Alzheimer's disease

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• May 20, 2012 11:55 a.m.

  I was 55 when I was diagnosed with early on-set Alzheimers. Already taking Donepezil 10mg. (Aricept). I have been married to the boy next store for 36 years and have three boys. All the kids are now married and out of the house. I went in for testing due to mistakes at work. The Doctor put me on medical leave that day. I never went back to work. I put in for retiremaent, I will let you know how that goes. All of this happened on April 1, 2012. If all goes as planned my last working day will be June 4, 2012 and that will be the last day I will have medical insurance as well. Have no clue how this is all going to work out. Glad I found others in the same condishion.

  - Joyce

• March 29, 2011 5:03 p.m.

  I'm very glad I found this blog. I am 68, was diagnosed with Alzheimer's about a year ago but have known for about 4 years that something was wrong. It seems the last year, actually the last 6 months the progression has been rapid and I've felt ridiculous in my reactions. I am on a roller coaster ride. The depression is awful, I am scared to death of what may be ahead. I'm embarassed to be around my friends. I am greiving as one of the victim's said--that is what I feel like. Why me. I used to be an intelligent woman. I feel like I am just feeling sorry for myself then that brings guilt feelings. I have felt alone in all this. I now know I am not. It is the old adage "Misery loves company," I sorry to say. This is a horrible disease for everyone who is touched by it.

  - Pam

• March 2, 2011 4:48 p.m.

  My husband has just been told he is in the beginning stages of Alzeihmers. He will be 72 in August. Where do I begin as his caregiver? What legal steps do we need for now and the future? Where do I go for information about what is offered in our community for both of us?

  - margaret

• February 10, 2011 11:23 p.m.

  Our mom has moderate Alzeihmers. Her husband of 67 years passed away in November. She says we her children don't want her around and that's why she is in memory care. It's true we can not care for her as Aegis does, but we care about her very much. She says she just wants to die. Trying to figure out the best way to help her with her grief when she can't remember why she's griefing is difficult. Anyone out there with similar situation and can share positive results...share away. Thanks

  - Dawn Marie DJBmPy

• January 27, 2011 8:52 p.m.

  My husband is 83, has been on aricept and namenda for 6 years. In addition to Alzeimers, he had had a stroke and a fall caused brain bleed and rehab. Scans show brain shrinkage. He always has said he is just getting old. He has remained pleasant and loving and thanks us for our care... but requires "line of sight" and constant care and continues to fail. He seldom knows where he is. We have a 6 hour daily care-giver, which is a gift for me as well as him. I am 80. My greatest fear was realized when I was laid low for 5 weeks last fall with severe flu.. Family, at great inconvenience came from states away and took turns taking care of us both. They also got a better idea of the care my husband requires. I grieved more when he was first diagnosed but the depression lessoned as I came to grips with what the end will be. He is so lucky to have great and loving care and that is all we can do. I know the worst is yet to come. (We used to laugh that we were buying Long Term Care instead of joining the golf club. So glad we did) We have more care than most people and I am back to good health and can cope. God bless us all and all the stressed caregivers.

  - Molly

• January 20, 2011 12:34 p.m.

  Denial. Anger. Dred. Electrifying emotions rattled through me 4 months ago, when at age 64 I was told: "Alzheimers. You have Alzheimers". "Oh", I tried to reason, "so that's why I'm forgetting things". Then Denial returned, & Limbo. It's like I'm floating above everyone as they discussed: "So thats what's wrong with Mom"? "No", I cry. "There's nothing wrong with Mom!" I still can not come to terms that I have been given this incurable titled "thing" that no one wants part of. Especially not me. So I'm trying to educate myself, to understand the whys of it & to find peace within my self because of it, even though I can not accept the fate of it. I'm still in denial of it, I'm still angry about it, & I'm still in dred of it - "it", the unknown of what there is to come, the unknown of who I'll be. Yet apparently, I will, eventially, not know when "it" becomes me...& "I", at the end, become "it".

  - Eula

• November 25, 2010 11:38 p.m.

