I think I am developing dementia. What should I do first?
I cared for my mother for 8 years and she passed away in September 2014 with dementia. I was placed on Zoloft for two years due to severe panic and anxiety attacks. I am currently being weaned off due to side effects..mainly memory problems.
I asked my doctor who is a Psychiatrist/Researcher in this area to please test me for dementia/Alzheimer's however he wanted to wait possibly due to the medication. I am close to being totally off the meds and now want to seek answers to my condition but do not know where to begin. I do know that many of you are nurses and have dealt with these illnesses so I wanted to ask for guidance.
I do not know how long I should wait once removed from all medication to try to obtain testing. I am hoping that all this fog will lift and my memory will return but I am preparing for the worst as Alzheimer's ran in my grandmother's family down to dementia in my mother. I know you are probably saying "ask your doctor" however since he is a researcher and does medical trials I know he will want to put me in a trial and I do not think I want to do that.
I am afraid to tell my family what I am going through because it has only been two years since my mother was suffering with this and we were all losing our minds trying to figure out what to do. I do not want to lose my freedom and I know my daughter or sister may try to take over my life decisions. I do have a Trust but my daughter is only 25 and not mature enough to handle what I may put her through.
It has become more difficult to organize anything. Bills are sometimes forgotten. I have left things cooking on the stove and forgotten them. I live with my daughter and older sister so they catch what I don't, thank God! In wood working they say "measure twice and cut once" but I find myself measuring 5 or 6 times and then having someone else check too, "just to be safe." If I do not make a note, I will forget it....TV shows, appointments, paying the gardener, trash day etc. It is not just forgetting where my keys are, it is finding my scarf in the trash instead of the laundry or going to bed after working hard all day in the yard and awakening to realize I forgot to take a bath the night before or spending money on things I do not really need.
I have always been the one to rely on, the one in charge so this is very difficult for me and frightening. I also have gran mal seizures and take meds to control them. Can anyone offer some guidance please?
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Take care of yourself. We'd love to have you update us on how you are doing.
Carol
After reading it, check back and tell us how you feel.
Also, have a check-up with your primary care physician-thyroid, fibromyalgia, grief, stress, a vit. D or B-12 deficiency, iron deficiency---all this and more can mimic dementia.
I also feel like I am losing my memory. My primary doctor said that is normal when under so much stress. Also my new talk therapist is saying the same thing. It will take awhile to de-stress even when taking meds. I also take meds and there are some side effects as you had noticed with your own memory.
If I don't remind myself with notes, forgetaboutit, it doesn't get done. And here I use to be so organized. I think some of that is side effects from the meds. I am too tired to care.
As for the falls, there really isn't much one can do to help eliminate falls... elders are going to fall, that is this their job. My Mom had a serious fall while she still lived at home with Dad, had a traumatic head injury and there was nothing that doctor could do to correct the damage that was done. Then Mom spent her remaining three months in long-term-care where she continued to keep falling. Since I had studied up on this injury, I knew this would happen. The long-term-care couldn't tie Mom into her bed or into her chair, so there wasn't much anyone could do except wait it out.
Watch TV shows such as "Who Wants to be a Millionaire" where you can answer questions. It makes you feel good when you get the right answer. Or get back into a hobby you use to enjoy. Mine was politics, so there is a lot of material for me to get into :P
Some of the things you describe aren't unusual for post-caregiving; it does take a while to segue back into a less demanding lifestyle. But the more you worry about it, the more you're going to begin believing that your worries are coming true. Perhaps they are; perhaps they aren't.
If you start worrying again, turn on the Weather Channel and think about what you'd have to do if you lived in Florida - that's really something to worry about. Focus on other people's misfortunes and how you can help - it takes your mind off your own issues.
It really does help to get more balanced into your life.
I agree with others that your memory affect is probably due to all you have been through. Grief counseling may help you unload the burden.
Of course, you can't know for sure, but most people who have dementia, aren't trying to get to a doctor to get it diagnosed. Most people with dementia don't realize it and are resistant to the idea. You are not that way, so, that's something.
I'd work on stress relief and get her your health back before you do tests. There's no rush, right? You can get tested in a few months, when your stress level is down.
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