Is this dementia?

For both your sakes I hope not, OP, but I don’t know.

The very first sign in my FiL (which we didn’t recognise at the time) was forgetting where we were going, when he was all dressed up to attend his own son’s wedding.
And a bit later, both failing to shave and wearing dirty clothes, which he’d never have done before.
Also, buying endless packs of the same things, e.g. we’d find 8 packs of sausages in his fridge.

With my mother, the first sign my sister noticed, was that she was starting the same book from the beginning more than once. She’d always been an avid reader so this was odd.

I discounted that sign (couldn’t face it again after FiL) but the penny finally dropped when she phoned her bank about something, and couldn’t remember, literally the instant she’d put the phone down, what they’d said.

I never heard of either of them feeling that they were lost in their own houses. It seems odd that your mum doesn’t get lost away from home - my FiL was apparently frequently getting lost in formerly familiar roads, just a short distance from his own house.

Is it possible she has had a mild TIA?

The GP needs to stress that she may need a more urgent referral, as so much can be done in the early stages.

Gigi1975 , if you think it's necessary, you could speak to your mum's GP about her.
The GP won't discuss her health with you but will listen to what you say.

It could be a good idea to get a Power of Attorney organised, if your mum doesn't have one already.

Trans ischemic attack

grannylyn65

Trans ischemic attack

Yes, I should have written it out fully.

Do go back to the GP, if necessary ask for a second opinion.

Transient ischaemic attack (TIA)
Mini stroke, it may have been barely noticeable but requires urgent investigation.

If it’s happened more than once, it won’t be a TIA. Needs investigation. Anything else on here is guess work.

A friends Mum became confused in her own home and stopped going upstairs because she said she wasn’t allowed to and thought her dining room door was the entrance to someone else’s flat.
Perhaps the OP’s Mum hasn’t fully understood what the GP has suggested. I’d agree with the PoA quickly to get more involved.

Both my mum who had Alzheimer’s and my nan who had vascular dementia seemed more comfortable in their own home and muddled when taken anywhere else
The opposite

My sister who is 67 has been diagnosed with mild cognitive impairment. She really frightened herself while out shopping. She emerged from a shop onto a street she was very familiar with, and didn't recognise where she was. She looked around her feeling very lost. She was just about to phone her husband when it all xame back to her.
She saw her GP who referred her for a brain scan, the result was her MCI diagnosis.
She hasn't deteriorated, but has to keep a list of things to do etc.
Her husband is a retired nurse for the mentally impaired, so he keeps an eye on her.

My OH has suffered twice from transient global amnesia. He had no idea where he was, the year, name of the Prime Minister and other things. He spoke to his GP, who told him to get back in touch if it happens a third time.

I think the most helpful thing to think is not 'Is this dementia?' but to think 'This needs investigating'.
Worrying about it being dementia can be upsetting, time consuming, and very unhelpful! I would say to her 'We don't know, we'll see what the tests indicate and what experienced doctors / other staff think'.
In the meantime, always a good idea to set up PoA, have a regular 'check in time' and lists.
Good luck

Crumbs - you're all talking about me!
I hate the word 'dementia'. It's frightening and sounds like someone has lost their mind and is running around screaming.
My version is frequent lapses of short term memory. Which most of us have after 70-80. I'm 86.
Younger family members get worried. My daughter thinks I have dementia.

ps good point about P of A though.

Thanks everyone. I am starting to see its not very helpful to stick an unknown label on it. I have advised her that if anything has changed since her first trip to GP she should maybe go back to give an update. And other than that it’s a case of waiting to see if the specialist tests reveal anything. Just to add, she is concerned about this herself, I’m not just making her address something she doesn’t want help with. But all your thoughts are helpful so thank you.

I’d agree with the PoA quickly to get more involved.
I don't think you can 'get more involved' until a person does not have sufficient mental capacity.

Fennel it really doesn't mean anything so alarming.
It means lapses in mental ability which can cause problems for the person and which will gradually get worse.
It doesn't mean normal forgetfulness.

Yes, but what can doctors do about it?
It's a natural part of ageing. Physically.
We're not here forever.

Fennel

Yes, but what can doctors do about it?
It's a natural part of ageing. Physically.
We're not here forever.

Treatment is available so early diagnosis is essential.

I must admit to asking myself the same question about my husband. I looked up the symptoms of Lewy bodies dementia and several of them seem to fit. But I would not say anything to him, nor is he bad enough for me to contact the GP, so it could be a few years down the line before he gets any help.
He has recently had his annual checks and all was well, so maybe I am overthinking.

Cabbie21 why not speak to the GP to find out if there could be help available at an early stage, if that is what it is?
The GP won't discuss your DH's health, of course, but could give you information.

Good idea in theory, but it is almost impossible to speak to anyone at our health centre these days! If it is not urgent, you wait three weeks for an appointment which is a phone call from a GP (my last one was due between 2pm and 6 pm, and he rang at 6.40), who will only see you face to face if they consider it essential, so you can see I am not keen to go down that route in this instance.

If it keeps happening she should have a scan as there are other things it could be.
Nannarose spot on!

Cabbie21. It is extremely important to seek treatment early as Daisymae said.

My mother started to show signs of dementia and I insisted she be assessed. The consultant initially was all for a “wait and see approach” but she was deteriorating rapidly so I researched and found that there was a drug awaiting approval to deal with her symptoms. I asked the consultant whether it might help and he agreed to let her try it. It was called Aricept. It didn’t reverse the damage but it halted the slide into full dementia. Thanks to the treatment her condition plateaued resulting in her being able to enjoy the rest of her life with dignity.
I am sure there are more modern drugs these days.
Please fight for your husband before it is too late.