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J J - 11 Jun 2004 04:14 GMT

My name is JJ and I need help and advice. first of all, I am a widow of
2years lost my hubby to a brain tumor at 56
now I am a care-giver to mom. she has dementia and I am all to new to
this one. I AM going crazy ~~~~mom keeps repeating things over and over
and yet she forgets something I tell in 10 min.
just want to know more about this disease and is this an e
early stage of ALZHEIMER's?
thanks JJ

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Baird Stafford - 11 Jun 2004 17:58 GMT

> My name is JJ and I need help and advice. first of all, I am a widow of
> 2years lost my hubby to a brain tumor at 56
[quoted text clipped - 3 lines]
> just want to know more about this disease and is this an e
> early stage of ALZHEIMER's?

As far as I know, none of us are doctors and even if we were, we
certainly couldn't diagnose your mother's condition without seeing her.
Take her to her doctor, *soon*, and find out what he or she says about
the problem.

From what you say and in a layman's opinion only, it *might* be
Alzheimer's. Other things can cause dementia, however, and some of them
are curable. Take her to the doctor.

Blessed be,
Baird

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Evelyn Ruut - 11 Jun 2004 18:49 GMT

What you have described are symptoms of dementia, a one-size-fits-all term.
Dementia can be caused by a million different things, and alzheimers is one
of them. The good news is that some dementias can be treated.

Unless you get her properly diagnosed, you won't know which it is.

Signature

Regards,
Evelyn

(to reply to me personally, remove 'sox")

>
> > My name is JJ and I need help and advice. first of all, I am a widow of
[quoted text clipped - 16 lines]
> Blessed be,
> Baird

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Glenfiddich - 12 Jun 2004 00:25 GMT

>My name is JJ and I need help and advice. first of all, I am a widow of
>2years lost my hubby to a brain tumor at 56
[quoted text clipped - 3 lines]
>just want to know more about this disease and is this an e
>early stage of ALZHEIMER's?

Dear JJ,
Yes, this *is* one of the symptoms of Alzheimer Disease - but it could
also be a sign of any one of several other problems.

Only her doctor could tell for sure - I strongly recommend that you
talk this over with her doctor, as soon as possible.
Some people with AD try very hard to hide their problems,
you may have to point the doctor in the right direction.

Regarding the constant questions, unfortunately you'll just have to
learn to live with them - since she cannot remember anything you tell
her, there's just no way for her to stop asking.
Don't take them personally or let them get under your skin - your mom
literally can't help it, it's the disease talking, not her.
As a 'retired' care-giver, my advice is that about the only thing that
might help is for you to experiment to find out which answers keep her
happiest the longest.

Sorry you're joining this 'club', but you'll find (mostly!) good
advice here. This newsgroup helped save a little of my own sanity
when I was caring for my wife!

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Jo Ann Malina - 12 Jun 2004 12:18 GMT

Glenfiddich <atsila@nyc.roadrunner.com> is alleged to have said:

>>My name is JJ and I need help and advice. first of all, I am a widow of
>>2years lost my hubby to a brain tumor at 56
[quoted text clipped - 12 lines]
> Some people with AD try very hard to hide their problems,
> you may have to point the doctor in the right direction.

Don't bother with her doctor if he's a General Physician. Find someone
who specializes in geriatrics, especially geriatric psychiatry. Her
own doctor is going to check her blood pressure, ask a few lame
questions and whisk on to the next patient (heavy generalization, that,
but you know what I mean).

An evaluation should take an hour or more, giving the doctor time to
penetrate the front I'm sure your mother is able to keep up in casual
conversation. It helps if the doctor's a stranger, too, who won't
shrug off the problems because they think they know your mom.

There should be blood tests for certain conditions, and an MRI if a
brain tumor is suspected.

Read the book "The 36 Hour Day."

> Regarding the constant questions, unfortunately you'll just have to
> learn to live with them - since she cannot remember anything you tell
[quoted text clipped - 4 lines]
> might help is for you to experiment to find out which answers keep her
> happiest the longest.

Well said. I'll have to think of that the next time my mom starts
with the repetitive questions.

> Sorry you're joining this 'club', but you'll find (mostly!) good
> advice here. This newsgroup helped save a little of my own sanity
> when I was caring for my wife!

Signature

Jo Ann Malina, make spamthis best to find my address

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Char - 15 Jun 2004 05:15 GMT

Hi JJ,

I have to take the opposite opinion of starting with her usual
doctor---the doctor who helped my husband the most is the one who knew
both of us before all of the problems began. The new ones he saw
were the most determined to write everything off as depression,
mental, or anything else they could come up with. I would have gone
totally crazy without the support we got from our pc doctor.

Always,

Char

> Glenfiddich <atsila@nyc.roadrunner.com> is alleged to have said:
> >
[quoted text clipped - 46 lines]
> > advice here. This newsgroup helped save a little of my own sanity
> > when I was caring for my wife!

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