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Medical Forum / Diseases and Disorders / Alzheimer's / May 2004Frank was RE: Need practical suggestions
Frank wrote: My name is Frank. I am 54 years old. I kept forgetting things and losing very important Items ; dates and times and things I must do; I forgetting how to spell and so on...I bought a micro cassette tape recorder to remind me what I must do and where I have put Items away...I forget to use the tape recorder...It getting very bad... I'm frightened, very frightened...Just tonight I've lost something very valuable that I needed very much ; a necessity. I can't replace this Item...I also leave very important things behind and lose them...like one time I left my entire photography equipment {Two very expensive digital cameras}, and two cell phones in a restaurant, and never found them...This has been going on for years, but as I get older I can't make the excuse any more that it's just normal to forget small things from time to time...I forget the big things...It scares the hell out of me...I feel like I'm going crazy or something...What I lost tonight was extremely important...I'm sitting here depressed....very dejected. I have to admit it once and for all, I'm getting Alzheimer's, but there's nothing to do...I just needed to tell someone before I did something rash...like go out and drink..and I don't drink...I think I may start up on it... --------------- frank _________________________ Frank, This sounds very frightening for you -- and would be for anyone! I'm glad you found us here and I hope you feel a little better for having put into words what is worrying you. (It was a much better option than hitting the bottle! No hangovers here...) We will try to help you as much as we can with practical advice and just listening when it's all too much to deal with by yourself. The next step is for you to get some help off-line. Have you talked to your doctor about this? If he blows it off as "normal forgetfulness," ask for a second opinion from a neurologist or someone who specializes in memory-loss problems. It may not be Alzheimer's at all, but something very treatable and curable, such as medicine interaction or a nutritional deficiency. And is it IS Alzheimer's or one of the other related illnesses, there are medications that can help -- and the sooner you take them, the better. Is there someone close to you who can help you with these concerns? A family member? A clergy person? A trusted friend? Please post again and tell us how you are doing today. We care. Songbird Thank You Songbird: --------------------------- You're right about one thing songbird. It's all too much for me. Today I'm feeling depressed, so as they say when you get depressed , "Do something, anything". Well I got all my old photo's , {I didn't like them any way}, and shredded then in a paper shedder! . I feel a little better, thank you , Not much but at least I got rid of thousands of old photos I hated any way. As for a neurologist...I just had a MIR for the head. I'm an avid bi cycle rider and from time to time have taken a fall or two.{ You're right I should wear the helmet!}; This last winter I cracked my skull on ,"Black Ice"...{It's invisible to the eye}. So when I see the neurologist he'll tell me what's up with my head...but also I will ask him about this memory problem I've been having for years...Decades...no since I was a kid!!...Losing keys is one thing, but losing a dozens of sets in the last 10 years is GOT to be a bigger problem. The keys can be replaced but when I can't remember that I left $10,000 dollars worth of photography equipment in a restaurant...there's a bigger problem brewing...Thank You Songbird for caring...doctor's do say," Ahh it just normal to forget"...Well they are wrong...it's not normal..Thanx again... ------------ frank You are welcome. One other thought: The doctors are right in that we all DO forget things from time to time -- it's just that you seem to do it to a greater degree. I know that with forgetfulness remembering incidents and writing them down can be a problem, but if you could keep a journal of any such incidents between now and when you see the doctor that might be helpful. Write down the time of day, what you were doing, how recently you had eaten, etc. That may turen up a pattern that can help him solve the problem. Songbird P.S. I hope you saved at least a FEW of the more flattering photos. I am 44 and never saw a photo of my grandmother, who died when Dad was 15, until last year. Wow! Now I know who I look like and where my blonde hair came from! > Thank You Songbird: > --------------------------- [quoted text clipped - 18 lines] > ------------ > frank Wow! Your situation does sound huge! How have you functioned for so many years? I really don't know much of anything... but when was the last time you had your thyroid levels checked?? Have they ever checked for vitamin deficiencies etc.? Sorry I can't be of much help - but it is time to talk with as many Dr's as you can. Get it more closely diagnosed, if they can. Take care Suzanne > You are welcome. > [quoted text clipped - 35 lines] > > ------------ > > frank Frank, I would be very interested in what you find out, especially since you feel that you have had these memory problems since you were a kid. My 14-year old daughter is very forgetful about things too. Sometimes I think that it's because she just doesn't care about certain things so she doesn't bother to remember them. Other times I wonder if, although very bright in many ways, she has some sort of mental disability, kind of like a learning disability. I've been tempted sometimes to see if we could try some of the Alzheimers drugs on her! (I'm being half facetious, half serious, here). Another interesting tidbit... There was a relatively young woman (30s I think) who posted here in the past couple of months. She did not have Alzheimers, but she did have memory problems and some learning disabilities. Her doctor had prescribed one of the Alzheimers medications that helps with memory. That was the first I had heard of this type of drug being prescribed for a non-AD patient. But, when you consider how some of these drugs work, it made sense. They work on a neurotransmitter that is associated with memory and learning. So, their action is not specific to AD, it's specific to that chemical involved in memory. Unless you experience some intolerable side effects and can't take them, these drugs could be very beneficial for you. Even if you are not diagnosed with AD, I would talk to your doctor about whether they would be appropriate. Good luck, and keep posting. - Jennie > Thank You Songbird: > --------------------------- [quoted text clipped - 18 lines] > ------------ > frank |
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