Neurological problems, rapid deterioration

[raveefie]

Hello,
Please help me.  My mom is 79 years old, and has been healthy and active her whole life.   Last year in Dec 2014 she developed pneumonia and was given antibiotics.  Ever since then her strength has been gradually declining.  She went for a vacation to Bangkok in July 2015.  By now she was having trouble walking long distances.  I’d like to mention that in Bangkok she caught some kind of virus or illness and was given antibiotics.  She recovered relatively quickly (in about 3 days) and was back in the same state as before the illness.  She got back to the states at the end of July and her decline in strength continued.  

She saw her PC and was referred to a rheumatologist who thought that she had secondary fibromyalgia, and was put on 10 mg of Prednisone and 200 mg Gabapentin morning and 100 mg in the evening.  Her symptoms did not improve.  Meanwhile, they did all the blood work, and everything came back normal except for slightly positive for ANA.  They also did a brain MRI, and it was normal.  

She saw her rheumatologist again on Dec. 23, and the doctor said that she does not know what’s going on with my mom.  She suggested seeing a neurologist.  On Christmas day, she complained of extreme ache and pain on her legs.  Her arms were also aching very badly.  We took her ER, and the doctor did not do much except to run another blood with everything coming back normal.  They gave her intravenous Lorazepam and sent her home.  

We got her to a neurologist on Dec. 31.  He did some tests on her like having her touch her nose, strength, etc.  Her hands were slightly trembling, which never happened before, and he concluded that she could have rapid-onset Parkinism, but there is really no test for that.  He prescribed a low dose of Ropinirole (0.25 mg).  He thought that it was caused by medication she was taking or from a virus.  I doubt that it is Parkinson’s.  I would like to have her test for Guillian-Barre Syndrome just to rule that out.  I felt that she had every symptom of that disease.  She feels like her body is attacking itself, and I do feel that it is some kind of immune system problem. Her declination seems to be speeding up.  Just a week and a half ago she was still able to walk around the house with only some difficulty.  Now she can hardly move at all, she needs to be helped to get up and walk, and has trouble doing any basic movements whether with her arms, legs, hands or fingers. She sleeps pretty all day now.  She is also getting nauseous all the time, and hardly eats anymore.  I have no info on how to get the tests done as quickly as possible.  I’m her only child and I’m at my wits end and don’t know what to do.  Any suggestions or comment will be greatly appreciated.  

[raveefie]

Thank you so much for replying, tschock.  I will do exactly that, keep trying different doctors.  Mom is still in the hospital getting all kinds of tests done.  Meanwhile, the neurologists still don't know what's wrong with her, and she keeps getting weaker.  She cannot stand up anymore and barely eats.  They did a whole body CAT scan and more blood work.  They have been giving her Baclafen to relax her muscle and an antidepressant.  It's very frustrating because nobody has an answer.  They have not ruled out rapid-onset Parkinson's.  Thank you so much for your kind words.

[tschock]

I am so sorry to hear this. I feel really awful for you.
The only thing you can do for her is to keep doing what you are doing...being there for her. Keep trying different doctors. Sometimes, if you're lucky, you will just happen to bump into a doctor that has seen something like it before, and will know exactly what it is and what to do about it.
I had been getting tested for MS ( or rather to rule everything else out to see if it was MS ) when I happened to see a doctor who suffered from Menniere's Disease. What a blessing! She heard my symptoms and asked if anyone else had looked in my ears...I said no...so she did...YAY!!  She gave me some Serc and sent me on my merry little way. I LOVE HER!! After all those years of suffering and unneeded anti-depressants...and all it took was for someone to look in my ears.
I'm hoping that your mom will find "that" doctor.
Good luck, and keep us posted.