Concerned about father - Open to All Other Health Topics Message Board

mindtrap · 07-19-2003, 08:16 PM

My father is in quite the mess right now and I am very concerned.

My Father has Asthma, Diabeties, Angina, Highblood pressure, high cholestorol, Gout, prostate problems, urination problems even a hernia. On top of all this he is very depressed.

He is on the following meds

Nitro dur
Rho metformin
Norvasc
apo hydro
lipidil supra
allopurinol
paxil
flomax
benedryl
ventolin
advar discs
dilaudid.

I personally feel that he is being over medicated and his doctor is in over his head with my father. My dad can barely get himself out of bed any more and if he does hes back in bed within a couple of hours. This has been going on for two years now and my father has pretty much given up. Does anyone know of any specialist in Canada that help people with multiple problems that normal doctors can't seem to figure out

Your input is apprecaited

Thank you

thehomefolks · 07-19-2003, 09:43 PM

YOU DIDN'T SAY HOW OLD YOUR FATHER WAS. AND IF HE NEEDS ALL THESE MEDS, I'M NOT SURE. DOES HIS DOCTOR SEEM TO CARE ABUT YOUR FATHER'S HEALTH? IF YU HAVEN'T MET THE DOC, MAYBE YOU SHOULD GO WITH HIM AND TALK TO THE DOCTOR YOURSELF AND TELL HIM YOUR CONCERNS. SEE WHAT HIS REACTION IS. IF YOU'RE NOT SATISFIED WITH HIS ANSWERS, FIND ANOTHER DOCTOR. GOOD LUCK. KEEP US POSTED.

orion · 07-19-2003, 10:57 PM

If he is around 55 years old, I would have his testosterone, thyroid and prolactin checked. These things can cause multiple weird symptoms similar to what you have described.

Audrey-B · 07-20-2003, 06:22 AM

No wonder your dad is depressed. I know i would be too if i had all those health issues and had to take all the medication and very likely change my diet to suit my condition.

I don't have answers to help. A lot of doctors out there just keep prescribing everything and anything, knowing you will keep coming back to them. This has happened to both my parents. Doctors can be like car mechanics, once they have your business they think they can take you for a ride!!! I'd change doctors and get second opinions on everything.

As for my dad, he has battled high blood pressure for quite a few years. He is 64 and his face was always extremely red. His doctor kept trying to make my dad and then my mum agree that my dad is an alcoholic due to his red face!!!! My dad may have a drink once in a while, but only with a main meal and in total moderation. Some doctors are just idiots!! Well my mother and i had just began trying out acupuncture and the lady took one look at my dad and asked him what's he doing about his high blood pressure. After just a couple of visits to her i can't believe the change in him. His face is a normal colour now and he says he hasn't felt this good in years and has so much energy.

Now i realise with all your dads health issues he can't just quit with all the medication and explore alternate type therapies, but maybe a chat with an acupuncturist might help and they can relieve at least some of his symptoms.

mindtrap · 07-20-2003, 08:21 AM

I guess I should give you all a bit more back ground. My Dad is 60 years old and has always been in relitlvely good health. It has only been the last 2 years when all his problems started. My dad doesn't smoke and follows a diebetic diet now. My dad did get to about 50 pounds over weight about 5 years back but he is not overely heavy.

It seems that overnight two years ago they decided that my dad had asthma. I guess it is possible to all of a sudden develop asthma, but I truely do not belive that he does. I do no for sure that he does have sleep apnia "if this is spelt correctly" It's when you stop breathing when you sleep. My father stops breathing an average of 70 times an hour and his oxegen level drops extremely low. He now sleeps with a venalator.

No more than 6 months later my father has diabeteis. He is on meds for this now but is not insulin dependant.

On top of everything my father has prostate problems, blood pressure, cholesterol and some intetinal problem where is intestines catch food particles and become infected. He also has angina and gout. Oh yes I can't forget the slipped disc in his back from playing hockey years ago

Another one of his problems he has is with his blood. From my understanding he has a condition that his red blood cells can not carry enough nutrients such as iron through his body.

My father has always been a strong person. He served many years in the military as a commanding officer and a fighter pilot. It really sadens me to see him so weak both physically and mentally. He is just not the same person.

Another thing that has me perplexed is how his right hand just starts shaking. He will be sitting the and his hand just shakes, he has no control over it. My Father spends more time in bed depressed or crying because he feels that he is letting his family down.

I am sick and tired of my dad getting run all over the place by his doctors and specialists. I know that with the proper supervison my father could become better. I would like to get my father to a Health Spa like they have in Europe where you live there for 3 months and the doctors and specialists completely over haul your meds, redo your diet, start rehab sessions for getting back into physical shape and get any surgeries done that are required. If anyone out there know of any in Canada could you please post it here. I really do not care how much they cost, I just want to have my father back.