Hi Soco, welcome to the forum. And congrats on reaching out through this forum. One thought I had is that you might read up on this disease and reduce any possible anxiety by making preparations. For example, are your legal documents in order? Will, health care proxy, Power of attorney? Are you married or designated a key person to help you along the way? Have you shared your wishes with that person? There are many other steps but let us know if you have this much done.
Soco, I am sorry to hear of your diagnosis. Anyone would be anxious with the same. Keep active, eat well, read, exercise, socialize all of which have been shown to slow progression. And make sure your legal documents are in place.
There's a great book for you to read now while you can process it all: Being Mortal by Atul Gwande. He's really laid out all the options for end of life care and nursing homes. You need to understand the parts about end of life care to make your choices for an Advanced Directive. Once you've made your choices, give the book to your family to read so they understand where you are coming from.
Mthr investigated and made great choices, but if she'd only given us her AD we would have known she did not want to fight cancer at all. Give your loved ones a copy and let them moan - it's part of their grief for you. Accept their protestations as demonstrations of love, and stand firm in your decisions. Love deeply.
If I were you I would look into Dale Bredesen, MD and his protocol which has had promising results in people with mild symptoms. He has a new book out, the End of Alzheimer's, which I have not read yet (it's next on my list) but as a result of listening to numerous interviews with him and reading about his protocol I am extremely interested in it and his theories. He seems like the real deal with some interesting ideas.
Early Onset doesn't mean tomorrow. My father was diagnosed with Early Onset at the age of 82 and when he passed at 88, he was still only Early Onset. There are medications to keep it from progressing and you need to start them yesterday. All dementia is affected by diet - malnutrition was linked to all dementia back in the 70's - you just never hear about that anymore. The best thing you can do is to try to limit processed foods and get some exercise - walking helps everything and you can even do it in-home.
Search the internet for natural things that help your brain. Inositol, 1 tsp a day( part of the B vitamin group helps heal the brain), good quality organic extra virgin coconut oil, 1 tablespoon a day, powdered organic ginger, 1 tsp a day, helps thin the blood and also reduces inflammation, good quality fish oil also helps reduce inflammation, 1/2 tsp organic Ceylon cinnamon everyday, helps keep blood sugars good and fights inflammation AND acts as an antibacterial to kill bacteria in the body. Lots of water a everyday and as much sunshine( vitamin D)as possible. All of these things are excellent for your body and your brain cells. Inositol is VERY good for anxiety and because it is a B vitamin, it rarely interacts with medications. Leading a healthyier lifestyle WILL help reduce the onset of Alzheimer’s. Also eating a diet with very low amount of sugar or no sugar will GREATLY help stop Alzheimer’s. Good luck and God Bless you! 🙂
My heart goes out to you during this time and for your future. First off I would suggest all the things that (gladimhere) said-"Keep active, eat well, read, exercise, socialize all of which have been shown to slow progression. And make sure your legal documents are in place."From my own experience's from working as a nurse in Geriatrics with PT's with Alzheimer's ,caring for my Grandmother that had Alzheimer's, as well with my Mother, she had a different illness but the same outcome and dealing with my own "health" situations in my 40's now but was 39 when it began and I was told at that time I probably had less than 1 year. I say all of that just to tell you what I feel has helped me. When you get news like this first it feels very numb and distant.Once it sank in with me, I cried hard, I tried to pull back away from friends and family but thankfully the ones that really mattered stayed close.I prayed/pray A lot.I surrounded myself with peaceful,positive,good feeling type things.Of course I could not just let my health conditions go, but the most likely outcome I don't keep that as my main focus. I see each day as a gift, I'm sure to let my friends and family know how much I love them. For me that was my biggest anxiety, that I was afraid to be open about my feelings to certain people, the ones that really didn't like or feel the need to say " I love you". But I had to be sure that they all know how I feel.
Have you been officially diagnosed with Alzheimer’s? If not, sign up for long-term care insurance and choose the maximum benefit amount (indefinite term with highest daily benefit amount), if you can afford it. If you can only get a 3 or 5 yr policy, get it. Trust me, you will need it later. It will be very expensive for your family to care for you later and the long-term policy will help.
If officially diagnosed, ask if you still can sign up for LTC.
Second, as others have stated, seek an eldercare attorney to get all of your legal documents in order. Do it now when you are still able to choose who should act on your behalf later.
Third, ask your neurologist to see if you can enroll in clinical trials. You may benefit from them, and maybe get paid in the process.
