Posted by Dusty on September 10, 2000 at 01:25:24:

In Reply to: Re: Frontal lobe Dimentia-reply to TeeJay posted by ED P. on May 16, 2000 at 12:56:27:

: : My heart goes out to you! I just thought I had problems. My husband has Alzheimers, but his major problem is short memory loss. He is so agreeable and loving and appreciative that I've not had to cope with strange behavior as of yet. I'm sure it will come, however. I know it must be heart-rending to deal with the alcohol problem. We have never had alcohol in our home, but I know about it's abuse from other family members. Surely, someone can help you know how to cope.

: : There are some similarities between the two disorders...I had never heard of FRONTAL LOBE DIMENTIA before. My husband still drives his familiar roads (we are in a rural setting), and everyone here knows his problem, so that helps a bit. He still tries to do some things at our church and Lions Club, but it's very limited.
: : His medication is the same as your wife's, basically, although he also has diabetes and cholesterol meds. There is so little to help these sufferers. I have just today begun an alternative medication, a "brain formula" from a company in Canada. It may be foolish, but it is all natural so maybe won't hurt us. I am taking it, also, because I have memory problems as most of us do past 70.

: : I hope someone responds with some help. I do not know how you might handle the alcohol. I assume she realizes she has a problem with functioning as normal, and may be just trying to forget. Who knows why some turn to alcohol. Does she have a relationship with Jesus Christ? He is surely my hope and strength in the dark days and nights, and He can do all things, this I know.

: : Blessings on you and your wife.
: : TeeJay
: For TeeJay-----Thank you for your blessings. With respect to the alcohol problem,she was not a "drinker",a glass of wine at dinner was all she did for years. And SHE DOES NOT believe that she has ANY problem, let alone a drinking problem. Remember, this affliction impairs the ability to REASON.Even the Neurologist cannot get the idea of a "brain"dysfunction across to her. Her social behaviour remains ok,but cannot follow nor respond during conversation. If a "trigger" word is mentioned,like "children",she will jump in with the number of kids and "grands" we have and that's the extent of it. We go to church regularly and she appears comfortable in that setting---responding, singing, etc. So it's similar to ALZHEIMERS but not it exactly. Again , thanks so much for your reply and blessing. I pray that you will cope with your situation. We had 46 good years, and that is something that sustains me. God Bless, Ed
: : : I have seen a lot of posts on ALZHEIMERS but none on Frontal Lobe Dimentia,a "similar to" the ALZHEIMERS affliction.My wife,age 67, was diagnosed by a local neurologist and confirmed by the Mayo Clinic dimentia guru in January 1998. She is currently on 2000 IU of Vitamin E and 10 mg ARICEPT along with a good "one-a-day"dosage and 500IU vitamin c. Unlike ALZHEIMERS,her memory for people is relatively ok for now,but her cognitive ability is severely impaired. She DOES drive with apparent ease,albeit for short distances on very familiar routes(grocery store,post office,church,)PROMINENT characteristics include an inability to recall the names of things,High degree of restlessness which prompts her to drive to the grocery store 10 to 12 times a day(and not buying anything most of the time),and a Propensity for drinking hard liquor right out of the bottle which I have to find and throw out.The latter happens on a sporadic basis but is truly heartbreaking when it does. Does anyone out there have a similar experience?I know it will only get worse....but I am not sure of how quickly it will. Need to hear from others on what/when to expect as time goes on and if there are ways to moderate the drinking behaviour.Thanx for advice, help, listening. No nearby family
I am very interested in the brain formula you have aquired. My mother is 74 and has the same stage of symptoms as with your husband,it is in our family. Both of my uncles were diagnosed with it and we now believe that is what my grandfather died of but back then they called it hardening of the arteries. My mother is on the aricept and vitamins also but I had heard of some alternate medication that eats away the plaque attaching to the nerves in the brain. I would love to hear of anyone with helpful information. My husband says I should be taking Ginkoba now since I too am a likely candidate but does that really help? Thank-you, Chris Kennedy