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My mom is 79 and has mild cognitive impairment along with hearing loss. She was quite thin when I visited her in October. I just visited her and she is skin and bones. She attributed it to “healthy eating” since her husband’s cancer diagnosis 4 years ago. I checked the refrigerator and pantry. There was plenty of food in the home. I know they eat meals out as well. She did mention her doctor demanded to see her again in 2 months. I checked her medications: thyroid, a statin, blood pressure med , and a benzodiazepine. The drastic weight loss alarmed me. Any thoughts on drastic weight loss? If she has a diagnosis, she will not tell me. Directly asking her will offend and anger her. She has narcissistic traits. Thank you.

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Did you enjoy a meal with her?

She may not be eating or it could be an underlying medical condition.

Can you talk to her doctor? If not, you will have to wait for the crisis.
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Yes. We enjoyed a delicious meal. She has never added me to her HIPA… though she “says” she intends to. I called her doctor’s office in October. The office staff informed me I was not listed, but welcome to leave a message of concern for her doctor.
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Isthisrealyreal Dec 2021
So she ate well?
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I know of someone that had some kind of a disorder where she ate plenty but didn't absorb nutrients so lost weight. She refused to do anything about it. She's still alive many years after I heard about this and it in her mid to late 80s.
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It is possible that unless she is out with people at a restaurant, in their home she may not be cooking or eating. With MCI she may be "forgetting" to cook or eat but with people she is visually prompted to eat.
Is her husband loosing weight as well? If not she may be getting him to eat but then forgetting to eat herself. I know there were many times when caring for my husband by the time I got his meal into him I was done, I just wanted to clear the table and get dinner over with. (If it took me an hour to feed him, after I got him cleaned up and ready for bed that might be another hour..and to sit down to a cold meal that I would have to heat up...)
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Sunny, did you leave a "message of concern" with the doctor in October?

I would certainly do so now.
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Sunnydayze Dec 2021
Yes and I will directly email another tomorrow. Thank you. Her skin is hanging from her bones.
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"thyroid, a statin, blood pressure med , and a benzodiazepine"

I see here that Thyroid and benzodiazepine maybe the problem.

Thyroid- You are either Hypo, which u tend to gain weight or Hyper where you tend to lose weight. With Hypo, medication is given that will help reverse the weight gain. Maybe Moms medication now needs adjusting.

benzodiazepine, I would question this med. It lowers blood pressure and Mom is taking blood pressure pills. Does she seem a little out of it. Seems tired all the time. She may need this adjusted and her b/p meds too. Read up on the side effects of this drug.

Go with her to the doctor's. Get her to fill out a HIPPA form while there. Go in with her if she allows it. If you don't have POAs in place, get her to assign you and make them immediate. Not so you can take over now, but so you won't need a doctor's diagnosis of Dementia to be able to step in when the time comes. Being assigned does not mean ur at her beck and call or you are responsible for her physical care. Its a tool.
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Sunnydayze Dec 2021
Yes… she does seem a little out of it. Thank you. She will not allow me to go to the doctor with her. She lives 4 hours away. I have sent emails of concern and will again. Thank you.
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A rapid weight loss in an elderly person indicates CANCER, unless proven otherwise.
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JoAnn29 Dec 2021
My Mom had rapid weight loss because of her Thyroid. She had Graves desease. One she got on meds, she started gaining her weight back.
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