Mother in law not eaten since saturday, need help.

Phoebe_Buffay

I hope that I can get a bit of advice because I really dont know what else to do right now. I am running out of options/ideas.

A couple of months ago my mother in law complained of feeling something in her stomach, a "ball" which was causing discomfort under her ribs etc. She said she felt like she was going to be sick each time she had something to eat, this then turned into her actually being sick each time she ate or took a drink.

She went to the doctor, had blood tests done etc. They came back normal. She then stopped eating. She completely changed from an outgoing, chatty person who loved gardening, learning new things, traveling and cooking to somebody that would not move from the couch. She would be in the middle of talking to somebody then she would fall asleep mid way through the conversation.

Because she wasnt eating the doctor referred her to hospital, she had a scan on her stomach, and (sorry I am not medical in the slightest) she had a camera down her throat.

Once again everything was normal and they could not find anything wrong with her.

She then picked up a little bit and started eating one yogurt and a banana per day, maybe the odd small bowl of soup, up until two weeks ago she has gone downhill again.

She went to bed on saturday and has refused to get up since, she has not eaten anything at all since saturday, just lay in bed not talking to anyone.

She told my father in law today that she has had enough and has given up.

The doctor will not refer her back to the hospital as they have done all the tests they can do and found nothing, and she refuses to go to the hospital with us as "its a waste of time".

She is 73 years old and weighed 9 stone, she now weighs just over 6 stone.

Does anyone have any advice at all on what to do? or anyone been through anything similar? Just want to help her but dont really know how.

Person_one

Some mental illness can cause physical symptoms like this, does she have any history of depression?

She's clearly physically capable of eating, so something else is going on. I'd go back to the GP and frame your concerns in terms of her mental health, if they still don't listen go to another or to a walk in centre.

gibson123

You need to tell the doctor how ill she is and get him out on a home visit to see her. he can't just wash his hands of her!

fluffnutter

She sounds depressed, worryingly so. She really needs to go back to the doctor. Just because there's no physical cause doesn't mean that she doesn't need medical help. Could you see someone else? Could you go with her?

Torry_Quine

That's awful and she really can't go on like this but you know that.

Is there another doctor in the practice that she could see as something needs to be done quickly. I would phone first thing tomorrow and demand a home visit. Obviously we can't give medical advice but if there is no physical reason then are there psychological reasons. she must be drinking something but this isn't going to sustain her for long.

It must be really hard for you and i hope that you get the help for her that she needs and soon.

Spottedleopard

Go round there in the morning, and call her GP out. It sounds like she has some issues that need ironing out.

candygirl

Are they 100% sure it's not cancer.My Dad was the same for ages, n had lots of tests then eventually found out it was prostate cancer.unreal but true:(

fluffnutter

candygirl wrote: »

Are they 100% sure it's not cancer.My Dad was the same for ages, n had lots of tests then eventually found out it was prostate cancer.unreal but true:(

I'm sorry to hear about your dad, candygirl. But I'm also fairly confident the OP's MIL doesn't have prostate cancer

candygirl

fluffnutter wrote: »

I'm sorry to hear about your dad, candygirl. But I'm also fairly confident the OP's MIL doesn't have prostate cancer

yep but maybe a cancer?:(:(Glad you got a cheap laugh though:)

patchwork_cat

This does not constitute medical advice, but OP have they looked into ovarian cancer?

Phoebe_Buffay

My father in law called the doctor this morning, the doctor seems to think it may be psychological, that she may have got it into her head that eating=sickness but that doesnt really explain how it started in the first place.

This is the second doctor she has seen up to now (away from the hospital). It seems like they are turning us away each time we suggest something.

My husband just got off the phone with his dad, she is still in bed, he made her soup but she turned it down saying she couldnt eat it, my husband told her he would go down tomorrow to see her and she said "dont bother".

I know she is taking medication for other things, the doctor is aware of that too but I couldnt tell you what it is she is taking, until tomorrow.

No history of depression, I have known her for the last ten years and she just changed in the space of a few days and she hasnt been the same since.