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AIBU?

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To ask for an urgent second opinion ? Unwell 90 year old

106 replies

AnOnne · 21/03/2026 07:09

My mum is 90, with a number of health issues (type 2 diabetes, under active thyroid, kidney disease, heart failure, obesity and more.) She has been on mounaro for her diabetes for over a year and has lost 6 stone and was generally feeling a lot better for it. Recently she has started suffering hot flushes, dizziness, agitation and generally feeling wrong/unwell. Her weight loss has suddenly accelerated to 6lbs a week which seems a bit alarming. I think it started to scare her (she is a long time GP avoider) since she checked her BP herself Thursday and noticed that her heart rate was in the 30s. She made a GP appointment, which was yesterday. The GP was apparently dismissive, disinterested and had little to say. He booked her bloods and an ECG for 10 days time, and when pushed by my 90 year old mum agreed that maybe she could reduce her thyroxine dose in the meantime. AIBU to ask to see another GP Monday? Surely there shoud be a bit more urgency when a 90 year old has a HR in the 30s? (He did take her HR which was 45 in clinic.) Any advice would be really welcome.

OP posts:
AnOnne · 21/03/2026 07:17

@SUUUUUUNNNNN No she has lost 6lbs a week for the last 2 weeks. I agree that she needs her meds checked, she is still on the same doses as when she was 22 stone

OP posts:
SUUUUUUNNNNN · 21/03/2026 07:17

AnOnne · 21/03/2026 07:15

The first 2 replies sum up my problem - A&E versus not really a problem!

I disagree, with hospitals being so overwhelmed these are tests that can easily be done in the community where she is not going to sit in A&E for days. 10 day wait though is not acceptable.

AnOnne · 21/03/2026 07:15

The first 2 replies sum up my problem - A&E versus not really a problem!

OP posts:
SUUUUUUNNNNN · 21/03/2026 07:15

Hi OP, you say she has heart failure and has put 6lbs on in a week - this would be a red flag for me that it is oedema. Has she become more short of breath? What about leg swelling, is she coughing more or bringing up any sputum? Is she under a heart failure team? I think with a heart rate that low they would be looking at her meds - is she on many to control her heart rate? I would go back if nothing else to leave bloods for 10 days time with those symptoms and weight gain is not acceptable in a 90 year old.

Catza · 21/03/2026 07:13

Wouldn't hurt to see another GP but low heart rate is quite common with interactive thyroid so that's probably why GP wasn't concerned. Combined with dizziness, though, that would be something to investigate. Did your mum give full account of her symptoms to the GP or just low HR concerns?

Blueuggboots · 21/03/2026 07:11

If she has a really show heart rate and feels dizzy, she needs to go to hospital, urgently.