Family members and some employees of mine and my GP Doctor insist I I get tested. I am reluctant, but I forget a lot now, trouble spelling, make bad decisions get confused in driving. I am 71. On antidepressives.
Sorry, I did it again. I don't think well anymore. I saw my GP with my 20 yr old son who insisted I go. He took me. I "flunked" the test the GP gave me, which surprised me. The GP gave me referrals. I have an apt. Sept 15th, She is a PsyD. I would am trying to get someone sooner. I have a family and a business depending on me meaning I have to balance lots of things and am failing. I was athletic but now my balance is messed-up fall easily...sorry complain.
Hang in there! There are several conditions that can seem like dementia but are not. You are wise to get things checked out. And if it turns out this is the beginning of dementia you are lucky to be catching it early.
Your GP can perform basic screening tests to see if you exhibit dementia symptoms. I see you're on antidepressants; depression alone can mimic dementia symptoms. Your GP may conduct a mini-cog test or even an MMSE, if time allows, which is used to evaluate mental skills. If dementia is suspected, you may be referred to a neurologist, gerontologist or neuropsychologist for further testing. Your GP can also perform certain blood tests to confirm or eliminate any treatable conditions that mimic dementia. If your GP suspects dementia, he/she is not trained to follow up with neurological tests. Make sure you're referred to one of the specialist above. Good luck.
"...perform certain blood tests to confirm or eliminate any treatable conditions that mimic dementia."
AND a urine culture too. Best to rule out any treatable condition that might seem like dementia. UTIs, infections, imbalances in the blood can all cause conditions that might seem to be dementia, to others, but are treatable!
If all is ruled out, then proceed with memory testing. It would be scary to find out it is some form of dementia, but it's scarier if we ignore it!
By all means get tested. Wouldn't you rather know what exactly you're dealing with, than to continue just guessing? It will make life easier for you and all involved when you get to the bottom of why you've been having these memory issues. It will help you prepare better for the future too. I'm not sure a GP's testing will be as thorough as a neurologist's or an actual Memory assessment place, but it's better than nothing. Best wishes.
If you go ahead with this go to a Neurologist. He/she should run tests to determine it isn't anything physical happening. Thyroid, low potassium and other factors can cause Dementia type symptoms. There is no cure but in the early stage there are medications to help with cognitively. Stress can cause problems too.
..and if it's something else causing the symptoms, then this may be treatable and thus able to eliminate the problem. Therefore, a thorough examination may enable you to go back to your normal self.
Tell your GP you're trusting him/her to consider all of the possible causes of recent change and not just head down the nearest diagnostic rabbit hole. Then do trust, and go for it. Better the devil you've identified.
I would am trying to get someone sooner. I have a family and a business depending on me meaning I have to balance lots of things and am failing. I was athletic but now my balance is messed-up fall easily...sorry complain.
AND a urine culture too. Best to rule out any treatable condition that might seem like dementia. UTIs, infections, imbalances in the blood can all cause conditions that might seem to be dementia, to others, but are treatable!
If all is ruled out, then proceed with memory testing. It would be scary to find out it is some form of dementia, but it's scarier if we ignore it!
I'm not sure a GP's testing will be as thorough as a neurologist's or an actual Memory assessment place, but it's better than nothing. Best wishes.
If you go ahead with this go to a Neurologist. He/she should run tests to determine it isn't anything physical happening. Thyroid, low potassium and other factors can cause Dementia type symptoms. There is no cure but in the early stage there are medications to help with cognitively. Stress can cause problems too.