Dementia

TriciaF The criteria for dementia must be very complicated and vague. It is. There are different types of dementia but I think I'm right in saying they are all debilitating illnesses that result in death. IMO the hardest burden falls on the carer of the person with dementia because, as the illness develops, the individual has decreasing awareness of his/her abilities and activities. The majority of people with dementia are elderly and may have other illnesses to contend with too, as will their carers - most of whom are equally elderly husbands or wives. The suggestion that GPs accepted a so-called 'bribe' to diagnose more cases is an insult to GPs, as care and support for the individual and their carer would cost an awful lot more than 55 quid.

The criteria for dementia must be very complicated and vague. This article shows that when a govt. programme offered a bonus of £55 for each diagnosis of dementia, for 6 months from Oct. 2014, the number of people diagnosed suddenly rose by one fifth:
www.telegraph.co.uk/news/health/news/12108080/Dementia-diagnoses-rise-by-one-fifth-after-GPs-offered-55-bribes.html

Yes I take your point and I AM anxious. I was recently treateed for a large black mole on my back and I had a biopsy with the dermotolgy dept who said it could be melonoma and asked if my parents had died of skin cancer and I got very anxious but it's a wart so it's likely I AM anxious. My appointment with the dermatologist is tomorrow but my lovely GP phoned me last week to say it was all ok.

It does sound as if you are suffering from anxiety nananina, dementia sufferers that I have known have been unaware of their condition and have usually been diagnosed because relatives were concerned.

My post on Fri 07-Jul-17 00:06:30 - No flippancy intended but this week I have 'mislaid' 3 things. Two of them turned up where they shouldn't have been and I'm still looking for the 3rd

Just to let you know the 3rd item turned up today, somewhere I'm sure I checked last night

My love and admiration to all who are experiencing dementia at first hand - in my experience it is the most dastardly illness imaginable. The worst thing I've had to do in my life was to tell my ex-husband that I thought his mother had it. This was many years after we'd divorced but I kept contact with her as she was still our son's grandmother. Unfortunately I was right and he looked after her for as long as possible at home and after she needed residential care before dying 2 years ago.

My H lived very well for the first 3 years or so after his diagnosis and I had noticed the first symptoms about 18 months before that so ,yes ,in some people it can be a time of almost normal living apart from the anxiety.
His decline is faster now but he is also ageing fast, he is 81, so I put some of it down to that.
I did have a false sense of how it would be at first but the reality is catching up now.

because symptoms usually start gradually, so that it takes a while to notice the changes, when you see them, you look back and realise they have been developing for a year or more.

I still think your DH is right to be cautious; depression and anxiety can make existing problems worse.

Why? They have to start somewhere surely? I don't mean I'm putting my watch in the fridge and other bizarre things - symptoms are mild at present and that's typical. I know I have never experienced anything like this before - I don't like internet diagnosis

If your symptoms only started a couple of weeks ago it would seem unlikely that you have dementia.

I used to work for the Alzheimer's Society and every time I forget something I'm inclined to panic. I just have to calm myself and think rationally that I have a poltergeist in the house who keeps moving things ...

No flippancy intended but this week I have 'mislaid' 3 things. Two of them turned up where they shouldn't have been and I'm still looking for the 3rd

Flossie yes I think you should see your GP. not that they can do a great deal but he/she could put your mind at rest. Or you could have mild cognitive disorder which is not as serious as dementia.

Harrigan My symptoms only started about 2 weeks ago and that's why nothing was picked up by the psych as I didn't complain. They seem to have come on quickly and I suppose they have to start somewhere. The next one is new so haven't seen her before.I'm hoping I've got mild cognitive disorder though obviously I'd rather not have anything like this.

Both my parents had dementia. Every time i forget a word or what i want to say ( it happens a lot) i think ...... its on its way to get me. My worst fear.

There are so many symptoms of depression and dementia which are similar but I would make an appointment with your GP and ask for a referral to a memory clinic just to get checked out and put your mind at rest. My parents both had dementia and had totally different symptoms - my husband recognised the problem some time before I did as I just put it down to age. Sadly by the time I'd agreed and got them tested there was no treatment suitable for them. You are probably fine but the sooner it's recognised if it is dementia the better.

Good point, Harri!

If you are seeing a psychiatrist every month you can be fairly sure you do not have dementia, it would have been picked up before now. Is the forgetfulness not due to the tablets you are taking ?

Flipping phone - apologies Flossie!

Flossing, please go and see your gp. Lots if things could be causing your 'lapses' but, if you do have dementia, there are things that can slow the progress of some, asnina said.

It is perfectly possible to live well with dementia for a long time but early diagnosis is key.

But, it's a really scary prospect isn't it?

I am 69 and I also worry about the onset of dementia. Part of me thinks that if I am aware enough to worry about it, I don't have it.

Anxiety has led me recently, to sit at a bus stop and let two buses go by, while I waited for a particular bus. Only realising hours later what I had done. Every bus went to the destination and I have done the journey many times.

I also put the electric kettle on the gas hob. Returned to the kitchen to see it alight, picked it up and put it on the work top. I was shaking once I realised what I had done,

I have not mentioned it to anybody as I think that I will not be taken seriously. It is very difficult to judge when to seek help. I have stopped caring for my grandchildren as I am scared I will make a stupid mistake.

aggie - so sorry for you and your DH - I have heard of things like this before. You mention a carer - is it difficult to get support and do you get respite

Many thanks for all your replies. I am getting myself in aright state, keep trying to remember 3 particular sentences. I have them written down in my bedroom and I've usually forgotten them by the time I'm downstairs. I'm starting to almost rehearse what I'm going to say to people so I won't get caught out with forgetting a word. Yes I'm seeing the psychiatrist on 20th of this month but she's new and I've never seen her before. I might have a chat to my CPN. I will see my GP because she's lovely and I've known her for about 10 years and trust her implicitly.

I wasn't sure about the issue of something to prevent the symptoms getting worse -i'm very scared and thinking I couldn't live with dementia, but there's only one alternative.

MIL seems to be trying to convince herself and us that she has the beginning of dementia. She goes on and on about forgetting words ( so do I and many of my friends). She certainly has no other symptoms that we can see. I think I will show her this thread.

Sorry, just had a very difficult day with her yesterday and had to help out a neighbour this morning with her DH who actually does have dementia and visited a friend whose DH died a few weeks ago aged just 67.

It's also not true that early diagnosis and treatment can stop it worsening.
It depends on the type of dementia whether or not treatment can slow the process.

The op is seeing her psychiatrist not her gp!

I heard that if you put your shoes in the fridge it's forgetfulness - forgetting that the milk is in the fridge is a worry.

I think it's Maw who has the theory that our brains get full of more interesting stuff and jettison things it's not interested in

That doesn't explain how I forgot the name of a dear friend the other day.

I remeber a GP in the Times saying when you need to worry is if you go upstairs to look for keys, not when you forget why you've gone but when you find the keys, you can't remember what they're for.

Exactly Aggie

The tests the GPs do are pathetic. My DH passed with flying colours but I insisted and the brain scan revealed the start of vascular dementia. That was several years ago. There's a lot of rubbish talked about new treatments for the various dementias too - very little works.