Hello all ..this is all very scary.... My mum was diagnosed 20th nov
Mum was diagnosed on the 20th of nov and so far little has happened ..I have received a copy of the referral to her doctor saying she will be offered a trial of donepezil and await an appointment for the memory clinic to start this drug ...
Although we new there was a really worry with mums memory having it it black and white is very scary as I'm her carer ..mum is 87 in a few days time and doesn't like taking medication at the best of time .Im now worried after reading a number of messages about problems with tummy ache and bowl movement that mum is going to refuse to take these pill as she has had problems with her bowl in the past ...
I just want to keep my mum for as long asks subtle before I loose her to this illness ... Just scared and feeling very isolated .
A very worried daughter x
Mum was diagnosed on the 20th of nov and so far little has happened ..I have received a copy of the referral to her doctor saying she will be offered a trial of donepezil and await an appointment for the memory clinic to start this drug ...
Although we new there was a really worry with mums memory having it it black and white is very scary as I'm her carer ..mum is 87 in a few days time and doesn't like taking medication at the best of time .Im now worried after reading a number of messages about problems with tummy ache and bowl movement that mum is going to refuse to take these pill as she has had problems with her bowl in the past ...
I just want to keep my mum for as long asks subtle before I loose her to this illness ... Just scared and feeling very isolated .
A very worried daughter x
Hi Candlelight 67, sorry to hear your news, I hope you don't mind me joining your thread, but my 79-year-old mother was diagnosed with Mild Alzheimers yesterday afternoon and also prescribed Donepezil, so it looks like we are both on the same journey, having started it at a similar point in time, and in the same county!
Bit scary, isn't it?
I would also say hi to those that have responded so far, and those that may offer further advice as the thread develops, and a big *hug* to everyone that is dealing with this.
I picked-up the Donepezil on the way home from the memory service and she took the first 5mg last night, so I am not sure if she will have problems with side-effects yet.
I do, however, have one question at this stage concerning Donepezil, one I am sure there's no definite answer to, as it must vary from one person to another.
But, I am puzzled by the fact that the doctor said it should halt the Alzheimers getting any worse for 5 years or more, and that he has some patients on it for 10 to 15 years with good results.
Yet, on the Alzheimers Society website (as a new member I can't post the link, but it's on the 'What is Alzheimer's disease?' page), it says "These drugs are not a cure, but they may stabilise some of the symptoms of Alzheimer's disease for a limited period, typically 6-12 months or longer."
Now, there's one hell of a different between 10 to 15 years, which was very reassuring, and 6-12 months, which scares the hell out of me.
Is there anyone here with experience of long-term use of Donepezil and how successful it is over a longer period of time?
EDIT:
I don't now how the hell I missed this:
..even on just skim reading the thread the first time, I guess my own head is a bit all over the place at the moment, this is certainly helpful to know, thanks jaymor.