  Alzheimers is a devastating disease. People usually forget that its almost as hard for the patient than it is for the patients family and friends. Alzheimer patients are affected socially more often than not. They THINK they are a burden and usually don't speak as much because of it. Please, I'am begging you, don't think your a burden. Your family and friends love you more than anything in the entire world. You are not a burden. Your presence alone is brightening your family's life. The best thing to do is consistently talk. Contact is the best way to help alzheimer patients. Playing games...scrabble...or simply talking. I have also recently found a website called www.alztea.com. They claim to be selling Alzheimer's tea. It may not be true, but anything is worth a try. Hopefully this helps.

  - Jonathan

• November 23, 2010 12:38 p.m.

  I was diagnosed with Alzheimers disease nearly two years ago. After the initial shock, I made a decision: I will not become a victim. I will take each day as it comes then move on. My book on the first year of my experience with Alzheimers may be of help to some people who want to hear from others with the disease: Essays on Living with Alzheimers Disease: The First Twelve Months. It is available from Amazon.com or from www.firesidepubs.com.

  - Lois

• November 18, 2010 5:01 p.m.

  My mom has had dementia for about 4 years - we spent one year trying to get her to go a doctor - she doesnt remember that - I thank god I have my mom - she will be 83 in march. I cant imagine what it must feel like to her knowing whats happening to her - how long before she doesnt know us? My heart is broken - I am so very close to both of my parents and am lucky to have them both - my Mom can sill drive anywhere that she wants to go - she just cant tell you the name of the store or the streets that she took to get there. She no longer can read or paint, or write for that matter. My brother and I and her only grandchildren all live within one mile of her house. She said that if she didnt have her family close she doesnt believe that she would so as well as shedoes. She and I talk about old time and she will remember them for a moment and then its gone - always a new conversation. So sad for all of us but it must be more heartbreaking for her. I love my mom and help her however I can

  - Sheri

• November 4, 2010 11:08 a.m.

  Sandi and others My husband was diagnosed with Alzheimer's at 57 -fours years ago. It seem that he moved very quickly through the mild stage to the moderate stage. He is no longer able to do much of anything - he gets angry aand frustrated when he cannot do something. The biggest change I have to deal with is he gets angry about everything. He does understand when I try to explain things to him. He listens to all my conversations with our children and grandchildren and hits on one word or sentence and goes on and on about it. For example he hears something about money and right off he assumes they are asking for money. The only conversations we have any more is about what is upsetting him.The man I married is no longer - his whole personality has changed. Two weeks ago my oldest daughter and her 16 year old son moved in with us to help me care for him. I work and am not able to quit just yet and have some medical limitations myself. I really was stressed about him being alone all day long, My daughter had just lost her job as a medical assistant ( cut backs) and her moving it made sense.He had a hard time with this even through I discussed it with him several times. He wants it to be just him and me all the time. Every day is a trial by fire - I never know what is coming- he gets more restless every day and something new is bothering him - or the same old thing about why our daughter needs to be with us. So I know what you are going through,no answers, just prayers.

  - Linda Kay

• November 3, 2010 4:12 p.m.

  My husband was told five years ago that he was in the early stage of Alzheimers. now in 2010 he was told that he has ,Parkinsons disease. i is this possiable? I don`t know , he has systoms of both???

  - Joann

• October 20, 2010 8:40 p.m.

  My daughter and wife think I may have the beginning of alzheimer, due to my forgetfulness, forgetting what I asked for or was asked, and my vocabulary seems lost sometimes, I can't remember the right word or say incomplete sentences, and becoming less social. What do think? should I talk to my family doctor about this. Evidently this has been going on for some months.

  - Dave

• October 20, 2010 10:21 a.m.

  My dad had Alzheimer for nearly 10 years, my wife's dad now has it. If I was told I had it I would set a date while I still could and take my own life. I am 74 years old and would not subject my wife to the torture of wasting her time caring for the walking dead.

  - rozyredtoes

• October 19, 2010 1:53 p.m.

  I'm 53 and have an aunt with Alzheimers. In recent months, my memory has decreased significantly. Examples include forgetting peoples' names, words, and actually losing a set of keys in 2 hrs in my condo, as well as a bite plate. I know memory can get worse just with age, but I'm a 'young' 53 and my progress feels too fast & extreme. Should I (and what do you do?) get tested or am I over-reacting?

  - Joan

• October 19, 2010 1:49 p.m.

  Here are the words of a friend with a diagnosis of early Alxheimer's: It means that when I forget something it is not my fault.

  - Emilia but prefer anonymity

• October 18, 2010 1:51 p.m.