Finally, call Alz Assn to get more advice on how to deal with this new circumstance in your life. They are wonderful.
Very sorry to hear about your illness. Now is not the time to feel sorry for yourself. It is time to do what you can for your (and your loved ones’) future. When everything is done, grieve. It is a long journey. Again, i am sorry.
I would immediately go to nutritionfactsdotorg and watch Dr Greger's videos on Alzheimers. His approach is all about science-based nutrition. Some Alzheimers is caused by vessels in the brain clogged by too much fat, just like heart disease. So I'd go plant-based, no oil period. No coconut oil, no fish oil, no oil in foods. Dr. John McDougall and Dr. Caldwell Esselstyn both promote this type of eating. It costs you nothing to try - just eat whole food (not processed), plant-based, no oil, no animal products period. If you go to either of their websites, particularly Dr. McDougall's, you'll find all kinds of success stories. Good luck - I truly believe if you change your way of eating, you can either halt or severely limit the progress of the disease.
My Mother's doctor prescribed Quetiapine and Trazadone but you should ask your doctor. Doctors tend to prescribe low doses of Quetiapine for the elderly and many say it does nothing at low doses. Doctors tend to be overly cautious since they are afraid of lawsuits.
You know what the diagnosis is an l am assuming you have Power of Attorney, and a plan for a caregiver or nursing home, an have had the discussion of the drugs that could slow the progression of your disease with your doctor. If you have family, you want to talk to your kids an family about your wishes. I wish you the best in your journey. I cared for my mom and her home for 4 yrs...at 74 it was a challenge for me, by myself...but if you have family that can work as a team, then that is a benefit...definetly💝 So last but not least, is my personal opinion, without faith l could not have done this caregiving for my mom. Its is all in prayer! So you are in my personal prayers and wish you the best an will continue to pray for you. l always told mom l would walk her to heavens door, an l did....and did it well. Mom never new me as her daughter, but she loved me as her best friend an l loved her as a best friend ....an it was a peaceful end to her life. I hope this has been helpful, an your journey with Alzheimers is easier with a loved one to share it with. 💝
Do enjoy every day to the fullest and do get your affairs in order. But you also should make a plan so you can end your life on your own terms without suffering the agony and indignity of dementia.
I’d like to add that every case of dementia is different, and that there is no perfect solution. Ask your loved ones to learn about the disease and caregiving together with you. There will be stress, frustrations, and unpleasant surprises on this journey. The earlier you are aware of them, the better you and you loved ones will be equipped to handle them when they pop up.
Hi Socoguy, this diagnosis must have come as a shock to you. Many commiserations. However, the great news is that progress is advancing by leaps and bounds in the development and rolling out of new therapies, drugs and care procedures, so the world may be very different in about 6-8 years from now: the disease could be halted or even reversed. We just don't know. Meanwhile, with the right preparation, including the formation of new habits that will prove their worth later, you should be able to manage pretty well on your own without great anxiety for at least 6-7 years, probably longer, though of course everybody's brain is different, so there are no set stages for things to happen.
You do not tell us if you are living on your own or if you are surrounded by family. You do need to tell family and close friends about your diagnosis and you do need to make it clear to them that "you are still you" right now, and that you intend to organise your future in order to avoid future stress on yourself and on other people.
I myself am a proxy for a dear friend, 12 years older than I, who is an expatriate and has no close family still living, just a few distant cousins. Worse, at the start of her illness, she concealed it from everybody (including me) for 2 years and managed to cut herself off from all her old friends bar one former boyfriend and myself, so all the burden of care, rather unfairly, fell on me. But there was nobody else until a notary was booked to take care of the financial side. I think this was selfish of my friend, because, as the saying goes, "a problem shared is a problem halved." And having more friends around, who had already guessed at her condition, would have made my life easier and her solo life in her apartment a lot less lonely, until she went finally (not before time) into 24/7 nursing care.
So: 1) Do read all the advice in the comments in this thread; it is well-meant and comes from the heart; you may not agree with all of it, but the writers do empathise with you and want what's best for you. Take detailed notes for later.
2) If you do not do this already, make a habit of writing everything down that you do in the day, or still need to do that day, in a small notebook that you carry round everywhere with you. Always put a date on the page, and start off with a time when each task is done (cross done tasks out with one line, so you can still see what it was.) Don't input into a phone but write the words with pen or pencil. When you note down phone calls (you called out or people contacted you) NOTE DOWN WHAT WAS SAID OR AGREED. Learn how to make short notes full of meaning to you; do bullet points etc. ***REASON ***** this pernickity habit will turn into your short term memory about 4 -6 years down the line; so if you do it now automatically, without thinking, it will be in your DNA half a decade from now and you will have a better "memory" that you will be able to rely on.
