Hello everyone,
This is my first visit to this site, and I'm writing about my Nan, who lives with me, my sister and my Mum and Dad.
About 8 -10 years ago she suffered a number of strokes and since then has had memory problems. I was very young when this first happened (she didn't live with us then either). My Mum says that when it first happened she used to become frustrated that she couldn't remember things. She is now completely unaware of her memory loss (and the extent of it). She has never been diagnosed with Alzheimers, in fact the doctors have never made any sort of diagnosis, although she is now completely unaware what day it is, she keeps asking my Mum whether her parents are alive (and does she need to write them a christmas card - she's 82!). Her memories seem to exist no longer than a few seconds these days. She also has diabetes, and has no idea when she's eaten or what (as she has a sweet tooth this often causes problems). This is incredibly frustrating for my Mum who is her main carer (and works full-time). There is no-one else in the family that wants to help, and my Mum is becoming increasingly exhausted with the constant questioning and demands my Nan makes.
So many of the postings here have been helpful just in making me realise that there are others seeing the same things. My Nan is also very good at making up feasible answers to things that are completely untrue - every month a nurse comes to check her blood-sugar levels, and my Nan tells her all sorts of things that aren't true, and I'm sure the nurse thinks my Nan is fine (if a bit forgetful perhaps).
Can anyone make any suggestions before my Mum exhausts herself?
Do you think this sounds like Alzheimers?
This is my first visit to this site, and I'm writing about my Nan, who lives with me, my sister and my Mum and Dad.
About 8 -10 years ago she suffered a number of strokes and since then has had memory problems. I was very young when this first happened (she didn't live with us then either). My Mum says that when it first happened she used to become frustrated that she couldn't remember things. She is now completely unaware of her memory loss (and the extent of it). She has never been diagnosed with Alzheimers, in fact the doctors have never made any sort of diagnosis, although she is now completely unaware what day it is, she keeps asking my Mum whether her parents are alive (and does she need to write them a christmas card - she's 82!). Her memories seem to exist no longer than a few seconds these days. She also has diabetes, and has no idea when she's eaten or what (as she has a sweet tooth this often causes problems). This is incredibly frustrating for my Mum who is her main carer (and works full-time). There is no-one else in the family that wants to help, and my Mum is becoming increasingly exhausted with the constant questioning and demands my Nan makes.
So many of the postings here have been helpful just in making me realise that there are others seeing the same things. My Nan is also very good at making up feasible answers to things that are completely untrue - every month a nurse comes to check her blood-sugar levels, and my Nan tells her all sorts of things that aren't true, and I'm sure the nurse thinks my Nan is fine (if a bit forgetful perhaps).
Can anyone make any suggestions before my Mum exhausts herself?
Do you think this sounds like Alzheimers?
