So, this is all second hand from Dad but the medical work-up on Mom included full physical, breast x-ray, chest x-ray, head scan (MRI or CT scan I do not know). And the results are in. With the exception of her brain, Mother is in reasonably good health. I am beginning to think that maybe a life of "eat, drink and be merry" might be the better way to live. You might not live as long, but you might have more fun and you will not need to linger so long with a healthy body but no mind to appreciate it at the end. But I digress...
In the final report to Dad the doctor referred to a couple items that are naturally distressing.
The chest x-ray and brain scan both showed signs of TIA's or "mini strokes". A TIA or transient ischemic attack is a brief (seconds or minutes) blocking of blood flow to an area of the body, often the brain. This blockage then "breaks up or moves on" usually without medical intervention and the sequence can happen repeatedly. This process is damaging the brain by blocking blood flow.
Next item, the doctor reported that the brain scan showed classic evidence of Alzheimer's. Or, to quote webmd.com:
CT scans can show certain changes that are characteristic of Alzheimer's disease in its later stages.
These changes include a reduction in the size of the brain, referred to as atrophy.
Since the physical and testing was completed, last week, Mom has apparently been very agitated, displaying anger and confusion why the doctor was poking an prodding her since there is nothing wrong with her.
Linda and Mark and I will be going up to visit on Sunday, take a casserole for lunch and give Dad a break for a while. Take Mom for a walk, help Dad get his new satellite system set up and generally be there for awhile.
I figure the whole situation is in God's hands now.
No comments:
Post a Comment