Will life ever be the same?

Karen Nash

Registered User
Mar 13, 2006
2
0
Surrey
My Dad has just been diagnosed with dementia. At 60 he is quite young although I know it is sadly not uncommon.

The family feel that now the dagnosis has been made the doctor's etc have just left us to it. I have encouraged both of my parents to get involved in the support groups which they are now doing.

I have always had the opionion that you should live every day to the fullest but my parents always put their lives on hold to bring up us kids thinking that they could enjoy themselves in their retirement and here they are with a very dim outlook for the coming years, how do you deal with that?

We have thought about seeking consultation at Harley Street or similar just to be sure that the diagnosios is correct and to see if threre is medication that can help, anyone have any suggestions/comments?

Would love to hear from anyone.

Karen
 

anna76

Registered User
Jan 30, 2006
7
0
Hampshire
You're not alone

Hi Karen,

sorry to hear your news, but welcome to TP - we're all here for you.

I'm also sorry to hear that you feel abandoned by the doctors - there is medical treatment available for your Dad. Did he receive a scan to confirm his diagnosis? Or a referral to a memory clinic or similar specialist team? If not, I feel you should start with asking for such a referral. This will clarify things and allow you to recive the appropriate treatment.

Support groups are wonderful - and much needed. Have you thought about going aswell?

"I have always had the opionion that you should live every day to the fullest" - and so you should!! Their lives haven't ended becuase they've been given this label, and there is still much to be enjoyed. Take photos, keep diaries, put together a Life Story book for your Dad, which may come in useful later on for all of you.

Hope this has been useful. Take care, Karen, hope you post again soon x ;)
 

wendy43uk

Registered User
Dec 22, 2005
64
0
sheffield
karan

this is a bad time for the famley just now we all cried when john was told and like uou it was hard for us to come to terms with go back to the gp and ask for arecept john took this for 2 years it helped him and a lot of other people its 2years since hohn was dienosed he takes ebixa now wich is helping him john is 60 and its young to have alz hope this helps live each day dont think about next week thats what i was told and it stopped me crying so much
 

connie

Registered User
Mar 7, 2004
9,519
0
Frinton-on-Sea
Dear Karen, welcome to TP. It is a blow to all when dementia is diagnosed, so mum and dad must be encouraged to live life to its fullest extent.

Tomorrow is another day, and whatever will happen cannot be altered, but they still can do today what they did last week, and so it will go on.

My Lionel was the same age as your dad when he was diagnosed, and we had a fun packed two years (O.K. there were hiccups) before we thought of winding down. Just go with the flow, whilst you can.

Connie
 

Karen Nash

Registered User
Mar 13, 2006
2
0
Surrey
Thank you...

..for your replies and comments/suggestions.

I feel so much better just knowing that there are prople on the same boat. I am going to encourage my parents, especially my Mum to register as just getting things of your chest really helps.

I think that the next step for us is to see a decent specialist who can offer some suggestions with regards to medication. Dad did try something to help his memory, but it made him so poorly. Not sure what it was.

Has anyone found an 'alternative medicine' which helps make the 'bad days' better?

Best wishes to all.

Karen
 

Norman

Registered User
Oct 9, 2003
4,348
0
Birmingham Hades
Hi Karen
I tried every alternate treatment I could think of when my wife was first diagnosed AD.
None worked.
There is only one course to take ,start with the GP and then a referal to a consultant.
The tests, a scan should all drop into place then and hopefully medication will be prescribed to help the condition.
Have you looked at the fact sheets?
Try http://www.alzheimers.org.uk/How_is_dementia_diagnosed/Diagnosis_process/info_diagnosis.htm
and
http://www.alzheimers.org.uk/After_diagnosis/Getting_support/info_healthprofessionals.htm.
Hope this is helpful
Norman
 

dmc

Registered User
Mar 13, 2006
1,157
0
hello

hi
just wanted to say my mum has just been diagnosed with dementia so i know exactly how your feeling untill i found this site yesterday i was beginning to think we were the only family trying to cope, like your dad my mum is a very young 64 and untill two years ago were enjoying retirement and a life of their own when she suddenly had a heart attack and suffered brain damage due to lack of oxygen they told us she wouldnt live but even to the doctors amazement she recovered even though she had short term memory loss. her health began to go down hill in september and she was diagnosed with a very progressive form of dementia similar to cjd, we have her home now and were finding even the simplest of tasks hard to cope with.
i just wanted to wish you all the best with whatever you future holds and grab all the help you can if its offered good luck!
 

Staff online

Forum statistics

Threads
138,113
Messages
1,993,089
Members
89,777
Latest member
konnifel