Getting a Diagnosis

brock55

Hi All,
I'm new here. Over the past several months my mom has been experiencing severe paranoia and delusions. She thinks the house is bugged, the neighbors broke in to steal her house phone, the FBI is coming to get her, etc. Some of her stories have gotten incredibly dark and concerning, including texting family at late hours (11pm - 2am) stating my dad is trying to kill her and asking for help. The last episode she actually texted 911 (I didn't know that was a thing!) They ultimately took her to the hospital. They did a CT and bloodwork and 'cleared' her, saying no infection and everything looked normal. They never did an MRI or had us consult with a neurologist. They transferred her to a Behavioral Center and had her involuntarily committed.
They are treating her for psychosis, but I am very concerned that we do not have the true diagnosis. MS and Parkinson's are both active in the family (multiple generations), and she has historically presented with neurological symptoms (tremors, difficulty swallowing) but refused to get diagnosed.
She is being released from the Behavioral Center tomorrow and I am very concerned about her being home with my father alone. While she has never been a physical person, when she gets in these moods, I'm not sure what she is capable of.
We made an appointment with her primary doctor next week and a neurologist (not able to get in until October) but she is refusing to go to the primary, saying there is nothing wrong with. How in the world do I get her to go to the doctor and explain what is going on so we can get a true diagnosis and hopefully move forward?

SusanB-dil

Hi Brock55 - welcome to 'here', but sorry for the reason.

You could try telling her that you need her to go 'with you' - as if the appointment is for you. Also, if anyone around her fears that she is capable of physical harm to herself or them, you can call 9-1-1 and have her brought to geri-psych. They should be able to get the meds straightened out there. You can also tell the Center that you are not comfortable taking her home until this is figured out, depending on your circumstances. If the Behavioral Center is like the geri-psych, they should understand the situation.

It isn't unusual to have the doc's appointments so far out. 2 months is actually not as bad as some… Also, hopefully her primary care doc will be able to prescribe something, and maybe get a referral in sooner?

Who has the HIPAA rights? If you don't, you can still tell her PCP what is going on, they just will not be able to reply back to you. You can write up a note if her mychart is not accessible.

So sorry you are dealing with 'this'. There is also a 24/7 alz line you can call at 1-800-272-3900 and ask for a care consultant.

H1235

Welcome. Do not try to convince her she is not well or describe her symptoms or just reason with her in general. Tell her whatever fib you think she will buy into. People with dementia and some other mental health issues often have anosognosia. This is the inability to recognize their symptoms or limitations. It is so difficult to deal with. If no durable power of attorney has been done I would think you or your dad may need to get guardianship. I would suggest you see a certified elder law attorney soon. If she is being treated for psychosis, then it seems like she would be sent home with a prescription. Does the Behavioral Center know that she is refusing to go to the follow up doctor appointment. I would tell them and express your concerns about bringing her home. Medication can take a bit to start working, when was it that she said she would not see the pcp? Could it be the medication just needs another day to work fully? Could they transfer her to a geriatric psych hospital? I agree, you don’t want to bring her home just to go through it all again. I wouldn’t worry too much about a specific diagnosis yet. I think getting her stable and safe to be in her own home is the first step. Sorry you need to be here.