked out. She also had a headache and scalp pain. Turned out she has shingles inside her ear (down where they can only see it with the thing they use to look in ears (I don't know the name). Maybe that???
|
|
|
|
Post by 950nancy on Jan 21, 2024 4:03:56 GMT
My mom had really bad ear pain for starting about 14 days ago. Last Saturday it got bad enough she got it checked out. She also had a headache and scalp pain. Turned out she has shingles inside her ear (down where they can only see it with the thing they use to look in ears (I don't know the name). Maybe that??? This happened to a friend of mine, so it was the first thing I thought, but have no idea what it really could be. OP, I hope they figure out quickly what is wrong with your mom.. |
|
|
|
Post by putabuttononit on Jan 21, 2024 7:41:45 GMT
Has she been checked for a UTI? They can cause very odd symptoms in the elderly. That was my first thought too We actually had an elderly relative who had it so bad they called in hospice. Then they discovered his UTI and he recovered rapidly and was taken off hospice care. So yes, we do know about that but she has no symptoms so they didn’t check. I called her today and urged her to go get a urinalysis tomorrow. Whoever suggested shingles - that is a really interesting possibility and Mom is going to ask her doctor about that too. She actually got a shingles shot two and a half weeks ago. |
|
|
|
Post by malibou on Jan 21, 2024 9:54:47 GMT
Shingles in her ear is my guess. My aunt had this, and it took a ridiculously long time to figure out what the problem was.
|
|
|
|
Post by mommaho on Jan 21, 2024 11:49:43 GMT
I know many have suggested a UTI and that was always my go to question. At one point my Mom's dementia symptoms got worse, she was weak, her BP was very low and we got her to the hospital right away. She did have a UTI, but she also was low in magnesium. There is a simple blood test they can do for that as well.
It is so hard when we have to ask all the questions but you are your Mom's best advocate. Hugs
|
|
pilcas
Pearl Clutcher
Posts: 2,920 
|
Post by pilcas on Jan 21, 2024 12:07:31 GMT
I wonder if it was some kind of reaction to the shingles vaccine? I had a symptomless UTI infection last year which ended up in sepsis but I had none of those symptoms, something related to the ear seems more likely.
|
|
lindas
Pearl Clutcher
Posts: 4,159
|
Post by lindas on Jan 21, 2024 12:54:14 GMT
Sounds like the same as when my mom had shingles in her head. She as miserable for several weeks. Hope they can find out what’s going on and she is back to herself quickly.
|
|
|
|
Post by Lurkingpea on Jan 21, 2024 15:46:32 GMT
Those of you replying that it might be shingles, was double vision one of the symptoms?
My mom is having similar issues, except for forgetting. Tired and double vision are most prevalent.
Doctor something in her ear and she is trying to get ENT appointment to get that checked out.
Never heard of shingles being in your head.
OP I hope you find answers for your mom.
|
|
|
|
Post by flanz on Jan 21, 2024 22:29:28 GMT
Has she been checked for a UTI? They can cause very odd symptoms in the elderly. That was my first thought too Me too! |
|
