We recently moved and my husband stayed behind to handle final arrangements. A month later he followed.
He just doesn't seem right. He does have multiple medical issues, including a messed up back (fell out of a high chair as a toddler), and chiari malformation. Headaches, dizziness, tiredness, and confusion are his normal symptoms, and side effects of his various medications.
But he seems much worse since he came. He sleeps 12 hours a day. He has a constant headache, but that has been true. He forgets absolutely everything. He also seems to be having trouble hearing, which was present but not a problem before. He has a definite reduction in cognitive function, but I don't know if that is a result of the degeneration from chiari or if he managed to hurt himself while he was alone and doesn't even remember it. He seems to be processing slower, he just can't get a grip on what he is doing. It is faster for me to stop what I'm doing, go to my laptop and pull up a site with a calculator, than ask him to convert pounds to cups (and in college they called him Math Man he was so good at math). He can't even handle going to the grocery store with a very short list, he comes back home with two of the things and no idea why he didn't get the rest. He seems confused all the time, no matter what he is dealing with. He also seems detached, like he doesn't care about things. This may just be that he totally doesn't remember what we were talking about and the whole time I'm worrying he has no knowledge of the problem.
He does not seem to be having any difficulty with his speech.
He was doing some work on the roof of the old house, so I suspect he managed to fall. If it is a concussion, what are the odds that he will get better? It has been two months since he got back.
A visit to the doctor and a ton of blood work later, we learned two things. He has a deficiency in vitamin D, and the doctor suspects sleep apnea. We will be doing a sleep study soon to confirm that. Something so well-known and treatable would be a relief! Thank you all for your responses.
Please get him to a doctor, the sooner the better. These are serious symptoms, and delay could be a serious mistake.
Have you made sure he didn't have a stroke?
I'm with S H on this one. While it's certainly possible he HAD a concussion, he would no longer have it although there certainly may be many side affects of having had one in the first place. Either way, if you've noticed this much degeneration, whatever the cause, he needs to see the doc. There's just no way to know what's going on and to attribute it to any one cause until you know for sure. And things can change so quickly.
A very good friend of mine lost her husband unexpectedly just after X-mas. He'd had health problems for years, but things changed and she didn't take them seriously enough until it was too late because she didn't realize that it WAS serious. However, what you note sounds serious and the fact that you have noticed it is a good thing right now because it empowers to get the help he needs. Good luck!
He needs to see, a Doctor.
Do not guess at this.
It could be anything...
Does he get regular monitoring for his condition?
Per the Mayo Clinic:
"Because many symptoms of Chiari malformation can also be associated with other disorders, a thorough medical evaluation is important. Head pain, for example, can be caused by migraines, sinus disease or a brain tumor, as well as Chiari malformation. Other signs and symptoms overlap with other conditions, such as multiple sclerosis. "
I would think, that any kind of degeneration... warrants a pronto appointment to the Specialist.
what are you waiting for see a dr
Honestly, I'd contact his primary care doctor right away. He might want to see hubby, or give a referral to a neurologist. Whether he fell or not, if you're seeing a change in symptoms and definite reduction of cognitive function, he needs to be seen by a doctor.
As others have said, he needs to be seen by a doctor and probably a neurologist as well. Is there any way to see the specialist he was seeing before or get those medical records? Whatever doctor you see I would write down a list of changes you have noticed and be as specific as possible.
I'm not an expert but these don't seem like these symptoms are from a chiari malformation. I only know one person with a chiari malformation and she is mentally pretty alert (although she has many other medical issues including chronic pain). It sounds like a different part of the brain is affected with the symptoms you describe (poor memory, lack of organization, can no longer do math in his head). It could be from a head injury but there are probably several possible causes.
I would suggest you find a neurologist ASAP; if you don't know any in your new area then ask his old docs for a referral. Or go to the ER. Some of the symptoms you described are also the same as stroke. Whatever the case, he needs medical attention!
Get to an ER - not to scare you, but there could be aneursym growing in his head causing pressure and creating more of these conditions!
There are so many different things that could be going on - but clearly something related to his brain. You don't say how old he is - but a visit to an MD, and neurologist is a must. Yes there could have been a fall - but it sounds more like there's been damage to some part of his brain - and who knows from what. Could be stroke, a growth, pressure or bruising - even early onset dementia or alzhiemers. I am not trying to sacre you but his actions and responses are not normal. Do not take your time getting to the MD - if you don't have insurance go to the ER of a loca hospital - this can't wait. I just prayed for you both - please post again to let us know what's happened.
Here's a link to the MayoClinic's page on Chiari - and your husband's symptoms seem similar but he has more.
http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/chiari-malformation/DS00...
sounds like he needs a ct scan, and maybe some of the drugs he's on are affecting him as well.
