I don't know if I've said anything about this before but I feel like I'm falling in the rabbit hole and don't know what to do....
I am having periods where I can not recall anything that has gone on - for very long times. I have done this at least 4 times where I can not remember doing anything, like a couple weeks ago, I took my husband to have a procedure done at the hospital and I remember walking down to the room with him, I remember holding his hand but from the time he went back to the time we got home, I have no recollection of what happened. Another time, my mother took me to a dr's appt and I do not remember that AT ALL. This has happened several times plus I'm having trouble with thoughts, completing tasks, forgetting where I am going or stopping in the middle of a sentence - forgetting what I was saying or can't remember things that happened 5 minutes ago.
First is AD hereditary or genetic? (or are those two words the same?) My father has vascular dementia and has had several strokes. Does this increase my likelihood of having it?
I do have a neurologist appt next week, so I'm hoping they'll take my concerns seriously. I'm only 50 so I figure if something IS happening maybe they can start something to keep it from progressing quickly.
Am I right to be very concerned about this or am I just a normal 50 year old that can't remember sh*t?
But you need to be sure it's not TIAs or something serious. Mine was "stress". The hardest thing to deal with and nearly impossible to get people to understand.
Good Luck!!
1) could be early onset dementia
2) you are not too young to have had a stroke or other cardiovascular event including heart attack, and women's symptoms are different
2) could be related to menopause / hormonal changes
3) could be related to another health condition or medication so you need a complete physical with your primary care including blood work
4) could be stress
Please let us know what the diagnosis was. These things do feel scary when they start to happen.
How well are you caring for yourself?
Yes what you describe COULD be dementia of one type or another but..and I am no doctor (I like to play one in my mind and sometimes let my inner doctor escape on this site)
The fact that you KNOW that you took your husband to the hospital and he had a procedure...you KNOW you took your mother to the doctor... you KNOW that you are stopping in the middle of a sentence.
The concern would be if you did not recall you took your husband to the hospital, you did not know you took your mother to the doctor and you deny stopping in the middle of a sentence and all the other little things you forget.
You, like many on this forum are not just running your own life buy the lives of at least 2 other people. No one can keep that all straight in their head so your brain dumps out the unimportant stuff..you already took your husband to the hospital, why remember it further, you took your mom to the doctor, don't have to worry about that. And how many other thoughts are swirling around in your head while you are trying to carry on a conversation? I bet when one you think is important pops up you stop to analyze it to figure out if it is in fact important so you stop talking for a split second.
AD is both Hereditary / genetic and it can also just pop up. At 50 this would be a diagnosis of Early Onset.
Now to bring up a few points...and this is no matter what the Neurologist finds.
You should consult with an Elder Law attorney and get all YOUR paperwork in order Will, Trusts(if needed), POA's write down all the information that your family will need what your Wishes are. (There is a booklet called 5 Wishes and it outlines a lot of this) this will make it easy for your entire family should something happen to you. ..and anything can happen to anyone of us at any time...
And when was the last time you took some time for yourself? When was the last time you took a vacation away form caring for mom, dad? Might be time to plan a little get away. Caregiver Burnout is REAL.
Learn how to delegate some of the tasks you have been doing. If you have to hire someone to help you do some of the things you have been doing. And when I say hire..your parents pay for the help not you.
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