Follow up call with Neurologist - Neurology Message Board

needtoescape · 03-01-2006, 06:39 AM

After our feedback session on hubby's neuropsych exam, we were supposed to follow up with the neurologist. I called to make an appt., but the office staff just said they would put us on the call list. We got a call that evening, and I don't know quite what to think.

The neurologist mainly focused on the part of the results that related to his depression. He did say for hubby to keep taking the anti-seizure med, but he didn't seem real convinced that the test results indicated a difference in right brain/left brain function.

He actually didn't comment much at all (except on the depression stuff) but he said to me "When you tell me in 3 years that he is a lot worse, we will do these same tests again and be able to tell if he has or hasn't gotten a lot worse."

So... I don't know if he agrees with the neuropysch guy that this probably not AD. But the results just did not show that much - so I know he won't speculate further at this point. And I know he doesn't expect significant change in 1 year.... since his comment was "When you tell me in 3 years..."

Hubby still thinks something is wrong. He gets upset at himself quite often. He swore he took his evening pills the other night (I had even asked him and he said yes), but when he went to take morning pills the next morning, the evening pills were there. He can't figure out what he did. None of the other pills were missing so he didn't take some other day's pills. But overall, I don't notice much problem. There haven't been any confusion episodes recently.

I guess we just wait and see... But even though the neurologist left me with a little concern that this could still be something that gets worse, I am not panicking since the time frame he mentioned is pretty long...

Anyhoo, I plan to stick around with you guys just in case...

N2E

Martha H · 03-01-2006, 06:45 AM

Dear N2E

Regarding forgetting his pills - here is the difference between whatever your hubby has and AD:

My Mom, when finding pills left in the pill tray, immediately made up an excuse, which changed from minute to minute:

-You put in twice as many as usual, so I only took half of them

-I took the pills but then YOU put new ones in right away (I only refilled the compartments every Saturday)

-The doctor told me to skip one day a week

- The doctor called and said I don't need any more drugs

Your husband said he thought he had taken them and was upset that he hadn't. This sounds very different from an Alzheimer patient.

I do hope you find out what he has and what can be done.

love,

Martha

Sandyspen · 03-01-2006, 06:53 AM

N2E,
Martha is exactly right. I had the same problem with mom not taking her pills from the tray. She would always say she used the bottle on the shelf instead of the tray.

With AD, they're trying to cover it up. Don't want you to know they're forgetting. Your hubby realizes it, but doesn't know why. A little different I'd think too.

needtoescape · 03-01-2006, 07:05 AM

I agree that this is different. I just wonder if with AD, there is a point in the very very early stages when the person does realize. My hubby is very open about stuff - and would not be inclined to cover up - at least not now. It seems that most people ignore/overlook the problems until there is no denying a problem exists... It just makes me wonder about the very early stages since most people aren't identifying a problem at that point. But it doesn't really accomplish anything to wonder. Hopefully treating his depression will make a difference.

Sandyspen · 03-01-2006, 08:34 AM

N2E,
Sorry bout that, hit the wrong button.

Yes, there are some odd things about AD. Sometimes my mom will be trying to remember something, someone's name, etc., and she'll say, "My meory is so awful, you're going to have to lock me up."

5 minutes later, if her memory is mentioned, she'll say, "I don't have memory problems. I'm really lucky for my age."

She forgets she has memory problems.