My OH has an annual appointment with a consultant in the new year. I’m keeping a note of things that happen and the dates in the note section on my mobile. I don’t want to say too much in front of him, he can’t remember incidents and would be upset if he heard about them, I think. I looked up MCI after reading your post. It could well be his problem. If I feel I can’t say things at the next appointment, I intend to write to the consultant, with the diary. Or I may take a sheet with it in my bag, and give it to him, if there’s an opportunity. Sometimes it’s easier to do things in writing, people can think one is being over emotional, when actually, all one is doing is reacting to a difficult situation.
My heart goes out to you. Having been a Carer so many times, and now this.....
Hi @Pensive
I was diagnosed with Addison's Disease in 2006. As a relatively rare life-threatening condition, it is quite common for people to struggle to get a diagnosis. There is still a lack of awareness amongst the medical profession and it can take many months for the signs and symptoms to appear, as the adrenal glands slowly stop producing the hormones vital for sustaining your body.
It took me almost 18 months and was only diagnosed when I collapsed and ended up in A&E.
Has your GP referred you to an endocrinologist? If not, I would insist they do, which would give you the opportunity to show them your private lab results.
Adrenal failure most certainly does result in death, so whilst not wishing to alarm you, you cannot afford to go on without the full support of the NHS. Once diagnosed with AD, you and your daughter would be entitled to free prescriptions, including the supply of injectable hydrocortisone, for use in an adrenal crisis.
A lot of information is available from the Addison's Disease Self Help Group (ADSHG), a charitable organisation.
Please, please, please keep insisting that your GP makes an urgent referral.
Good luck.
Phil
When my husband attended the memory clinic and was seeing the nurse, they had him down as having MCI for a long time. I questioned this at one point and was told only the consultant could change that diagnosis. But I was unhappy with this as he was not even seeing the consultant. So I queried it with my doctor and she told me that as far as she was concerned, based on the reports she had received, he had dementia. That was when we lived in Wales. When we moved to England, in March last year, our new doctor told me that from his notes she was convinced he had Alzheimers and she saw no reason to refer him to a memory clinic now.I have been in a terrible state, and wonder if anyone has had MCI turned around, and how did they do it.
As you can see I am really feeling sorry for myself, but any advice would be greatfully appreciated.