2) Take your Aricept (or other drug that delays the progress of the disease) religiously every day, but try to cut out other meds as far as possible, by eating good food and taking exercise. If you already have another chronic condition, OK, take those meds too, but ask your doctor to keep the number of pills to a minimum, and to watch out for those that cancel each other out. Already start putting your pills into a weekly box dispenser that shows the days of the week, with slots for morning and evening. *****REASON**** essential to know that you have taken the pills you need; cuts out anxiety. Also, years from now, your visiting health carers will be filling the pill box for you and can rely on your ingrained habit of taking the right pill at the right time. But you can take control by doing this now.
3) Plan ahead for your end of life; make a simple will now with a youngish notary and get it signed; he keeps a copy, you keep a copy, and a family member is informed where the copy is. Essential that your will cover your financial affairs including stating how you want your money spent at the moment you need to go into residential care - and if you are a property owner, at what point this property should be sold either to finance your residential care or to be inherited after your demise. Also state your wishes about your funeral (don't specify anything expensive unless you have set up a savings plan to cover the cost). Make a separate list of prized possessions that you want to gift to certain people. *****REASON*** Do this now while you are still "of sound mind". If you change your mind inside a few years, you can always go back to the notary and update your will. If you hesitate too long, the whole ghastly business of proxies, family members interpreting your wishes etc will kick in, and your final living years and your passing could be fraught with problems and loud quarrels. So cut it out by stating your wishes early on, and specify the notary, not a family member, as the executor of your will.
4) Live your life as serenely as possible, and maintain an interest in the outside world and in other people's affairs. If you concentrate too much on your own situation, you risk becoming narcissistic and cantankerous later on when your autonomy goes. That's when the swearing and spitting and hostility can really turn off those who want to, or are paid to, help you. You can avoid that stage by deciding to accept help with good grace and by refusing to be stressed out by anything that happens to you If you do draw up a "Do Not Resuscitate" living will, make sure that your family doctor and your notary and all close family members get a copy. There is a lot of literature about dignified dying. If your family already knows that 10-15 years from now you would rather be in a hospice and slip away quietly rather than in a hospital in an intensive care unit, get their agreement to this in writing, however informally, and give this to your doctor, as living wills are not legally enforceable. ***REASON*** nothing is worse than sitting or lying in a room with two or more people shouting at each other over your head about what should be done with you. If you already planned what should be done, someone else who is in the picture can stop them from quarelling.
5) Final word: you ask if you should feel anxiety. Probably you will be anxious, at moments in the far future, when you catch yourself forgetting how things work or where you are or what you are supposed to be doing. Doctors usually prescribe mild tranquillisers ("happy pills") to help Alzheimer's patients over this stage until they accept the new restrictions on their lives. ****REASON *** Alzheimer's will only blight your life if you allow it to. Right now, you want to do everything yourself but train yourself to accept with grace when, at some time in the future, some things will need to be done for you by other people. Smile and say thankyou when this happens, and you will find that people will be happy to go on helping you. Resistance and rebellion only lead towards the horrible (and avoidable) curse of narcissism.
******HOT TIP******Now is the time to go sightseeing, visiting friends, fulfilling your bucket list or wish list, and taking lots of photos as souvenirs that can be framed and put up in a large frame on a wall later. Pictures of you enjoying yourself are a good cheerer-upper a long long way down the line. Make sure you have good photos of family members too. Read those books, watch those films, walk those trails while you can, maybe invite a friend or take or borrow a dog to do your walking with, and live in the moment. Try to share these moments. If you can live in the moment, you will experience moments of being truly happy.
Sorry for the length of this post, but I wanted to get it all down in one go. Over ten years I learned a lot about looking after a person with true Alzheimer's (all there vs nothing there inside 10 seconds interval) who luckily was prescribed Aricept by a doctor who made a correct early diagnosis but did not "let on" for two years. However, the happiest lady in the specialised residential care home is not my introverted friend but a new resident. She spends her whole time going round the residents, talking to them, looking after them and making them smile. I even thought she was a social assistant until I saw her name and photo on one of the doors. She is really happy, the nursing staff adore her, and she takes no tranquillisers at all.
So there is your answer: plan for the future but live in the moment and try to be interested in other people all the time. Let's hope that everything turns out for the best for you. Live well. Live long. Live happy.
