Elderly mum exhausted, overweight, unmotivated, yellow tinge skin on sides of face

[Pinkpetite]

Hello, I'm really struggling trying to get the GP to sort my mum out. She's nearly 88yrs old and in the last few years has put on an excessive amount of weight, she was a size 12, now she is almost a 20! She is absolutely exhausted, just says she has no energy at all and barely gets dressed each day now. She does have a diagnosis of dementia too. I am waiting for her GP to call me back and am going to try and get them to do her T3 and T4 alongside her TSH again.

TSH - 1.7 (0.3 - 5.5) - March this year.

Her T4 last year was in the high part of the range so it is being absorbed. I did get her the supplements suggested but she won't take them, it is hard enough to get her to take her thyroxine an hour away from food and drink. She won't eat gluten and dairy free at this age.

Her skin on the sides of her face has a yellow tinge too. Excess bilirubin? Or low B12? She does drink a bit of alcohol but not much. Her skin gets very itchy too and she gets itchy eyes.

I'm also wondering if she is acquiring type 2 diabetes, she tends to nibble snacks every couple of hours and doesn't have proper meals. Her mum had this later on in life.

Anyone got any suggestions re blood tests she could have done?

[Buddy195 Administrator]

I would definitely ask your GP to test for diabetes. Also check ferritin, folate, B12 and vit D levels.

What dose of Levothyroxine does she take? If tablets are an issue, you could ask for this in liquid form.

[Pinkpetite in reply to Buddy195]

Yes I will ask for those tests thank you. She takes 100mcg/75mcg alternate days. I think it's taking anything is an issue for her, she is very run down and tired of life now I feel and just can't be bothered with anything extra to take. My dad is her full time carer and he struggles to get her to do anything. I know it is an age thing too unfortunately.

[Buddy195 Administrator in reply to Pinkpetite]

Fully understand and empathise as I too have family member with Dementia diagnosis. Do ensure your dad reaches out to Dementia UK and other local charities about support for carers.

[humanbean]

She does have a diagnosis of dementia too.

Apathy is one of the signs/symptoms of dementia. Overcoming it may be almost impossible.

This article is 10 years old now, but may give you some ideas :

healthinsightuk.org/2014/08...

[Pinkpetite in reply to humanbean]

I'll look at it thanks. It's really that she has no energy at all and has put on 3 stone in weight.