JOAN’S BLOG – THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 24, 2009 – FRUSTRATION WITH NEUROLOGICAL TESTS! 

I am screaming. Watch me scream.  Unless you have been through this experience, you cannot imagine how frustrating it is. In yesterday’s blog, I reported that not only I, but Sid also, felt that he was declining. He told me (as if I did not know) that he cannot keep anything in his head. He said it “goes in one ear and out the other”. He can feel how slow he is; how long it takes him to think of answers; how long it takes him to make a decision.

So what happens? We go to the neurologist’s office Wednesday for the 3-month check up and my least favorite of all activities – the  #^%&#*  mini- mental test. My husband, once again, aced it. 28/30.  For the first time EVER, he remembered the 3 words given at the beginning of the test. My jaw hit the floor at that point. He actually got a 3rd one wrong – he could not spell WORLD backwards, but they did not take off credit for that due to some convoluted explanation of mystery scoring.  Then came the 4 –legged animal naming test. The goal is to be able to name at least 14 animals in 60 seconds. The fact that he could name only 6, did not seem to adversely affect his final evaluation.

Then the doctor looks through the records, and announces that Sid has actually been STABLE FOR THREE YEARS!!! At that point, BOTH OF US told him that Sid has Teflon Brain Syndrome. Whatever information goes in, slips right off. I also told him about the increase in apathy, fogginess, and confusion. He emphasized that those symptoms are classic with Alzheimer’s Disease. Sid told him he was frustrated with the decline that was clearly apparent, regardless of what the “record” stated. Dr. S. reiterated what he explained during the last visit – that the mini-mental does not test the areas in which Sid is weakest. ( Blog # 405). 

Our options are limited. Sid is not eligible for any of the vaccine trials because of his previous brain bleed. His mini-mental score is too high for him to be eligible for any other trial. He is taking the Alzheimer drugs that are available (Aricept and Namenda); Celexa has lessened his depression; and Risperdal has eliminated the obsessive anger and rages. He sent Sid for an MRI to determine if there has been any brain shrinkage, and suggested that I may want to put Sid through the complete battery of neuropsychological testing that he completed 3 years ago, the purpose of which would be to relieve me of $2000 to prove that the declines we see at home are correct. I need my $2000 more than I need to be proven right, so I rejected that offer.

The final result is that we keep on going as we are – watching his abilities decline at home and appear stable at the doctor’s office. And that is the way it goes in the land of Alzheimer’s Disease.

Feedback to joan@thealzheimerspouse.com 

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The Alzheimer Spouse LLC
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