There are several homeopathic remedies for anxiety that work for my dad... Research "Bach Remedies" or look for the product, "Liddel's ANX".
I would also recommend Coconut Oil (4000mg per day). Unrefined coconut oil. It was an experiment, and I feel it helped [my dad]. If you can't just eat or cook with it, then take pills. Good oil travels throughout the body, loosening calcified areas...
Eliminate all bad foods...Begin to make or purchase Raw Juices...maybe from a health food store. Good nutrition can really do and change a lot...
I wish you the very best! Calm is good. Live one moment at a time...good to be prepared, yet then let go and LIVE in the NOW.
There are all good suggestions above. This site has some really great people and so much support, but, I'd also find a place in person or online where you can bounce things off other people with the same type condition. There are many and the information and support seems amazing. I would imagine that knowing how others are coping would be helpful. I'd also discuss anxiety with your doctor. Some people benefit from medication. I'll look forward to seeing your posts around here.
I totally support Snoopylove’s suggestions. Dale Bredesen recently published a book-it’s on amazon. He has also teamed up with another doctor, Wes Youngberg, for a four-day program discussing how Alzheimer’s can be halted and even reversed. My mom showed signs of memory loss in March of 2009. I wish Bredesen book had been available back then. Bredesen and Youngberg also have their information on Vimeo-some info on YouTube too. Wesberg’s Facebook page also has info. I am a teacher and my mom only has me to care for her. I know it’s been almost ten years since my mom showed first signs and she had a stroke almost three years ago but we are beginning to follow Bredsen’s protocols, like getting enough sleep, if we had dinner at 6 pm, we wait until 6 am to eat again. There are other things to follow but please look up (google) those doctors. Even though my mom and I have gone through this journey for ten years, I still believe she will improve by following the protocols in Bredsen’s work.
If you are in the early stage, you are on time to reverse your cognitive decline! There is new research that has been found to prevent or reverse this illness. Please read the book: "The End of Alzheimer's" by Dale E. Bredesen, MD and follow his very detailed program.
It is too late for my mother who is in mid-to advanced stages, and for many of our loved ones, but not for you or for those of us who have the discipline and ability to shift our lifestyle.
Do not worry. Read this book and go a step at a time, as you still have time. :-)
I would add that you should make sure you are getting good rest, sleep. It is in deep sleep that the mind does its "cleaning up" getting rid of the stuff that can form the clusters found in Alzheimers disease. I have sleep apnea and when I did my sleep study, they pointed out that I had no deep sleep. That was why I could learn nothing new, as long term memories are only formed in deep sleep. The cleaning up during deep sleep is essential for healthy brain, too. I have had enough health "scares" to realize I need to do what is important now, while I can. That means paying attention to family and friends, visiting while I can, being with them while I can, enjoying them while I can, celebrating our friendship while I can, caring for them while I can. I don't have a brain disease yet, but it may happen, too. So, I do the things that are supposed to help. Exercise (water aerobics classes in the pool at the health club), light weight lifting, daily puzzles, and trying to learn Swedish--since that is my heritage. Anything that is supposed to be good for the brain, I try to incorporate into my life. I want a good brain as I age and If I can help that along, I want to do it. The rest of the body stays healthier, too. Most of us have the choice to do this. It is up to us to exercise that choice and choose what science is showing works the best. My best wishes for you on this journey!
Socoguy, That is a tough diagnosis. As we age, we are changing. I feel like I need to get some living arrangement near the doctors. It is terrible how many times I have to go to Dr, to finally be told. We don't know for sure BUT. I am so sorry for you possible diagnosis. With my family, I realize that if I am not bleeding, do not have a case or walk with a cane, the kids think I am only 35. I will be 76 in April 2018. The hard part about getting help from the family is that they want to ignore your illness and are sure if they do, it will go away. I keep busy on the computer, art work, walking etc. Sometimes the medication makes you so sick that you feel like giving up.. But, then the meds kick in and your body accepts the med. I only have RA. It has gotten worse in the last year. I ended up with a cane. But walla, away that episode went. You probably will go in and out of your anxiety. There are times I think maybe I am loosing my memory. But, I am not. I wish I had a way for you to overcome the fears of what will be. There are on line memory tests that you can do on your own. Everyone on here has given you excellent ideas. Socoguy, I am praying for you.
All good suggestions above; so please educate yourself. Second, and just as important -- is don't feel shame or try to hide your diagnosis -- especially with family. Be honest with yourself and family and tell them up front. Make plans -- then make a plan B, C, D...So many things can change --so be open to adjustments or modifications to your plan. AND SHARE THOSE DESIRES, WISHES, PLANS with your family.
