Lovely FiL has been left in limbo by the NHS and we would appreciate some advice on where to go next. Just over a year ago, he had a malignant nodular melanoma removed.
Recently, over a few months, FiL has rapidly become very confused, to the point where he can no longer cook or care for himself, has had to stop driving and has exhibited inappropriate behaviour such as nudity. Whilst he has been a little bit forgetful for a while (I'd say normal old age forgetfulness for a man in his 80s), this is a sudden and rapid deterioration. He was put under the care of the dementia team and a consultant Psychiatrist who booked him a CT.
The CT showed what appeared to be a 'blood filled mass' so he then had an MRI. The mass had apparently grown since the first scan; we were led to believe it was a tumour which was bleeding from the second scan report, and he was referred to the neuro-oncology team. They have reviewed his scans but not seen him, and now say they are as certain as they can be that there isnt a tumour, just a bleed. He will have another scan in a couple of months for any change, but he has been discharged back to the care of a Psychiatrist for what we are told is vascular dementia. And that's where our problem lies....
Surely someone who has a bleed on his brain which continued over a number of weeks should see someone other than a psychiatrist? A neurologist, a stroke consultant, someone like that? Should he really be having some other expert input, and if he should, what specialty should we ask for him to be referred to?
Apologies for the long post, and for all the questions, we feel a bit abandoned. Thanks.