[Wotcher]

I'm very worried for my mother. She's been acting very weird ever since Thursday, August 10, 2006.

I'm new to this board and I've noticed that a lot of the posts are made by the persons suffering a disorder. But I need some help and I don't know what to do. I'm 18 years old and I'm very worried for my mother.

This year has been awful for our family. Ever since Aug. 2005 we've been experiencing problems. Two family members moved in, and caused a lot of problems and fights at home. They've moved out this summer (2006). My mom suffered an accident after getting her new car (it was totaled). My two sisters got into a car accident also like three weeks after. (They're all ok, thank God). My mom suffered a bump to the head but according to the doctor she's ok. My mom's body has been hurting a LOT. And recently, since like Thursday, August 10, 2006 she's been acting very weird.

It started by her mentioning that she thinks people are checking on her. That people are "recording" her when she's talking on the phone. Every time I talk to her, she brings up the same topics and asks me questions. And after every question, she adds a "huh?" to the end of it (this is not normal behaviour for her). When I look into her eyes, they look empty and sad and weary. I don't know what's wrong with her!

Ever since her accident, she's been obsessing over that she's not the one that should be at fault. She even wrote a letter to the courthouse telling them that she's not at fault (this was before she started acting weird). What does it mean if a person thinks they're being followed, or if someone is checking on her? She doesn't even want our dog walking around freely. She thinks the pet control might come and "arrest" him for a biting incident a couple years back (he was put on quarantine, but they let him off; he's not aggressive).

I'm really sorry if my post violates the ROC or something. I read it over and didn't find anything that prohibits what I'm doing. I just need someone to talk to. I'm really frightened that my mom might not get better and I miss "her." I want her to come back to normal and to be the way she was. I can't stand it!

Also, we went to the emergency room, because she was freaking out about her blood pressure, we spent 8 hours there waiting for the doctor. After spending a little bit of time with him, I think he notice there might be something wrong with her. He referred her to a neurologist to make sure there's nothing wrong with her brain functions. The earliest appointment we could get was August 31, 2006. Like TWO weeks from now! Please, I just need some help! I can't cope with this. My mom has always been strong and reasonable and I can't go through watching her this way. I'm starting to avoid her because I get super depressed everytime she comes up wanting to discuss the same things. Someone, please help me. Provide me with some hope or something.

Thank you for "listening" to me.

-Wotcher

[__zh]

Wotcher,

we just got through being an advocate for a friend facing medical testing, hospitalizations and such. w/o our persistant phone calls, and constant nudging this person would still be waiting to get into specialists.

it took our calling, and identifying ourselves as advocate to the receptionist/nurse/physician's assistant/or doctor, and chipping away at the answer no. for our friend's condition was too serious to wait as long as the medical system kept telling us.

personally the first thing that came to mind after reading your post was GET HER TO A NEUROLOGIST NOW! as in that's great they've scheduled her at the end of this month but find someone in that office that you can explain the SEVERITY of her symptoms to.

for our friend there was one office who had scheduled an appointment for six weeks from when we called. the pain this person was in was horrible to watch so we used every power word we could think of when talking with the receptionist to express how severe our friend's symptoms were..........the receptionist got our friend in THAT DAY!! not six weeks from that day!! all it took was one person hearing us spell out how serious the situation was. we hope that someone will hear you.

find a way to get her in to see a neurologist sooner than two weeks. if that doesn't turn up anything then perhaps asking the neuro. for a referral to a psychiatrist.

something about sudden onset seems more like brain injury to us......then again we're merely someone posing on a mental health site so we don't have deep knowledge about brain injury or schizophrenia or psychosis.

check the physical first if possible.........hopefully you'll get some answers there.........if not then onto the psychiatrist side of things.

good luck and take care of you too. you're handling an awful lot for your age. reach out to some trusted ppl so that you too are being supported.