Other: Don't make living with your children or having children care for you one of your plans! Even when they want to...no one can be prepared for the harshness of dementia and ALZ and the all-encompassing time and skills that takes. So tell your children - No Thanks. Plan A - "I will be open to in-home help a few hours a week as my disease progresses" Plan B - I'd like to move into AL with skilled care Plan C - Memory care (near my home?, near my children?, where I can afford that might not be near my children? Plan D - Skilled care (NH) when I need it
And please research the costs for each of your plans - in home care can be $15-20/hr; if you need 24 hr care that may be too expensive including upkeep of your home, cleaning, lawncare, etc. Memory care vs. NH - consider longterm costs. Do you currently have Long Term Care Insurance? Have frank discussions with your dr. Ask one or more of your friends and children to help keep track of their observations of your memory/behavior/daily skills -- and give them permission to go with you and discuss their observations with your dr along the way. This will help you get the most from your dr visits. PS - a spouse may not always be as helpful with this because they may be too close to you and tell you/dr what you want to hear vs being very objective.
Preparing will relieve you of alot of your anxiety. And live each day to the fullest -- stay active, stay social, avoid isolating yourself from others. Don't think everytime you forget a word, forget an event -- means your ALZ is worsening. Its normal for everyone. You have the diagnosis -- now fight to enjoy each moment when you are lucid.
My mom has dementia, 95. I found 10 years ago she started to deteriorate in small ways. She would repeat herself yes; but she still has many memories and is content and happy to remember those she can. For her it went like this: she couldn't remember what you told her last week; then yesterday; then 10 min ago -- she had vivid memories of what/who 20 years ago; then she forgot that and now she remembers people/places/events from her youth and childhood -- but she can't remember my children (she knows me, I'm her daughter) -- but I don't mourn her loss -- we have great time together and we look at old pictures and she describes what is happening in the pictures (when she was dating my dad; her brothers and sisters (dead but she doesn't remember they died -- she sees them how they were). So don't be afraid; good news is you will make old memories your new memories.
After witnessing this with my mom; i think it is less frightening and we are spending some nice quality time together and living in the moment -- whatever moment that is.
I would join a support group. I attended one for my mother when she was first diagnosed with Alzheimers and it was extremely valuable hearing from others.
Dear Socoguy, For immediate relief of anxiety, try sitting, eyes closed and do some deep breathing. Deep breathing at least 5 times per day will help to bring the anxiety down.
Exercise. This means walking or simple arm and leg exercises or dancing or anything you like to do that is movement. It does not need to be aggressive.
Talk with friends and develop a support system. Talk about your fears with trusted people and stay away from those who are negative. Try to be around positive and happy people as their attitudes will rub off on you and distract you from your anxiety.
Music. Listen to music that lifts your spirit. Sing along if you can.
If the anxiety becomes too much, your doctor can prescribe a mild anti anxiety medication as well however you should consider this above suggestions regardless. Best of luck to you!
Excellent advice here, especially the planning suggestions. Life is precious; live it to the fullest. Take the best possible care of your health. Share your condition with others and seek their support. This life is a mere blip in eternity. Hand it over to a Higher Power.
So sorry to hear of your diagnosis. As someone said stay active eat healthy exercise and join an Alzheimers support group. Not only can they be a wealth of information but can be there to support you through the process
I'm sorry to hear about your diagnosis. As others have said a healthy diet, exercise, social interaction and medications prescribed by your doctor. Be sure that you have your paperwork in place including power of attorney, wills/trusts pet guardianship if you have a pet. And one of the most important things is to join a support group so you can express your anxiety and feelings with others, they'll be there to support you and you them.
No advice about anxiety, but a life-style piece of advice: Do all you can as long as you can. Seeing the Grand Canyon still on your bucket list? Do it now! Never toured the brewery on the other side of town? How about next week? This may not be a good time to take up sky-diving, but a hot air balloon ride might not be out of the question!
If you've wanted to do it and are still able to do to, what are you waiting for?
All the advice on here is good. The only thing I would add is that the Alzheimer's drugs made my husband so much worse. When I took him off of all toxic drugs and replaced them with nutritional supplements (5HTP, ashwaganda, and CBD oil, his cognition and Parkinson's tremors improved tremendously. I also have him on all organic MIND diet. It may not work for others but has been tremendous for him.
