Billy Joel Cancels All Concerts After Brain Disorder Diagnosis

[TomSlick]

4. My mom was diagnosed with NPH years ago.

I had a hard time convincing the MDs that the the symptoms were not dementia - the onset was too sudden. I'm no MD but I know that dementia is slowly progressive and takes time to develop.

Fortunately, a hospitalist listened to me. She did a diagnostic spinal tap which immediately relieved the symptoms. Mom soon had a shunt installed in the brain which is essentially a pop-off valve that moves excess spinal fluid into the abdomen to be absorbed.

The hospitalist bucked the other doctors (all male, or course) and saved my mother from spending her days in a nursing home until the NPH finally killed her.

Good luck to Joel. I'm a great fan.