I looked and didn't find a discussion that this would fit in, so I started a new one.
DH and I have the same Internist doctor. I have a physical every other year with this doctor. We talked about the fact that my colestrol and blood pressure and weight were up. I told him that all three were probably caused by two things: lack of excercise and stress. He asked me to expand on both. I told him that this was the first year that DH and I didn't go hunting. He knows that I walk a lot out hunting. He wanted to know why. I told him that DH lost interest in it a few years back and that this year, I didn't make him go. He asked if there was anything that we did for recreation. I told him that we still go fishing once in a while but that I don't get much exercise from it. I told him that this is all related to the stress that I am dealing with. I reminded him that DH has had problems with his personality and moods for quite some time and that DH is now not wanting to do anything. I also told him that DH has alinated almost all of his family with the exception of our son. The doctor asked me if DH is having memory problems. I told him not in the sense that he was refering to. I told him that there was apparent problems with very short term things like missing or forgetting conversations or statements from me. He asked for an example and I told him that our pup would whine to be put out. I would point it out to DH and tell him that I was going to put her out. When I come back into the room, he would ask me if I could put pup out as she was whining. He would have no knowledge of our conversation and did not notice me leaving the room with her. Doctor asked me how DH was with his numbers and measurements as he knows that DH is a carpenter and handyman. I told him that he has had problems in this area for two or three years now. Doctor asked me what I thought this was all pointing to. I told him FTD. He was not familiar with that term and asked me to describe what I meant by it. I told him frontal lobe deteration and that I thought that DH had it on the side that controls personality and reasoning. The Doctor told me that he knew this condition to be Pick's and that from what I described that DH was a classic case of Pick's.
Please check out this link: http://www.ninds.nih.gov/disorders/picks/picks.htm FTD used to be known as Pick's Disease.
This is just my opinion, but I would find a doctor who was familiar with FTD, not one you have to explain what it means. Also, without extensive testing by a memory disorder specialist, you are stumbling in the dark. I seem to remember (correct me if I'm wrong) your husband being against testing, but it really is important to know exactly what you are dealing with in order to treat it properly.
I agree with Joan. You need to know so you can get your dh on the proper medication so that his condition does not get worse and he can remember like he is for a longer period of time. You might want to ask your dr. to refer you to a neuro.
Continuing my story from above. The doctor asked me how DH has been doing and if he is still taking his meds as perscribed - 2 for high colestriol and one for the pituitary gland tumor. I told him that he was. I told him that DH thinks that his problems are being caused by the tumor and the doctor told me that it could be adding to it. But that it sounds like it is something more. He feels from my comments that it is Pick's. He said that the numeness on the left side of his head and face could be caused by this also. He told me that it is important for him to keep taking the meds as we don't want him to also have a stoke. DH has always avoided going to the doctor and you might remember what we went through getting him the MRI last year. Any way, his doctor told me that they specifically looked for something other than the tumor in his MRI and didn't see anything. He told me that that doesn't mean that it isn't there, it just did not show up in the MRI. He asked me to try to talk DH into coming in to see him so that he can talk with him.
Yes, Joan, you are right that DH is very scared of testing. the doctor seemed like he knew what I was talking about, he just had not heard it referred to as FTD. Anyway, last night and this morning, I visited with DH about his doctor's concern and wanting him to come in. DH didn't say NO yet, he just hasn't said YES.
JudithKB, it would be great if he could take medicine and his condition would not get worse. I would be the first one to carry him kicking and screaming to the doctor if I thought this was possible. The doctor told me that if his acting-out becomes a problem for me to let him know right away. Right now, his memory is not the problem as is his reasoning and moods. I actually came away from the meeting feeling better than I have in a long time because someone other than me and our son is acknowledging that there is a problem. I hope that in the next month or two that DH will see his doctor and they can discuss some of his options.
DH is now very concerned about something happening to me as he understands that it would be hard for him to handle things. This is something that I need to get done to give him peace of mind.
PS: Joan, I think that the doctor was trying not to scare me by asking me what I thought was going on with DH. I came away with the feeling that he is familiar with Pick's and frontal lobe problems. I hope this makes sense.
Of course, it is difficult when your dh doesn't want to go to doctor. When I spoke of medications I was referring to the Alzheimer's meds like namenda, aircept, etc.
My dh has had two MRi's in the past 4 years and neither one show anything.
In a way, I want the MRI's to show something but then in a way, I don't. If they don't show anything, then may be things aren't getting worse as fast. The doctor told me that if he does have Pick's that the treatment would be to treat behaviors. He said that first, he needs to talk with DH.
DH's MRI show the tumor but no additional problems. He has MRI every other year to track the growth of the tumor.
Mary - you might want to try almonds for your cholesterol. I tried them and they worked. They are suppose to lower cholesterol, raise HDL, lower LDL and triglycerides. They say a handful, about 10 a day but eat many more than than. My cholesterol went from 228 to 185 in about 6 months and all the other readings improved. Worth a try over drugs. Also I take niacin, CoQ10 and a few others.