  Mia, thanks for your comment. For information about early signs, please refer to this earlier blog posting by Angela: http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/warning-signs-of-alzheimers/MY01036. As for your husband's appointment, it's unfortunate but not unusual that it would take months. Any of the following professionals could make an evaluation: primarily care physician or internist, neurologist, psychiatrist or geriatrician. No matter who the appointment is with, be prepared. This document can help you: http://www.alz.org/national/documents/ED_doc_checklist-030609.pdf Again, thanks for your comment and please return.

  - MayoClinic.com staff

• October 15, 2010 1:57 a.m.

  My husband is not diagnosed. He will have a neuropsyche test in 4 months!!!! They are that backlogged. Then we must wait another month for results! We live in Southern California. Are there places he can be tested here? What are the "early" signs? All our kids are asking we get him tested. He's 65.

  - Mia

• October 14, 2010 12:33 p.m.

  Health Professions Press published a revised edition of Lisa Snyer's book,Speaking Our Minds: What it's Like to Have ALzheimer's, Revised Edition, as Allan referenced in a previous comment. If you would like to learn more about this book, you can visit the publisher's website at http://www.healthpropress.com/store/snyder-29500/index.htm.

  - Kristi

• October 13, 2010 3:24 p.m.

  I just found out from the doctor that my Mother has Dementia/Alzheimer’s. I noticed 3 month ago she had forgotten that she was in the hospital for four week with CHF, once in June and then in July. August my sister came to visit her. She did not remember the visit. She can remember big events up to the Obama election. She had a small stroke in the left side of her brain August 2009 but seems to recover from it but then started having short term memory loss. We have two caregivers that stay with her while I work. I dread the day she does not remember me.

  - Maggie

• October 12, 2010 2:52 p.m.

  My wife showed AD symptoms at age 60 but wasn't diagnosed until 18 months ago, when she was 63. A good site to check out for answers to questions spouses/caregivers may have is an online support group for those diagnosed with EOAD, as well as those diagnosed at much later ages. Those who have posted here should check out this site ... www.thealzheimerspouse.com ... the only site that I go to regularly other than this one. Some people who have commented to posts at this mayoclinic.com site may find some comfort there. I know I do!

  - Allan

• October 11, 2010 8:47 a.m.

  I'm new to reading these posts and find them comforting in the fact that there are so many others, like me, coping with this disease. My husband is in early stage Alzheimer's now and can't remember more than one thing, if that, and is losing the ability to speak. He is physically quite fit and walks the dog twice a day, going to a woodsy trail, which I would hate to deprive him of doing. He is almost always cheerful and loving He reads the newspaper each morning and seems to enjoy it, though cannot follow most TV programs, though also seems that he does follow them if he wants too. I find pleasure in keeping him happy, though sometimes get so frustrated and let it out on him. Is it really helpful to have people with this dementia talk with others who have it?

  - Louise

• October 11, 2010 5:10 a.m.

  Linda, I just read your comment after I wrote my own. I will be praying for you. I understand the fear of it all,good thing God is bigger!

  - Lorri

• October 11, 2010 4:57 a.m.

  My husband was diagnosed in 2003 with Frontal Lobe Dementia. I placed him in a Care Facility in 2006, he was only 51 at the time. Can anyone relate?

  - Lorri

• October 9, 2010 5:42 p.m.

  We are now in the second year of early onset AD diagnosis. What a transition! My husband must retire as unable to keep on with agency due to poor short term memory. I'm doing almost everything for finances, decisions, whatnot. I'm scared! His affect is so flat, my guy isn't here very often anymore. And at 55 and 51.. I'm too young to feel so alone! I'm very worried about finances, and how to pay the things for girls off that were to be taken care of in the next five years and care for him as well. Prayers are all I have.

  - Sandi

• October 7, 2010 8:58 p.m.

  My mother is so forgetful and is blind and having a problem walking more than to the bathroom .I work in a nursing home and then try to do my best to help my parents out . it make a long day for me at times. I understand the problems with my mon but its my dad that concerns me more. Hes up early trying to keep house cooking and everything that need to be done done. its like every thing has to be done now. If I suggest packing something up that he wont be using (he might have used it when all us children were at home) He gets upset I dont know how to make his day any easier without making him feel Im trying to control them. He needs a Break!!``````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````` children were at home)

  - Joann