For example, are your legal documents in order? Will, health care proxy, Power of attorney? Are you married or designated a key person to help you along the way? Have you shared your wishes with that person? There are many other steps but let us know if you have this much done.
Mthr investigated and made great choices, but if she'd only given us her AD we would have known she did not want to fight cancer at all. Give your loved ones a copy and let them moan - it's part of their grief for you. Accept their protestations as demonstrations of love, and stand firm in your decisions. Love deeply.
I wish all the best for you for 2018!
There are medications to keep it from progressing and you need to start them yesterday.
All dementia is affected by diet - malnutrition was linked to all dementia back in the 70's - you just never hear about that anymore.
The best thing you can do is to try to limit processed foods and get some exercise - walking helps everything and you can even do it in-home.
If officially diagnosed, ask if you still can sign up for LTC.
Second, as others have stated, seek an eldercare attorney to get all of your legal documents in order. Do it now when you are still able to choose who should act on your behalf later.
Third, ask your neurologist to see if you can enroll in clinical trials. You may benefit from them, and maybe get paid in the process.
Finally, call Alz Assn to get more advice on how to deal with this new circumstance in your life. They are wonderful.
Very sorry to hear about your illness. Now is not the time to feel sorry for yourself. It is time to do what you can for your (and your loved ones’) future. When everything is done, grieve. It is a long journey. Again, i am sorry.
this diagnosis must have come as a shock to you. Many commiserations. However, the great news is that progress is advancing by leaps and bounds in the development and rolling out of new therapies, drugs and care procedures, so the world may be very different in about 6-8 years from now: the disease could be halted or even reversed. We just don't know.
Meanwhile, with the right preparation, including the formation of new habits that will prove their worth later, you should be able to manage pretty well on your own without great anxiety for at least 6-7 years, probably longer, though of course everybody's brain is different, so there are no set stages for things to happen.
You do not tell us if you are living on your own or if you are surrounded by family.
You do need to tell family and close friends about your diagnosis and you do need to make it clear to them that "you are still you" right now, and that you intend to organise your future in order to avoid future stress on yourself and on other people.
I myself am a proxy for a dear friend, 12 years older than I, who is an expatriate and has no close family still living, just a few distant cousins. Worse, at the start of her illness, she concealed it from everybody (including me) for 2 years and managed to cut herself off from all her old friends bar one former boyfriend and myself, so all the burden of care, rather unfairly, fell on me. But there was nobody else until a notary was booked to take care of the financial side. I think this was selfish of my friend, because, as the saying goes, "a problem shared is a problem halved." And having more friends around, who had already guessed at her condition, would have made my life easier and her solo life in her apartment a lot less lonely, until she went finally (not before time) into 24/7 nursing care.
So:
1) Do read all the advice in the comments in this thread; it is well-meant and comes from the heart; you may not agree with all of it, but the writers do empathise with you and want what's best for you. Take detailed notes for later.
2) If you do not do this already, make a habit of writing everything down that you do in the day, or still need to do that day, in a small notebook that you carry round everywhere with you. Always put a date on the page, and start off with a time when each task is done (cross done tasks out with one line, so you can still see what it was.) Don't input into a phone but write the words with pen or pencil. When you note down phone calls (you called out or people contacted you) NOTE DOWN WHAT WAS SAID OR AGREED. Learn how to make short notes full of meaning to you; do bullet points etc.
***REASON ***** this pernickity habit will turn into your short term memory about 4 -6 years down the line; so if you do it now automatically, without thinking, it will be in your DNA half a decade from now and you will have a better "memory" that you will be able to rely on.
2) Take your Aricept (or other drug that delays the progress of the disease) religiously every day, but try to cut out other meds as far as possible, by eating good food and taking exercise. If you already have another chronic condition, OK, take those meds too, but ask your doctor to keep the number of pills to a minimum, and to watch out for those that cancel each other out.
Already start putting your pills into a weekly box dispenser that shows the days of the week, with slots for morning and evening.
*****REASON**** essential to know that you have taken the pills you need; cuts out anxiety. Also, years from now, your visiting health carers will be filling the pill box for you and can rely on your ingrained habit of taking the right pill at the right time. But you can take control by doing this now.
3) Plan ahead for your end of life; make a simple will now with a youngish notary and get it signed; he keeps a copy, you keep a copy, and a family member is informed where the copy is. Essential that your will cover your financial affairs including stating how you want your money spent at the moment you need to go into residential care - and if you are a property owner, at what point this property should be sold either to finance your residential care or to be inherited after your demise. Also state your wishes about your funeral (don't specify anything expensive unless you have set up a savings plan to cover the cost). Make a separate list of prized possessions that you want to gift to certain people.