[Sarah116]

That is great you could get even two weeks away!, it could be many things and by talking to a doctor about what is going on with her and the doctor doing some tests like MRIs and EGGs what might be wrong can be found pretty quick! Maybe it is something else though that does not show up on a test or with a Medical doctor. Maybe she after that might want to be referred to a Psychologist or something. For now keep an eye on her and support her! Good luck to you both and God bless!

[Wotcher]

Thanks for the reply Zh. We've talked to the lady there at the neurology center and the best she can do is call if someone cancels. My dad tried talking to her but she won't budge.

[Wotcher]

She's gotten an MRI done. I'm not sure if she's gotten her results yet. I think they didn't find anything wrong with her. I need to check again cause they've done other things.

hey and welcome to PC!

I don't hav much useful advice for you, just wanted to welcome you and let you know you are NOT violating ROC at all. This board is for both those suffering from mental illness and there caregivers.

In fact, if you haven't found it yet, you may want to look at this board:

http://forums.psychcentral.com/postl...ard=caregivers

[__zh]

if this is the only neuro. office available then it sounds like the cancellation list is the best option.

if you're near any major medical centers start calling their neuro. depts. and asking around. it never hurts to seek another opinion........even if you haven't received the first one yet!

really hope that you are able to get some answers for your mom.

kindly,

[Sarah116]

Maybe it is a brain tumor, or partial seizures?

[January]

Hi Wotcher,

Welcome to PC. I'm so very glad you found us.

In January of this year, I suffered a traumatic brain injury. My injury turned my life inside out and upside down in a heart beat.

Different parts of the brain affect different behaviors. Perhaps your Mom's damage was in the spot that effects paranoia.

I do know you are absolutely on the right track in getting her into the nuerologist asap. MRIs show there are no bleeds, but the damage can still be there.

Please make sure someone goes with your Mom who can fully explain your Mom's behaviors. Please document everything in detail and hand it to the nurse and ask that the nuerologist reads it before he sees your mother. In fact, if you can take it in a day or so ahead of time, it would give him time to think it over before he sees her.

I do want to tell you that healing comes, but it comes slowly. I had to learn a lot of things again and I still have some problems but I've improved so much. Don't despair. Don't give up hope. There are a lot of good meds and activities that nueros use to help their patients heal.

If I can help you in any way, please feel free to send a pm to me. I'm here.

I think you are an awesome daughter.

Jan

[Wotcher]

Thank you guys for the replies!

I forgot to add that sometimes, my mom seems to be normal. And mostly when she awakes from sleep, she starts thinking up stuff and trying to talk about things in a very weird way. Do you think that's something? That sometimes she seems normal. I've wondered if she's just acting that way, because she's told me that she knows we think she's crazy and she says she remembers the things she says. I'm just so confused right now.

Thanks for your reply January, although I appreciate you commending me, I have to say I'm a male. But, no worries!

I'll be checking in often. And I'll take some of you guys' offers of PMing.

-Wotcher

[January]

Hi Wotcher,

I'm so sorry for the mistake. You are a wonderful son!

Hugs,

Jan

[Wotcher]

Ok, we took mom to a psychology center yesterday (August, Saturday 19, 2006). They said she's "severely depressed." She stayed overnight, and today (Sunday 20, 2006) we went to visit her. We took her some stuff like clothes so she could be comfortable. While we were out, a doctor visited her and prescribed her some pills so she can relax.

Tomorrow (Monday 21, 2006) she's going to be seen by a doctor that can speak spanish. I really hope it is just depression and not anything serious. She still hasn't seen a neurologist and her appointment is August, Thursday 31, 2006.

I'll keep you guys updated.

[January]

Wotcher,

What ever you do, make sure your Mom sees that nuerologist.

Hugs,

Jan

[Wotcher]

Ok, my mom is back home, and she seems ok. I'm so glad that she was just depressed and nothing serious like mental problems.

We still have the neurologist appointment and I can't wait til next week. I just hope that her brain's ok. Thanks you guys for the help during this difficult time for me.

-Wotcher