Seizure, stroke or ??? in my 84 yo mother

[dylan-2-mom]

Yesterday during lunch, my mom had what appeared to be a seizure (to me).  She suddenly started shaking violently with her arms bent toward her chest, head bent down to chest.  Her eyes were open.  She couldn't respond.  She didn't drool.  Her jaw was fixed, almost clenching closed.  Her eyes did not roll back.  She was still sitting up.  I have no idea if she lost control of bladder function as she already wears a diaper.  As far as I can remember, her legs were not jerking, only her upper body and she was in her wheelchair.  The event lasted for about a minute and then she vomited.  After the event, she was white, clammy.  She didn't remember anything.  She said she hadn't been choking and during the event she was breathing fine.  Her pulse was sporatic after the event and her BP was about 140/80 which is normal for her.  Her blood sugar was 211, which isn't terribly high for her.  She is 84, recovering from a fracture in her upper back, bedridden, wheelchair bound, has had open heart surgery with 3 bypasses, 3 stents, a pacemaker, diabetes - BUT cognitively, she is doing great.  She is very "with it" and mentally spry for her age.  Also, she was left with no paralysis or weakness in any extremities or in her face.

I am concerned that there is something else going on that my parents aren't discussing, and they have a right to their privacy, but I feel like they are lying about something.  For instance, I'm suspicious that my dad is giving her his pain medication as well as hers, or mixing medications on her.  He gets all of her meds ready and she just takes them.  I'm also suspicious because I've been there a number of times and she hasn't eaten and it's well past when she always ate.  My dad also doesn't wheel her in to get a shower but once a week and just hands her baby wipes to "wash" with the rest of the time.  Maybe I'm jumping to conclusions, but I've heard my dad openly say he's tired of taking care of her.  Yesterday when this event happened, he didn't want me or my DH to call 911, but I instructed my husband to call anyway.  My mom's younger brother was there too (he's 80) and he immediately started yelling for an ambulance.  My kids saw this and are very scared.  We all feel like my dad is hiding something and I can't get past this feeling.

She was admitted to the hospital but even the tests are coming back negative for stroke and seizure, which is leading me to wonder if it was a drug overdose and if I should say something to the staff at the hospital.  My mom said last night this has happened 2-3 times before at home and my dad just says she's choking and he doesn't ever call 911.  WHAT???

Any advice that anyone can give I would so appreciate right now. 

UPDATE:

We have 2 pharmacists going over my mom's meds.  Apparently she is being given a combination of meds (mostly her Hydrocodone and my father's Hydrocodone and maybe Tramadol) as well as OTC Tylenol.  That combination along with her past medical history has caused a liver toxicity problem and causes seizures.  My father doesn't know the Pharm. D's are looking into this, all has been kept quiet. 

In the meantime, he's asking a lawyer to draw up paperwork for him to be able to say she's mentally incompetant and he can sign her checks for her - that was a red flag for me.  She is not incompetant in any way other than physically disabled.  Also, her family doctor hasn't seen her but is prescribing mass quantities of Hydrocodone otherwise known as Vicodin.  By mass quantities, I mean my dad's been filling Rx's for 360 tablets about every 3 weeks of 2.5/500 strength.  He has over 540 tablets stocked up right now, and he stores meds all over his house which I find odd.

It's a slow process to prove that someone is doing something wrong, but I know this whole thing isn't right. 

[jalex]

May. 18, 2009 at 8:06 AM

I would think stroke, but no real  idea.  Wishing your family the best!

[mandyandthree]

May. 18, 2009 at 8:19 AM

Talk to your Mom if she wants treatment for it OK if not well she is a grown up and tell her you are worried and would like to know what really is going on. But talk is all you can do unless she wants help.

[bjfreeman1]

May. 19, 2009 at 9:24 AM

I'd be calling her doctor (primary care).  At their age, he'd probably be more than willing to fill you in.  I'd be worried too.  HUGS

[grandma_mary]

May. 27, 2009 at 10:44 AM

I'd be very suspicious also talk to her dr about your concerns don't wait she needs someone to help her now. So sorry to hear all this. God Bless you and your family and exspecially your mother.