*****REASON*** Do this now while you are still "of sound mind". If you change your mind inside a few years, you can always go back to the notary and update your will. If you hesitate too long, the whole ghastly business of proxies, family members interpreting your wishes etc will kick in, and your final living years and your passing could be fraught with problems and loud quarrels. So cut it out by stating your wishes early on, and specify the notary, not a family member, as the executor of your will.
4) Live your life as serenely as possible, and maintain an interest in the outside world and in other people's affairs. If you concentrate too much on your own situation, you risk becoming narcissistic and cantankerous later on when your autonomy goes. That's when the swearing and spitting and hostility can really turn off those who want to, or are paid to, help you. You can avoid that stage by deciding to accept help with good grace and by refusing to be stressed out by anything that happens to you
If you do draw up a "Do Not Resuscitate" living will, make sure that your family doctor and your notary and all close family members get a copy. There is a lot of literature about dignified dying. If your family already knows that 10-15 years from now you would rather be in a hospice and slip away quietly rather than in a hospital in an intensive care unit, get their agreement to this in writing, however informally, and give this to your doctor, as living wills are not legally enforceable.
***REASON*** nothing is worse than sitting or lying in a room with two or more people shouting at each other over your head about what should be done with you. If you already planned what should be done, someone else who is in the picture can stop them from quarelling.
5) Final word: you ask if you should feel anxiety. Probably you will be anxious, at moments in the far future, when you catch yourself forgetting how things work or where you are or what you are supposed to be doing. Doctors usually prescribe mild tranquillisers ("happy pills") to help Alzheimer's patients over this stage until they accept the new restrictions on their lives.
****REASON *** Alzheimer's will only blight your life if you allow it to. Right now, you want to do everything yourself but train yourself to accept with grace when, at some time in the future, some things will need to be done for you by other people. Smile and say thankyou when this happens, and you will find that people will be happy to go on helping you. Resistance and rebellion only lead towards the horrible (and avoidable) curse of narcissism.
******HOT TIP******Now is the time to go sightseeing, visiting friends, fulfilling your bucket list or wish list, and taking lots of photos as souvenirs that can be framed and put up in a large frame on a wall later. Pictures of you enjoying yourself are a good cheerer-upper a long long way down the line. Make sure you have good photos of family members too. Read those books, watch those films, walk those trails while you can, maybe invite a friend or take or borrow a dog to do your walking with, and live in the moment. Try to share these moments. If you can live in the moment, you will experience moments of being truly happy.
Sorry for the length of this post, but I wanted to get it all down in one go. Over ten years I learned a lot about looking after a person with true Alzheimer's (all there vs nothing there inside 10 seconds interval) who luckily was prescribed Aricept by a doctor who made a correct early diagnosis but did not "let on" for two years.
However, the happiest lady in the specialised residential care home is not my introverted friend but a new resident. She spends her whole time going round the residents, talking to them, looking after them and making them smile. I even thought she was a social assistant until I saw her name and photo on one of the doors. She is really happy, the nursing staff adore her, and she takes no tranquillisers at all.
So there is your answer: plan for the future but live in the moment and try to be interested in other people all the time. Let's hope that everything turns out for the best for you.
Live well. Live long. Live happy.
Research "Bach Remedies" or look for the product, "Liddel's ANX".
I would also recommend Coconut Oil (4000mg per day). Unrefined coconut oil.
It was an experiment, and I feel it helped [my dad]. If you can't just eat or cook with it, then take pills. Good oil travels throughout the body, loosening calcified areas...
Eliminate all bad foods...Begin to make or purchase Raw Juices...maybe from a health food store. Good nutrition can really do and change a lot...
I wish you the very best! Calm is good. Live one moment at a time...good to be prepared, yet then let go and LIVE in the NOW.
He has also teamed up with another doctor, Wes Youngberg, for a four-day program discussing how Alzheimer’s can be halted and even reversed.
My mom showed signs of memory loss in March of 2009. I wish Bredesen book had been available back then. Bredesen and Youngberg also have their information on Vimeo-some info on YouTube too. Wesberg’s Facebook page also has info.
I am a teacher and my mom only has me to care for her. I know it’s been almost ten years since my mom showed first signs and she had a stroke almost three years ago but we are beginning to follow Bredsen’s protocols, like getting enough sleep, if we had dinner at 6 pm, we wait until 6 am to eat again. There are other things to follow but please look up (google) those doctors.
