Doctor says no problem?

LoceOc, I see she stays over with you so assume you must be friends? I assume (again) she must be over 50????
Could it be something like an extended menopause having stripped her body of hormones and minerals and all her self medication is causing further damage?
Unless you are friends, and very close friends too, I really wouldn't interfere except to advise saving her cash and going back to her GP to ask for a referral.

You mentioned her taking cough medication before bed, could she be also taking over the counter stuff during the day. There are many meds you can buy ie cocodamol, nightol and others which if taken in excess would produce symptoms especially if she is having a drink on top.

I am worried about her as when she stayed over with me she was in tears saying she was so upset as to why they couldn't find out what was wrong with her. When I told my son he said his wife and the other siblings had decided nothing was wrong with her and they just ignored her now if she complained about it.

As someone with a neurological disease, she needs a full work up. If she has to go into London to get it, great. Please, please realize many people view us as drunk or drinking when that is absolutly false. Huntingtons is probably not the issue, but she must get a true diagnosis. I wasted months with family doctors that didn't have a clue. Help her get help...she is most likely scared to death of the unknown.

Totally Agree Doodle n Doodledog

I couldn't agree more, Doodle.

As I said upthread, for all the OP knows, there may have been a diagnosis that the patient wants to keep to herself, as is her right.

I would be absolutely furious if my son-in-law's mother started to play detective about my health, and discussed it with my children, never mind posting about it on the Internet.

Perhaps all 3 children know what’s wrong and don’t want to tell you. Some families do not like to share personal information with others.
She does sound ill but re the feet, my DH has very little fat on the soles of his feet and finds difficulty in walking. I wobble all over the place when I am walking, as did my SIL. In fact we often used to knock into each other when out walking.
Perhaps the cough linctus is a habit that helps her sleep.
I would leave it up to close family if I were you.

Thank you to you all who have tried to advise me as to what it may be. I do really appreciate. I have checked all the suggestions on the internet myself now. Wet brain does seem to be a very good suggestion. She is extremely thin to the point of looking anorexic. Her diet is very poor and she eats very little. Her stomach does protrude as well. When I saw her a few weeks ago I did feel very sorry for her. I find it hard to believe there is nothing wrong with her. All her three children seem to think it is all in her mind as the doctors haven't found anything medically wrong with her. I do not like to speak to my DIL about it but will mention it to my son when he talks about her the next time. I would feel absolutely terrible if eventually something is found and I didn't at least try to get my son to talk to his wife to suggest a second opinion is sought. Maybe they could persuade her son to go to an appointment with her. I feel all three of the children are tending to just ignore it all. Feel sad about it. Thanks everyone.

Just a thought based on a friend - have a look at adult-onset hydrocephalus. An increasingly unsteady gait is a known symptom of this.

Her doctors wouldn't discuss her medical issues with anyone else, though (rightly, IMO).

It may be that she knows what the issue is, but hasn't confided in anyone, and I can't say I blame her, as you are already speculating before you know anything. If you did know, would you keep it to yourself?

If one or more doctors concur that there's nothing wrong with her, then the problem could be an addiction, likely to cough syrup or any other kind of substance abuse.

Huntington's is a disease nowadays no longer referred to as chorea. There may be someone in the family who didn't survive, was hidden away as being 'strange' but had the disease.. I came across this now and again at work. Parkinson's is another disease in which the described symptoms occur. Surely a GP would follow up on the walking and speech issues. Alcohol abuse would be traced in blood tests. Someone has to chase up more investigations.

I don't think you need to worry about Huntingdon's disease, as I am fairly sure it manifests itself before the age of 40.

Also, I believe when we were young, and I assume your son's MIL is our age, people were advised not to have children if there was a history of Huntingdon's disease in the family.

I think it likely the cough medicine or an interaction between it and others medicines is the cause of the trouble.

Probably best to say and do nothing until your DIL asks for advice.

You can't buy Gees Linctus anymore where I live and I have tried on internet too. It is only cough medicine that stops me coughing. My Mum swore by it. It does apparently have tiny amount of morphine in to paralyse tickle in throat so stops the cough. It was abused by some people who drank it like a cup of tea and now we can't get it.

Some types of dementia can cause non-stop talking with no meaning. Found this online:
Abnormalities of speech seen in advanced dementia include perseveration (the patient continues to give the answer to the previous question in response to new questions), palilalia (when the last word of a question is repeated with increasing frequency), logoclonia (when the last syllable is repeated), and logorrhea (a meaningless outpouring of words.

Unless you are very close to this lady,personally, I wouldn’t get too involved. Your daughter in law will no doubt follow anything up if need be. Even if we have a vested interest, we can’t control someone else’s life.

Yes, it could be the cough medicine.
I had a carpet fitter who made a real hash of fitting my carpet - including nailing a corner with a 6” nail that punctured the central heating pipe. It was later that I was asked by the company who supplied the carpet if I had bought him some cough medicine (Gees linctus) which I had, at his request. Apparently he was ‘hooked’ on it which affected his ability to work.

What ‘doctors’ has this poor woman seen? We discovered that a neighbour who was very poorly had not seen a consultant or other specialist but had been fobbed off by the local GP surgery for several years, the GP’s had their own rationing system, I’m afraid.

Regarding Huntingdons, a very small percentage of patients do not have an affected family member:

Huntington disease is a genetic disorder. It is passed on from parents to children. ... If the child doesn't develop the disease, he or she won't pass it along to his or her children. For 1% to 3% of people with Huntington disease, no family history of the disorder is ever identified.
www.hopkinsmedicine.org › ...
Huntington's Disease | Johns Hopkins Medicine

Some types of dementia cannot be definitively diagnosed until post mortem.

I once worked with a man who was hooked on Benylin cough mixture ........ ?
Have we been told her age, and I missed it?

Korsacoff is the type of dementia which can be brought on by alcohol misuse (not in all cases though) but does cause problems with gait, confusion etc

Ask to be referred to a neurologist. This specialist treats psychological problems as well as possible physical symptoms and works out the treatment

My thoughts went to Normal Pressure Hydrocephalus. This causes amongst other things walking issues and a form of dementia - both of which disappear once the NPH is treated (surgery,) Its often mistaken for other issues.

My mum was put on statins for high cholesterol and some of the side effects were confusion, leg pains and numbness in her feet which caused her to fall a lot. I persuaded her to stop taking them and adjust her diet but although the confusion disappeared her legs and feet were never right again

Sedative cough mixtures have codeine in them and can cause addiction. I had a nice old man patient who was addicted to it. I doubt if this type of sedative cough mixture can be bought over the counter, although perhaps it can, for all I know.

Pains in feet / lower legs and consequent lameness can be caused by circulatory failure often caused by smoking.

If the doctors can't diagnose what is wrong with her you are unlikely to do so. Perhaps ask for a second opinion from another doctor? Is she accompanied to the consultation? If so , why not mention the cough mixture? Can you get a sample of it to show to your pharmacist?