Forgetting more things of late? Or your loved one is? You should definitely have it checked out.
It isn’t necessarily bad news, though. Elisa Lewis, of Caregiver.com, relates a long harrowing tale of her fears that she had Alzheimer’s. Finally, she went to her doctor and reported her inability to find the proper word or write narrative and she went on to tell him that as a writer, these symptoms endangered her marriage, her friendships, her self-image, and her career and income.
Find out what's happening in Southburyfor free with the latest updates from Patch.
After listening to the long tale of woe, the doctor told her that her symptoms were probably due to a new prescription he had given her and that he could change it. He did and in two weeks she was back to normal.
Find out what's happening in Southburyfor free with the latest updates from Patch.
It’s true that loss of short term memory, inability to focus and pay attention, and a change in reasoning or judgment could be signs of dementia. But while it could be dementia or Alzheimer’s, there may be other answers. Luckily, some causes of dementia-like symptoms can be reversed.
But even if the diagnosis is serious dementia or Alzheimer’s it’s better to know early-on. There are meds which can slow down its progress if you catch it early.
What do you need to take to your doctor if you think you may have dementia? A journal or care log of any suspicious symptoms you or your loved one has, noting when they began and how frequent they are. The doctor also needs to know if there’s a change in reasoning or judgment or if visual perception seems to be somehow different.
And make sure the doctor is aware of all the medications taken, including over the counter (such as vitamins, and aspirin) as well as prescription. You’ve seen the TV ads. All medications may have side effects.
Norma Nixon Schofield
As always, Always Best Care is here to help, offering a 'bigger picture' philosophy, ABC's reputation is built on providing one of the highest levels of individualized and customized care in today's market. Besides regular in-home care, we are able to supplement the temporary needs of people wherever they find themselves needing help. For the full story visit our site at: www.alwaysbestcarewesternct.com or call us at (203) 262 6170.
