Update on 57 yr. old hubby

[needtoescape]

Hi again. Nothing much new on hubby because he insisted on waiting until his Dec. 6 appt. with our regular physician - who I'm sure will make a referral to a neurologist. I wanted to call about the latest symptoms and get the neurologist thing going sooner, but he wanted to wait and I didn't push it too hard.

I have started to notice him having trouble finding a few words. It's not happening much; I don't know if I would even have noticed if I wasn't worried about early onset AD.

The forgetfulness does seem to be increasing. A lot of heading into the kitchen to take meds, but ending up making something to eat and forgetting about the meds. And forgetting to take meds until later than he likes to take them. So I've started watching the clock and reminding him. So tonight, I reminded him. He went into the kitchen and I heard the bottles rattling and then he cussed when he realized he was getting out his morning pills instead of his evening pills. Easy enough to fix... we get a pill box and set up the morning/evening stuff; It's just concerning that it's happening at all.

So now we have: frequent dizziness, some episodes of confusion, some episodes that seem like partial epileptic seizures, increasing forgetfulness, some difficulty finding words. Nothing showed on Catscan.

I know there isn't much more to say/do until we see the Doc and then a neurologist. I just wanted to say hello.

Janet

[ToBeFreeToRoam]

Hi Janet,

Come and talk to us anytime you want/need to. Sometimes I just like to tell stuff, just to get it off my chest! Do get the morning/evening pill boxes (M-S). I did my fathers about 9 months ago, and it has helped tremendously. Of course, I am the only one that can do it, and I live 1 hr. away. I am even thinking about getting my self one, except a different style!

Be sure and write down, all that you told us and take it with you to the doctor when you go with him. My father had several tests on his brain (I forget the names) and they showed nothing either. It was his visit to a neurologist and the MMSE test that doctor did, that got his diagnosis of alzheimers. But he was 76 when he was diagnosed.

Does your husband take any medicines that would make him fuzzy headed or liable to forget? I do, so I sometimes do some of the things that you describe, about going to do something and then doing something else. And not remembering if I had taken my pills yet. That is why I need the pill boxes. I am just absent minded and forgetful, especially when I have something else on my mind. And I am not one of those people that can multi-task!!! :>

Be sure and keep the Neurologist appt. and be sure and go with your husband. Good luck and let us hear how it all went.

Love, Wannabe

[BarbaraH]

Hi -

Even if it's a bother, do get a letter to your DH's doctor before that appointment on the 6th so the doctor is aware of the situation, the worrisome symptoms your DH is having, and the requst for a neurology referral. If you call the doctor's office today and talk to a nurse, you might even be able to get the referral to the neurologist now, make that appointment, and have a shorter wait until the appointment with the neurologist.

I will say that the episodes that are seizure-like and the dizziness, sound like something other than AD. There are other things (some fixable) that can be wrong in someone's head that account for all of the symptoms, from stroke, to clots, to normal pressure hydrocephalus, and more. I don't know what would or would not show up on CT (how recently was the CTscan done?).

Meanwhile, it's good that you plan to quietly supervise as your DH takes his pills. If he's taking them incorrectly at all, that can cause some of the symptoms you've observed.

If DH's regular doctor does not suggest you see a neurologist, you can request it, insist on it, and otherwise be assertive!!

Wishing you well! Barbara

[cyt]

Hi Janet - good to see you posting and I wish you well and your hubby. The MRI's will show so much more than the catscans do. Here's hoping you do find out for sure what it is and that it's NOT AD. what could be worse?? Good luck, God bless, and please keep us posted. My hubby is 57 as well and I'm worried about him too. He is SO forgetful! Haven't the nerve to get appt. yet, as he is still able to work and don't want to rock the boat. I know I need to though. Let us know what happens. Cindy

[dak2005]

Just curious. Is your husband on any cholesterol lowering drugs? Statins such as Lipitor or Zocor. Is your husband diabetic?

DAK