Hi all
Bit non-plussed with our dealings with the Memory Clinic so would appreciate some feedback as to what we should expect from them please.
After a GP appointment in March where Mum had a memory test (and did very badly), she was referred to the Memory Clinic and went there in June. I didn't go with her but believe they carried out a few more tests and she then had a brain scan. There was an appointment with the Memory Clinic in early July but when Dad took Mum there, apparently some report hadn't been completed and they hadn't got the scan results back so couldn't give a diagnosis. The Dr said that if Mum had VD then there was no treatment but if she had AD there were tablets available. Dad asked about potential side effects of medication (bearing in mind Mum takes other meds) but the Dr was pretty dismissive and said Mum will be fine, don't worry. That was the end of the appointment.
So yesterday Dad received a letter detailing Mum's results (she has Mixed Dementia) and the letter stated Mum would get a month's prescription for 5mg of Donepezil and if she gets on ok with that, she will be moved to a 3 month prescription for 10mg. The prescription is coming from the Memory Clinic but the 10mg will be from her GP as she will be referred back there. An appointment with the Memory Clinic will also be scheduled in about a month's time to see Mum again.
Now I am really surprised that the results weren't given face to face. We have lots of questions (such as how far advanced Mum is, what her scores were on the tests) and also concerned that with the interaction of one of meds she takes daily with Donepezil. I just cannot believe that we are going to have to wait another month or so before we can talk to anyone about her diagnosis and we are just supposed to give her the Donepezil in the meantime (although we won't do this until we find out it is safe to). Is this the normal experience of Memory Clinics? It feels to me that they giving Mum a tablet and pushing her out of the door
Bit non-plussed with our dealings with the Memory Clinic so would appreciate some feedback as to what we should expect from them please.
After a GP appointment in March where Mum had a memory test (and did very badly), she was referred to the Memory Clinic and went there in June. I didn't go with her but believe they carried out a few more tests and she then had a brain scan. There was an appointment with the Memory Clinic in early July but when Dad took Mum there, apparently some report hadn't been completed and they hadn't got the scan results back so couldn't give a diagnosis. The Dr said that if Mum had VD then there was no treatment but if she had AD there were tablets available. Dad asked about potential side effects of medication (bearing in mind Mum takes other meds) but the Dr was pretty dismissive and said Mum will be fine, don't worry. That was the end of the appointment.
So yesterday Dad received a letter detailing Mum's results (she has Mixed Dementia) and the letter stated Mum would get a month's prescription for 5mg of Donepezil and if she gets on ok with that, she will be moved to a 3 month prescription for 10mg. The prescription is coming from the Memory Clinic but the 10mg will be from her GP as she will be referred back there. An appointment with the Memory Clinic will also be scheduled in about a month's time to see Mum again.
Now I am really surprised that the results weren't given face to face. We have lots of questions (such as how far advanced Mum is, what her scores were on the tests) and also concerned that with the interaction of one of meds she takes daily with Donepezil. I just cannot believe that we are going to have to wait another month or so before we can talk to anyone about her diagnosis and we are just supposed to give her the Donepezil in the meantime (although we won't do this until we find out it is safe to). Is this the normal experience of Memory Clinics? It feels to me that they giving Mum a tablet and pushing her out of the door