Doctors certain I have Alzheimer's. Any advice?

Probable Alzheimer's is not Alzheimer's. Hippocampus shrinkage is certainly a sign of AD, but there is no single clinical test that diagnoses AD. For the doctor to immediately cause revocation of your driver's license, whether it's AD or LBD, is, to me, premature without having you go thru an assessment of your functionality. There are many people who live a next to normal life in the early stages of a dementia disease.

Is this doctor(s ) a neurologist or PCP? If so, they may want to refer you to a neuropsychologist who will conduct several cognitive evaluations to help better diagnose your symptoms.

My mom has Lewy Body..It began around 83 years old. It was such a gradual thing. Hard to recognize. She said some days her brain was so foggy she could not find words. Her balance got very poor, her arm shook a lot. Walking was difficult at times. We tried PT before she was diagnosed. She began to hear people talking in the house when my brother was not home. She heard music. Mom saw houses across the street on fire with huge flames…she thought a man tried to kidnap her which was untrue..the hallucinations were vivid. That lasted a few months and none since. She slowly was unable to handle her meds or any math chores like her checking account. She was very easily upset and paranoid. She thought people were out to “get her”. Some days ..many days she was clear as a bell but her insight was poor. She would go out and test the ice on the driveway to see how slippery it was! She quickly volunteered to stop driving. Mom is now 87. she mostly has good days but has to live in an assisted living for cognitively impaired persons. She needs a constant easy schedule. She needs quiet. She uses a walker. She occasionally mixes up days and nights. Most people think she is clear and doubt her Lewy diagnosis but we see the huge differences in her. Lewy is not like Alzheimers at all …early on…there are great days with some confusion that is usually short lived…an hour , a day but she has so many great times. I hope this description helps..very scary indeed..Good Luck.

I would get a second opinion.

Find the book The Alzheimer's Myth. Before anybody spits her coffee all over the keyboard at such a notion, the author is not saying that dementia does not exist. Rather he says that all of us have some cognitive changes and decline as we age, and that Alzheimer's has become big business. He advocates treating older people with dignity and encouraging them to continue on with their lives instead of succumbing to dread and doom when they are given a diagnosis of Alzheimer's or other dementias.

He also has some interesting points about what scientists and doctors really know about Alzheimer's and what they don't know. I recommend this book for all of us who are getting older and seeing changes in our thinking processes.

Hello.

definitely get a second opinion and look for a doc who will talk to you.

my personal wish is a neurologist who will say “i know youre not going to get better. In fact youre going to get worse. But lets see what we can do in the meantime.“

best wishes to you.

im still looking.

I’m so sorry. This is a mighty blow.

If this were me, I’d try and do as much from home as possible. See if you can work remotely. Have groceries delivered. Even pharmacies deliver.

I would also be proactive. I would do memory-strengthening exorcises, and read as much I could about potential therapies. Try get into the habit of keeping a stringent journal. Record what time you eat and what you eat. Record appointments and reminders on your phone so that it will alert you when you have upcoming events and appointments so you won’t rely so heavily on your memory or be stressed about forgetting something. I’d also make a photo album with pictures and labels so someone won’t one day have to make that for me. Write down memories for your children that you’re scared you might forget.

Sorry, I know this was more than simply asking your question, but also, you may want to talk to a therapist. It’s ok to need to grieve this diagnosis.

i wont comment on the diagnosis. What i will say. There are solutions to all ur challenges u will face going forward. I dont drive unless long journey. I Uber or ride a bike. Depending on ur type of Customers technology could reduce need for travel even furter without impacting on ur service delivery or quality of product. Kit your house out ahead of time with devices u may need as the disease progresses. Update ur will, Power of Attorney (Authority to act) have a DNR with doctor if u so inclined. etc. Communicate clearly with ur family as to your wishes while u are still able to do so. Lean on the people closest to u for support. They will be there for u.

First thing you can do is stop eating all sugar and simple carbohydrates, potatoes, rice, bread, etc. this isn't a cure but from what I have heard from many research doctors this seems to slow progression down. You can go to dementia care blazers on YouTube lots of info on Alz.

With regards to driving, unless you are already having difficulty with it, wait for an assessment. Also, if you live in a city/suburb most of them have public transportation options. Even rural areas have transportation options(must call days in advance) through their county services for seniors. But again, wait for an official diagnosis and assessment.

Re: Driving
If You are going to continue working, you will have no other choice than to hire someone to use your car to drive you around.

On the days you have no appointments, you can either Car Share with someone at work or take an Uber to and from work.

I would think it would be less expensive if you found and hired someone for minimum wage and try to schedule your appointments for a couple days a week.

You might also check to see if there is some kind of bus service available for the disable.
Prayers

Prayers