High dose of Fumaderm

[Closed account 1259]

He is already on vitamin B compound and Thiamine tablets. I did mention internal bleeding to the GP, which is why they went for the endoscopy and the colon scan. No results back yet from the latter but the former revealed gastritis - he is already on max dose acid reflux pills, which is how gastritis would usually be treated. HIs appetite is not good though in fairness which I think has contributed and it is quite hard to get him to eat properly. He keeps saying he will eat later. But in fairness, last few weeks he has started to drink milk with his tablets and also to have liver and bacon. But he is getting a lot of digestive problems which I feel is affecting his appetite - I do worry that the iron pills are not going to be a long term viable option but right now, he has to give them a fair go! He also insists he feels he has a lump in his throat and has problems swallowing and that is why he 'can't eat. It is a worry and although he had a telephone consultation with the dietician, he refused to consider the build up drinks, and I am more than aware what a healthy diet is and how many calories he needs to eat to gain some weight back but it is getting him to do it that is the problem. He has 'mental capacity' so I can only go so far.......

[Grizzly Bear]

Good afternoon Helena,

I've never taken Fumaderm so i cannot answer that one.

However, sudden dramatic weight loss like Eric's, i can only say this........in 3 days back in 2012, i lost 5 & half stone.
The reason for my loss of weight in such a short space of time was caused by my sugar levels & being diagnosed as a diabetic.

For Eric's loss, tell your GP Helena and get tests etc done to find out what is going on.

Loss of appetite is awful.
I do hope Eric gets his back bless him.

Take care the both of you.

[Closed account 1259]

Honestly our GP great Grizzly Bear (love that name!). He has recently tested for diabetes and prostrate and both came back clear.....he does his best I think. I will try and get some notes together for when we see the consultant in December -just discussion questions to try to work towards answers. Of course, it is a viscous circle with Eric -the more I nag to eat and take tablets properly as with milk or food, the more difficult he becomes, so I do step back.....but yes, weight loss truly horrific. We did stabalise it at around 8st but the endoscopy in September seemed to bruise his throat so he went down to 7st 7 - we got it back up but now the colon scan seems to have got it down again - he was not allowed to eat the day before and had a restricted diet for 48 hours before plus a very powerful laxative the day before so that partially explains. Thank you for your patience - I am doing my best for Eric but feel very out of my depth right now.

[jiml]

Understandable to feel out of your depth, and worried. And although we don't have all the answers we will be here to support and help any way we can,   sometimes just talking helps

If the iron tablets are difficult for him to take talk to your doctor about iron injections, I used to give my wife iron intravenously when her iron levels were low. It's easier absorbed that way.

[Bill]

Sometimes the gastritis is the result of a helicobacter infection and requires antibiotics, and with impaired absorption vitamin B injections are better than tablets. I hope you find out soon.

Bill

[Kat]

I take iron tablets and had stomach issues in the past with them. There are different types of iron tablets and the one I take now I have no problems with so you might want to ask about that as some are easier on the digestive system than others (plus I'm sure that varies by person).

He's lucky to have someone so caring and concerned to take care of him. I hope you find some answers soon to help him get to feeling better.

[Closed account 1259]

Thank you - doing my best. He had to see Consultant yesterday -got there by ambulance and was told appointment cancelled by post!!! Nothing in today's post. In pieces over this - do not want to complain because medical staff should not be dealing with admin errors but so very upset...

[Kat]

Thank you - doing my best. He had to see Consultant yesterday -got there by ambulance and was told appointment cancelled by post!!! Nothing in today's post. In pieces over this - do not want to complain because medical staff  should not be dealing with admin errors but so very upset...

Oh no! I commend you for not complaining to the staff, as you're correct they can't control admin errors but I'm not sure I would have had your restraint.

I'm not familiar with your system as I'm in the US, but I would think someone who had to arrive by ambulance would get priority. When are they saying they will be able to see him?

[jiml]

Thank you - doing my best. He had to see Consultant yesterday -got there by ambulance and was told appointment cancelled by post!!! Nothing in today's post. In pieces over this - do not want to complain because medical staff  should not be dealing with admin errors but so very upset...

What a shame, I would have had to have a moan myself, cancelling by post is a daft system in this day and age. They should phone or text with cancellations. Not only have they wasted your time they also have wasted the ambulance  services time ....... Let's hope they rearrange soon
( I'm sitting at the hospital waiting to see my consultant now. Running 30 minutes late )


Have they given you a new appointment yet?

[Closed account 1259]

Nothing in today's post. Have emailed so shall get weekend over and then see what else I can do. With Xmas coming we really do need to discuss iron and also the high dose of Fumaderm - ideally I think he should now go down from 6 to 4 a day because psoriasis is under control but need to see Dermo and still waiting for that appointment - one yesterday was with geriatric consultant who is overseeing the anaemia/weight loss. Sorry for the moan - I do feel the staff in the NHS do their best but the system is a nightmare. A few weeks ago we were told we would have a phone consultation then I got an appointment for same day at the infirmary for Eric - I phoned to check to be told ' computer cannot deal with phone consultations so it sends out appointments'. This is a Geriatric Department - not everyone will phone to check so Eric could easily have turned up a the hospital when it was actually a phone consultation!.