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What Causes Appetite Loss?

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Posted on Mon, 20 Oct 2014
Question: what else can we look for or r/o
My 76 year old father lives in Maui, HI and had a stroke May 2013.
He has recently lost 15#in less than 4 weeks. He has no appetite, will eat because
he is told to, but he says it doesn't taste good.
He can't sleep, He is anxiuos, he fixates on perceived problems, can't seem to be at peace.
My mother says there has been a definite personality change. He is less tolerant, more verbally agressive, easily fustrated.
My mother is reluctant to give me more specifics. I have entered the tests I know of that have been completed. Hehas a follow up with a neurologist on Maui Oct 8.
doctor
Answered by Dr. Vishal Garala (24 minutes later)
Brief Answer:
traumatic brain injury has many consequences.

Detailed Answer:
Hi dear

I understand your concern.
traumatic brain injury has many consequences like anxiety , depression , personality changes etc.

Vascular changes like stroke or ischaemia also has same.

Almoat more than 50% cases are associated with mix anxiety depression reaction.

10 to 20% has personality changes like verbally irritable and abusive.

Need to evaluate his mental status and thought process.

This kind of conditions can be treated with sertraline 25 to 5o mg daily with low dose of antipsychotic to control his aggression.

Social and family support is must.

Try to understand his behaviour and do not react on it.

Usually it may last for 6 to 1 months.

But with medicines it will start improving within 1 month.

Please support him and help him to bring his confidence back and gradually he will back to his daily routine.


I hope I have answered your question.
Still if you have a query then feel free to ask.

Happy to help you.

Thank you.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Vinay Bhardwaj
doctor
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Follow up: Dr. Vishal Garala (1 hour later)
Thank you Dr Garala for your input. I realize the consequences of an Ischemic event. But these symptoms are ocurring a year plus out? He resumed his normal routine right after the event May 2013. These symptoms are ocurring in the last 4 weeks.

So, evaluating his mental status and thought processes are what you are recommending along with the above mentioned drugs? I will be visiting him Oct 6
and will certainly continue to support he and my mother, with as much compassion, dignity, and respect as they will allow me.

Sincerely,
XXXX
doctor
Answered by Dr. Vishal Garala (9 minutes later)
Brief Answer:
psychitrist will give drugs and psychotherapy.

Detailed Answer:
Hi dear

Thank you for reply.

Sometimes symptoms will persist from 1 month to 1 year but as I said proper treatment will bring earlier and better response.

For drug and evaluation you have to take opinin of psychiatrist.

Neurologist can also give same drugs but more better psychological evaluation will be carried out by psychiatrist.

I appriciate that you and your family support him and he is also started his routine.


So anxiety and depression can be treated with erlier mentioned medicines.

supportive psychotherapy will help and it will also carried out by psychiatrist.


So consult neurologist as well as psychiatrist.

They will assist you further.

Hope for the best.

Wish him a good health.

still have a query then feel free to ask.

Take care.
Note: For further guidance on mental health, Click here.

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Vinay Bhardwaj
doctor
Answered by
Dr.
Dr. Vishal Garala

Psychiatrist

Practicing since :2009

Answered : 1714 Questions

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What Causes Appetite Loss?

Brief Answer: traumatic brain injury has many consequences. Detailed Answer: Hi dear I understand your concern. traumatic brain injury has many consequences like anxiety , depression , personality changes etc. Vascular changes like stroke or ischaemia also has same. Almoat more than 50% cases are associated with mix anxiety depression reaction. 10 to 20% has personality changes like verbally irritable and abusive. Need to evaluate his mental status and thought process. This kind of conditions can be treated with sertraline 25 to 5o mg daily with low dose of antipsychotic to control his aggression. Social and family support is must. Try to understand his behaviour and do not react on it. Usually it may last for 6 to 1 months. But with medicines it will start improving within 1 month. Please support him and help him to bring his confidence back and gradually he will back to his daily routine. I hope I have answered your question. Still if you have a query then feel free to ask. Happy to help you. Thank you.