alzheimers

[nanadoris]

I am 56 years old and for the past 5-6 years I have become increasingly forgetful. I forget the name of things; I forget something that was said to me just minutes before and I have experiences that I totaly do not remember. Whenever under stress, this appears to worsen. I have paranoid thoughts/feelings (others are plotting against me. This problem has not only affected my home life, but is now affecting my work relationship. Does this sound like alzheimers?

[SciTeach]

Diagnosing alzheimer's is really a process of elimination. There are many conditions (some treatable) that can cause forgetfulness. Depression, hypothyroidism, vitamin deficiencies, side effects of some medications are just a few.

When we took Mom to the Dr the first time, he ran all kinds of tests...blood tests etc. Even when we first were referred to a neurologist Mom was given a Cat scan and other types of tests before they basically ruled out all other possiblities except "dementia of Alzheimer's type", as they put it.

I am not sure about the paranoia. However, I know that AD can cause delusions and hallucinations.

If I were you I'd go to my regular Dr and tell him my concerns. He can run some blood work and then go from there.

Good luck to you and let us know what happens.

Sciteach

[Jim]

Hi Nan---;

If you have not read the information on Franklin Cassel's web site, do read it! Go back down to "could I have alz---- at 31", there is a link. I am 64, and have not remembered names, places, where I put things all my life, it takes a effort to do so, so write things down, get a small tape recorder, do what ever it takes to make life easier.

Jim

[gidget]

Hello, this is my first post with yall, I am from the lymphoma board.
My father has been dx with Alzheimer by a neurologist and he too had MRI and cat scans but there were lots of blood tests and I remember the dr saying that my dad was positive with some type of protein in his blood and that was common with Alz. He is progressing too fast and my mom is having quite a time with him.I am not sure if he knows what he is saying sometimes or is it habit.He is becoming determined to do it and no one will tell him what to do.He balks the worst with my mom.My mom says that he eats good but when I am there to see him eat he picks or just does not want it. His favoorite answer is NO. He is reffusiing to go back to the dr, says he does not need to go to dr.We finally got the car away from him and then my mom let him drive and did not tell me, she will cover for him!She finally understands and I pray she will not let him drive ever again!He can not communicate too well it is like playing sharades to figure out his sentences,everything is" that stuff"he also gets real mean with my mom and he can not stand my son's wife and will sort her out and say real mean things to her, she understands that it is the Alz. My son lives with them amd helps out on his lunch break and then he is there after work, but I have him take weekends off, he is only 25 and this is alot for him. He is a good son to want to do this and he is helping me too since I am too ill myself to take care of it and I feel guilty cause I can not do it, it is my responsibility as their only child.So that is a bit of the history of our lives with Alz and there is much more. My mom needs some of yalls first hand advise on how to talk to my dad and manage him when he will not "mind" We want to keep him at home and take care of him as he took care of us for so many years...Please she needs help! She is just know facing reality of my dad's Alz.My mother will listen to yall before me, she has early deminia but still managing fine, just driving me crazy at times but I understand and will survive this, that is if I survive my own medical condition.Thanks for taking time in reading this and if you have any advise for my mom I will appreciate it...take care
gidget/sunshine

[Franklin K. Casel]

Dear nanadoris:
It is quite possible that you do indeed have Alzheimer's, however it may be another type of dementia. You would do well to waste no time and get on to a competent neurologist for a careful evaluation. It takes a number of tests to rule out all other causes of dementia and there is no single test to prove Alzheimer's If it is determined that the most likely diagnosis is Alzheimer's Disease then you can get on with learning how to cope and to develop a love/trust relationship with a caregiver with whome you can become increasingly dependent to do for you the things you no longer can do yourself.

Keep faith and God bless.
Franklin

[This message has been edited by moderator1 (edited 04-04-2002).]