How do you get your young husband diagnosed?

[triumph25]

Keep On!

My partner too was eventually diagnosed with EOA in February last year at 58. It took us 18 months to get a diagnosis and I reckon he has probably had it since 2007. Initially we were "fobbed off" by our GP who said "Men never listen to their wives!" but eventually his employers wrote as they too were concerned that he was forgetting how to do thinks, "some of which he had been doing for some years!"

It seems ludicrous that GP's would rather accept an outsider's view than the opinion of someone who knows their partner better than anyone else!

But, basically, you know if there is something wrong and if so you must keep trying and insist on tests etc being done. My partner had to have a CT scan and an MRI before we got a diagnosis, and his mother had Alzheimers as well.

But the sooner you get a diagnosis the sooner medication can start and you have the possibility that it may help both of you to have a more "normal" life for longer!

Don't give up!!!

 

[SoyHJ]

My partner too was eventually diagnosed with EOA in February last year at 58. It took us 18 months to get a diagnosis and I reckon he has probably had it since 2007. Initially we were "fobbed off" by our GP who said "Men never listen to their wives!" but eventually his employers wrote as they too were concerned that he was forgetting how to do thinks, "some of which he had been doing for some years!"

It seems ludicrous that GP's would rather accept an outsider's view than the opinion of someone who knows their partner better than anyone else!

But, basically, you know if there is something wrong and if so you must keep trying and insist on tests etc being done. My partner had to have a CT scan and an MRI before we got a diagnosis, and his mother had Alzheimers as well.

But the sooner you get a diagnosis the sooner medication can start and you have the possibility that it may help both of you to have a more "normal" life for longer!

Don't give up!!!

We are (still!) waiting for tests to be done but Triumph 25 has hit the nail on the head when she says that YOU know when something is wrong. Nobody knows your other half better than you do, so keep trying.

 

[Cassius]

My mother has dementia and was diagnosed 4 years ago. I do wonder what the value of a diagnosis is though as there seems to be little that can be done. I see mention of 'getting treatment earlier' or ' starting treatment earlier' but Mums doctors tells me when I ask him abut it,"she's got dementia" When I ask about the prognosis he tells me "she will get worse" When I ask if I can do anything or take her to any specialist or pay for any treatment he says "don't waste your money, there is nothing that can be done". Eventually she was referred to a memory clinic and put on the maximum dose of Aricept......but that seems to be it. I'm told Aricept only works for 12 months so I'm not sure if there is any value in continuing with it. So we live and cope with it and my 82 year old father does all the coking shopping and looking after her (marvellously as well!). But it is all so heart breaking as she is fairly aggressive and argumentative about everything so it is hard work for all of us, especially my father who has to live with it all day every day. Sorry to go on......the real point of this was What is the value of a diagnosis?

 

[sah]

Hi Cassius:

My husband has been on Aricept for four years and it still appears to be helping him. Remember-everyone is different. There have been more changes lately-especially with language and conversation-but he still drives locally and is fine looking after himself when I'm at work.He's not the man he was-is quite happy to sit and do nothing all day-but he is content.

So-the Aricept may work for longer than the 12 months-it varies for each case.However-no one should have to put up with aggression. I thought there were other drugs to help with this? Have you told the consultant about that aspect?

 

[Cassius]

Thanks Sah - it is encouraging to know that Aricept may work for longer. Mum can no longer drive (well, we won't let her and she doesn't really want to.....although tells us she could if she wanted to) I will mention the aggression to the specialist if I can get her to see him. Usually we just see someone who asks questions and then writes us a letter repeating everything we've said! Sorry, it's been a bit tough lately, but it does help to read about people with similar issues on the forum. Thanks

 

[LadyA]

Cassius! Shake some bars and make a row - get another doctor! If Aricept isn't really helping ask if they could try something else! Aricept didn't help my husband at all - although it wasn't prescribed to slow the progression of his dementia as it was too late for that, but apparently for his agitation. It didn't help, so he was switched to Exelon, which did.

Yes, of course dementia is only going to go one way. But the point of monitoring is to ensure that the sufferer has the best quality of life possible at each stage. That doctor's attitude would be like saying that someone who got cancer at an older age "Well, not much point in treating them. They will probably die anyway."

I've just been posting in another thread about my husband's GP, and I'm more and more realising how very blessed I've been with him, and with the Psychiatry of Old Age team at our local Clinic. William's condition has been so closely monitored, they tried several alternatives to get his severe symptoms under control, until they found the combination that worked well enough to restore a good quality of life to him. He is calm, contented and as happy as he can be. He gets distressed about things sometimes - like his increasing incontinence - but in general, he is happy. And that is thanks to the treatment he is receiving.

 

[fellowtraveller]

Hello Lemoncheesecake
I do hope your husband can get to the point of realizing something is wrong AND wanting to find out what it is. My husband started showing symptoms at 52 and we got a diagnosis of Alzheimer's at 54, and as a family (2 teenage daughters) it has helped enormously in the subsequent year or so knowing what we are dealing with. I didn't have a similar battle with him regarding his attitude to diagnosis - but I just wanted to say that what really helped in the rather long saga of getting the diagnosis was when the GP at last referred us to the memory clinic rather than neuro-something-or-other . The memory clinic really knew what they were looking for in someone that age.
Will be thinking of you.
Fellowtraveller.

 

[embers]

Hi Lemoncheesecake

Hi both,
I just wanted to see how you are coping and if you have had any success with the medics. I can see this from both sides, having early onset myself. As I said before my daughter took the main role along with her dad in getting me to go to the doctor, but I did have problems with my thyroid gland which meant I had to go. With that now being in balance again and now being on the maximum dose of galantamine things are looking up. My last check showed that I had some improvement in my memory (something I thought I would never hear). I know this is not long term but it feels good now.
This horrid condition made my husband and I have the first and only big argument in our married life of 30 years. It put us both under stress and whilst I felt he was in denial, he was afraid of saying something about my diagnosis in case it frightened me. No more arguments just lots of snugs!