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OK, this is weird, but maybe someone could shed some light?

16 replies

bignutbrownhare · 27/06/2008 20:33

Not about my dd, but about my mum. She's 70, overweight and diabetic (due to being long-term overweight), and under incredible stress at the moment. Anyway, she's had a few episodes in the past year when she gets a strange smell in her nose (like bitter almonds, apparently), then goes all weak and gets memory loss. Today, she had five of these episodes. I was there with dd during one of them, made her sit down, and she recovered pretty quickly but is clearly not herself and kept repeating herself. She said her eyes felt really heavy afterwards. She's going to the GP on Monday, but I just wondered if anyone had come across this? It's very strange, and actually quite frightening to see her like this. She kept saying 'I can't die, I have to see my granddaughter grow up' and she's worried she might be getting alzheimers (sp?).

OP posts:
Habbibu · 27/06/2008 20:36

Is she always in the same place - i.e. her house? The thing that's distinct for having a bitter almond smell is hydrogen cyanide, but I can't see any reason for that being anywhere near her...

LynetteScavo · 27/06/2008 20:38

Sounds like it could be eilemsy, but I'm not a GP, or neurologist.

LynetteScavo · 27/06/2008 20:39

Epilepsy !

StealthPolarBear · 27/06/2008 20:42

TIA?
BUt I agree, no point in stressing before she sees her GP - hope all is OK

PinkTulips · 27/06/2008 20:43

well the only thing that springs to mind is a brain tumour and i really hope it's not anything like that

certainly doesn't sound like my experiance of the early stages of alheimers so i wouldn't worry too much on tht front.

issyissyissy · 27/06/2008 20:46

Sounds like she's having TIA's, but not sure about the almond smell. Good that she has ana appt booked for Monday.

WigWamBam · 27/06/2008 20:47

Antimony poisoning is the other thing which is notorious for causing an almond smell and episodes of weakness, faintness and memory loss. But like Habbibu says, it is difficult to see how that would be happening.

Get her to the GP as soon as you can.

SaintGeorge · 27/06/2008 20:47

Could be a form of migraine.

bignutbrownhare · 27/06/2008 20:48

My xp has had two grand mal seizures, and I did think maybe they could be petit mal seizures my mum was having. I have researched this and apparently anyone can have a brain seizure given the 'right' circumstances. She is incredibly stressed (due to my step father being very ill) and doesn't take proper care of herself (never gets enough sleep, does far too much instead of resting, etc).

OP posts:
bignutbrownhare · 27/06/2008 20:50

Sorry, what is/are TIA's?

OP posts:
issyissyissy · 27/06/2008 21:06

Stands for trans ischaemic attack. Basically it is mini stroke. Some people can have several of them, one after the other, and can lead on to having a major stroke but not always.

bignutbrownhare · 27/06/2008 21:21

Well, she's the perfect candidate for that . Will write that down and get her to discuss with the GP on Monday. Thanks for all your replies x

OP posts:
jalopy · 27/06/2008 21:48

I think she needs to see her GP.

singyswife · 27/06/2008 21:50

I thought migraine too. She needs to see a gp though. Hope she gets better soon.

Romy7 · 27/06/2008 21:53

olfactory hallucination common with some forms of epilepsy... and the post-ictal thing sounds similar to her 'after' an attack...
(no idea if i've spelt any of that right...)
hope the gp can reassure you.
doesn't sound like alzheimers...

3littlefrogs · 27/06/2008 21:53

The symptoms fit with a particular type of stroke. She needs to see GP and be referred to neurologist or stroke physician asap.

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