Neurological questions— we need some answers

[LaloGS]

My partner of 12 years was getting off a bus here in Bogotá, Colombia when the bus lurched and he banged his head hard on the door of the bus. He was disoriented for a bit but seemed to recover after an hour. That happened over two years ago.

About 10 months later, he began having what we call "episodes" in which he would suddenly mentally travel in time back to some earlier year n his life. Sometimes it would be a year after we had met, and he would know who I am. But other times, it would be earlier in his life and he would be clueless about me, and often that made him afraid of me.

Lately when an episode occurs, he often doesn't know even his own name, and a worrying side effect is that he is losing feelings in parts of both of his hands.

He has resisted seeing a doctor, because we live on Social Security income, and besides the expense, he doesn't trust Colombian doctors, due to some things we've seen happen here. He's agreed to go to Houston to be tested, and if possible treated, but we are sort of stumped as to how to go about it. He does have Medicare coverage for hospital stays, but no other health insurance.

Any suggestions as to how we should proceed to get these tests done ASAP, and even a recommendation for a good neurologist there would be appreciated.

 

[3nipples]

I don't have much experience with dementia beyond the everyday stuff you pick up, but what I do know leads me to believe that a medical visit is a must!

There are different possible causes, including the head injury you describe, but I would have expected symptoms to appear sooner than 10 months, but maybe you just didn't notice them.

Other possibilities to consider are:
- alzheimers
- vitamin deficiency (possibly associated with alcohol abuse)
- aids or HIV medication
- brain tumour
- stroke

Are there other symptoms besides what you described, like depression, mood swings, poor judgement, loss of motor function?

I can understand your wanting to look for medical treatment in the States, but consider that it may take many, many different tests to rule out different possibilities before your doctors can come up with answers and that can take many trips to the hospital over several weeks.

An extended trip to Houston may end up being more expensive than treatment in Bogota. Keep in mind that once diagnosed, you needn't commit to any treatments in Bogota.

 

[LaloGS]

I don't have much experience with dementia beyond the everyday stuff you pick up, but what I do know leads me to believe that a medical visit is a must!He's actually now said he would see a neurologist in the states, but not here. He's still mulling over the idea of treatment.

There are different possible causes, including the head injury you describe, but I would have expected symptoms to appear sooner than 10 months, but maybe you just didn't notice them.That's entirely possible, because I don't always immediately recognize when an episode is occurring unless it is severe. There are many that only appeared to have taken place and we didn't know about them until he mentions that he can't remember a certain period of time.

Other possibilities to consider are:
- alzheimersI know what Alzheimers looks like, and I don't think this is it-
- vitamin deficiency (possibly associated with alcohol abuse)He doesn't drink alcohol and hasn't since he was in his late teens. He's 65 now, and takes a very good multi-vitimin daily, and we are generally vegetarian except for fish and chicken once in a while
- aids or HIV medicationDoesn't take these meds, but does have what a doctor once called a compromised immune system after a bout with Herpes.
- brain tumourMy first guess since the head bashing on the bus.
- strokeI know what strokes look like, but he has none of the symptoms that he's had one.

Are there other symptoms besides what you described, like depression, mood swings, poor judgment, loss of motor function? Once in a while, he falls down almost as if the electricity has been turned off. Of course, the symptoms make him somewhat depressed but generally he's not. He calls it blacking out. There was a period when he would get very paranoid and angry with me for trying to keep him in the house during and episode. Now if he's in an episode and wants to go out of the house, I let him, and follow along at a distance to make sure he's safe. RE: poor judgment I'd say not really unless he is experiencing an episode, then yes, he often wants to get on the first plane he can get to to go any where it happens to be going. But when he is not in an episode, he does not exhibit poor judgment in my opinion. When he is in an episode, he does not always know something is wrong, but sometimes he does. It's very hard to pin down.

I can understand your wanting to look for medical treatment in the States, but consider that it may take many, many different tests to rule out different possibilities before your doctors can come up with answers and that can take many trips to the hospital over several weeks. We realize it could take a while, and it would mean renting a furnished apartment if we can find one on a month to month basis.

An extended trip to Houston may end up being more expensive than treatment in Bogota. Keep in mind that once diagnosed, you needn't commit to any treatments in Bogota.The problem of tests being done here in Bogotá, is we've had conversations with two doctors, both of whom wanted to treat the problem with accupuncture techniques, without running a battery of test which we think should be normal under the circumstances. MRI, blood tests, and pyschcelogical profiling. Also they view us as "rich" Americans, and the price for their services is not cheap. We figure that we will get a better diagnosis in Houston than here, and have access to better treatment there as well. If need be, we will move back to Houston to deal with this.