Even though my mom and I have gone through this journey for ten years, I still believe she will improve by following the protocols in Bredsen’s work.
It is too late for my mother who is in mid-to advanced stages, and for many of our loved ones, but not for you or for those of us who have the discipline and ability to shift our lifestyle.
Do not worry. Read this book and go a step at a time, as you still have time. :-)
I have had enough health "scares" to realize I need to do what is important now, while I can. That means paying attention to family and friends, visiting while I can, being with them while I can, enjoying them while I can, celebrating our friendship while I can, caring for them while I can. I don't have a brain disease yet, but it may happen, too. So, I do the things that are supposed to help. Exercise (water aerobics classes in the pool at the health club), light weight lifting, daily puzzles, and trying to learn Swedish--since that is my heritage. Anything that is supposed to be good for the brain, I try to incorporate into my life. I want a good brain as I age and If I can help that along, I want to do it. The rest of the body stays healthier, too.
Most of us have the choice to do this. It is up to us to exercise that choice and choose what science is showing works the best. My best wishes for you on this journey!
Second, and just as important -- is don't feel shame or try to hide your diagnosis -- especially with family. Be honest with yourself and family and tell them up front. Make plans -- then make a plan B, C, D...So many things can change --so be open to adjustments or modifications to your plan. AND SHARE THOSE DESIRES, WISHES, PLANS with your family.
Other:
Don't make living with your children or having children care for you one of your plans! Even when they want to...no one can be prepared for the harshness of dementia and ALZ and the all-encompassing time and skills that takes. So tell your children - No Thanks.
Plan A - "I will be open to in-home help a few hours a week as my disease progresses"
Plan B - I'd like to move into AL with skilled care
Plan C - Memory care (near my home?, near my children?, where I can afford that might not be near my children?
Plan D - Skilled care (NH) when I need it
And please research the costs for each of your plans - in home care can be $15-20/hr; if you need 24 hr care that may be too expensive including upkeep of your home, cleaning, lawncare, etc.
Memory care vs. NH - consider longterm costs. Do you currently have Long Term Care Insurance?
Have frank discussions with your dr. Ask one or more of your friends and children to help keep track of their observations of your memory/behavior/daily skills -- and give them permission to go with you and discuss their observations with your dr along the way. This will help you get the most from your dr visits. PS - a spouse may not always be as helpful with this because they may be too close to you and tell you/dr what you want to hear vs being very objective.
Preparing will relieve you of alot of your anxiety. And live each day to the fullest -- stay active, stay social, avoid isolating yourself from others. Don't think everytime you forget a word, forget an event -- means your ALZ is worsening. Its normal for everyone. You have the diagnosis -- now fight to enjoy each moment when you are lucid.
My mom has dementia, 95. I found 10 years ago she started to deteriorate in small ways. She would repeat herself yes; but she still has many memories and is content and happy to remember those she can. For her it went like this: she couldn't remember what you told her last week; then yesterday; then 10 min ago -- she had vivid memories of what/who 20 years ago; then she forgot that and now she remembers people/places/events from her youth and childhood -- but she can't remember my children (she knows me, I'm her daughter) -- but I don't mourn her loss -- we have great time together and we look at old pictures and she describes what is happening in the pictures (when she was dating my dad; her brothers and sisters (dead but she doesn't remember they died -- she sees them how they were). So don't be afraid; good news is you will make old memories your new memories.
After witnessing this with my mom; i think it is less frightening and we are spending some nice quality time together and living in the moment -- whatever moment that is.
For immediate relief of anxiety, try sitting, eyes closed and do some deep breathing. Deep breathing at least 5 times per day will help to bring the anxiety down.
Exercise. This means walking or simple arm and leg exercises or dancing or anything you like to do that is movement. It does not need to be aggressive.
Talk with friends and develop a support system. Talk about your fears with trusted people and stay away from those who are negative. Try to be around positive and happy people as their attitudes will rub off on you and distract you from your anxiety.
Music. Listen to music that lifts your spirit. Sing along if you can.
If the anxiety becomes too much, your doctor can prescribe a mild anti anxiety medication as well however you should consider this above suggestions regardless.
Best of luck to you!
Excellent advice here, especially the planning suggestions. Life is precious; live it to the fullest. Take the best possible care of your health. Share your condition with others and seek their support. This life is a mere blip in eternity. Hand it over to a Higher Power.
If you've wanted to do it and are still able to do to, what are you waiting for?