My mum is going mad I'm sure! Help

[sophieeleanorxx]

Not sure whether this is something you go through when you get a bit older but my mum is 62 and she is convinced that people that come round to visit have viruses. My dad and half sister came to visit and she keeps saying since they visited she's had back pain and kidney pain! I even caught her rubbing lemon on her face yesterday morning she said its fighting the infection off.
I only moved back in a few months ago I'm 38 weeks pregnant now and I have the odd moan about my back and she will say I told you uve got that virus it's effects your brains and your back and makes your vision blurry. She self diagnoses herself and other people and avoids going places if someone is going to be there that has this virus. I keep arguing with her about it but it's not getting anywhere! How can someone constantly have a virus? every ache and pain she has or someone else has that's it the "virus" is back again. Also she never mentions anything to her doctors about it surely if your ill that often you would mention it.
Hope I don't sound like a bitch but it's very hard living with her and constantly hearing the V word everyday!

[AttilaTheMeerkat]

I would move out asap along with having a discrete word with her GP about her current mental state. This person should make a house call. Her anxiety re illness and viruses is causing her to be mentally unwell.

[sophieeleanorxx]

Yes I'm planning on it after Christmas! We have the same doctor so will mention it to him. Her moods are also all over the place she can be very happy one day and the next day depressed. She has no confidence and constantly thinks people are watching her

[Pettywoman]

She certainly needs to see the GP. I think you're right to have a word about her.

[myfriendnigel]

Is this fairly recent?
Could she potentially have a urine infection? I know it sounds far fetched but I work with the elderly and the first thing we do when someone starts To act out of character like this is test for UTI...
Hoping its that and nothing more sinister.

[BusStopBetty]

I thought the exact same thing as myfriendnigel. She definitely needs to see a GP though.

[tallwivglasses]

Yes. Before Christmas

[WombOfOnesOwn]

I bet she's heard from the scammers and work-shys about Chronic Lyme Disease. CLD has never existed, no evidence of its existence is found in any medical literature, but a lot of people, especially in the US, use it as an all-purpose excuse to explain vague malaise and somatization symptoms.

[blackhairbrush]

Urinary tract infection can cause dementia like symptoms

www.alzheimers.org.uk/site/scripts/documents_info.php?documentID=1777

[sophieeleanorxx]

Nope no uti that I know off she's been like this for years really but it's gotten worse since she's gotten older. I will have a read up on that though!

[springydaffs]

62 isn't elderly. Just saying.

It sounds like there's a MH issue there

[LillyInTheMoon]

My mum is like this. Every little ache or pain she has must be caused by a virus. Also any time I complain about a mild discomfort she says, "Oh that sounds like the virus I had last week. You'll have a head ache in a few days too." It drives me mad.

[myfriendnigel]

I'm aware that 62 isn't technically elderly yes. But it's not young either is it? And the effects of a UTI aren't confined to only the technically elderly and become more marked as people age.'just saying '.
But as the op has ruled that out then it's back to the drawing board.
You can talk to your GP about her op but they shouldn't and probably won't diagnose without seeing her.They will advise you to get her to come in for s check up herself I would think.
Can you tell your mum you are concerned for her? It's hard. When I tried to raise this, gently, with my mum who was beginning to get confused and forgetful (but wasn't all the time-just enough for me to be concerned) she flew off the handle and became very defensive. It's so difficult.

[junebirthdaygirl]

She needs a doctor now not after Christmas. It may be the beginning of dementia.

[sophieeleanorxx]

I can try and tell her but she's going to tell me I know what it is it's the virus I don't need to see a doctor that's what I always get it. But he invited her in a few months ago to try see if she maybe had depression and anxiety but she strongly denied it. I meant I'm going to move out after Christmas, i will go see the doctor soon and ask for his help.

[AttilaTheMeerkat]

I think her GP needs to make a house call to your mother and sooner rather than later (she is not likely to visit or even want to go to the surgery). Will the GP be prepared to do that?

[springydaffs]

Oh fuck off with your

I was prepared to climb down but not after your '62 isn't technically elderly'. Wtf does technical mean in this context anyway.

All the best when you get to the elderly 60s chum.