Thanks much for your post.
Best,
Lalo

I have to enter this sentence to get this to post.

 

[justsimon]

He may be having seizures of some kind. They're not always the traditional sort.

Sometimes my seizures manifest as lapses in my awareness of my surroundings or very strong memories and smells (nothing as strong as what you've described, but you never know).

I'm glad he's finally agreed to see a doctor.

 

[oz_doc]

yeh my bet would be on partial complex epileptic seizures affecting the memory centres of his brain, the history of collapsing is also consistent with this. Epilepsy can come on after trauma or head injury, in my experience its normally more severe trauma like car accidents etc but dont see why it couldnt be milder. Definitely worth getting it checked out as it may be preventable with antiepileptics and clearly the symptoms are distressing you both.

 

[Yves]

Epilepsy is an alternative as already suggested. Check the Colombian Neurological Society ("Asociación Colombiana de Neurología") website. The directory link provides a list of resources available in Bogota and other cities:
http://www.acnweb.org/pg1/dir.htm

Best of luck.

 

[Shiva Rea Von]

My partner of 12 years was getting off a bus here in Bogotá, Colombia when the bus lurched and he banged his head hard on the door of the bus. He was disoriented for a bit but seemed to recover after an hour. That happened over two years ago.

About 10 months later, he began having what we call "episodes" in which he would suddenly mentally travel in time back to some earlier year n his life. Sometimes it would be a year after we had met, and he would know who I am. But other times, it would be earlier in his life and he would be clueless about me, and often that made him afraid of me.

Lately when an episode occurs, he often doesn't know even his own name, and a worrying side effect is that he is losing feelings in parts of both of his hands.

He has resisted seeing a doctor, because we live on Social Security income, and besides the expense, he doesn't trust Colombian doctors, due to some things we've seen happen here. He's agreed to go to Houston to be tested, and if possible treated, but we are sort of stumped as to how to go about it. He does have Medicare coverage for hospital stays, but no other health insurance.

Any suggestions as to how we should proceed to get these tests done ASAP, and even a recommendation for a good neurologist there would be appreciated.

Has your partner used any drugs? Many drugs like cocaine for example can trigger neurological problems that effect memory, motor functions, cause numbing sensations or even psychosis, especially when taken over a period of time. Just something to consider.

 

[LaloGS]

Has your partner used any drugs? Many drugs like cocaine for example can trigger neurological problems that effect memory, motor functions, cause numbing sensations or even psychosis, especially when taken over a period of time. Just something to consider.

None. He won't even take an aspirin for a headache. Doesn't drink alcohol either.

 

[mrcorbin]

A good friend of mine just had a situation with her mother.. one day fine..the next she couldn't remember a thing that happened since a few years ago. Not so sure it would be related to the bus accident tho (strictly my opinion..and I don't have a PHD... just a BBA..so far! lol) Sometimes stress can do more than you think. I would go see a doctor no matter what. In the US you can pay off med bills without it hurting your credit as if you did not pay a regular bill.. I don't really know about much about Bogota.

 

[jb63]

Did they check him for a concussion? and was there a follow-up check later on? Sometimes there are slow bleeds in the brain and they can effect people in all sorts of ways.

I'm familiar with Bogotá and wonder if the altitude could be bothering him, similar to what ails people who fly often (deep vein thrombosis). Check with your internist and then maybe a neurologist. There are some excellent ones up on the north end. Good luck.

 

[LaloGS]

Did they check him for a concussion? and was there a follow-up check later on? Sometimes there are slow bleeds in the brain and they can effect people in all sorts of ways.

I'm familiar with Bogotá and wonder if the altitude could be bothering him, similar to what ails people who fly often (deep vein thrombosis). Check with your internist and then maybe a neurologist. There are some excellent ones up on the north end. Good luck.

Yes, we have suspected the altitude here. He often says he has trouble getting enough air in his lungs. But normally that has not been the case.

Regarding Dr.s in the north. We have seen two, and both were highly recommended, but neither one ordered any kind of tests. Which we think would be necessary in this instance, but rather one, wanted him to enter into a protracted psycho analysis, and the other wanted to begin treatment using acupuncture techniques. We asked both to schedule at least an MRI, but both insisted it would be a waste of money. Hence our reluctance to see anymore Dr.s in Bogotá.