My DW has had Alzheimer's for about 4 years now. I have never been told anything about what type, or stage she is in. She has medicade (sp) so we are limited to whom we can see. The last neurologist we saw, was over 2 years ago. The primary care dr. just keeps giving her meds and says there is no need to see anyone else. Does anybody have the same situation, as we do? Any suggestions? Thanks
We have never been told what type DH has. In fact, neither the neurologist or primary dr has ever even used the word Alzheimers. They just say dementia. I was going to stop seeing the neurologist and even asked the pcp if he could take care of the meds . He said he could and if something cane up that he couldn't handle, we could still consult the neurologist. Its a big deal getting him out of the house to go anywhere, so if I can cut one trip I will.
According the Fischer Scale is probably late stage 6 to early stage 7.
My neurologist said it was Alz 6 yrs ago. I quit taking my dh to him 3 yrs ago. He never made any changes or discussed stages. I take him to pop, and he is very helpful.
My husband is listed as having 'dementia of the Alzheimer type'. Since they can't verify yet until autopsy that is the best they can do. I wish we did not have to go to the neurologist, but with the VA the primary will not treat it, only things not connected to it. Fortunately it is only once a year right now that we see her.
My DH was diagnosed, in 2009, as having vascular dementia because he told the dr. that he had a stroke in 1995. Then in 2010 we went to see a neurologist for the first time and he was given an MRI. According to the dr. the stroke didn't show up in the MRI, I didn't see the pictures, but as I was talking to him I mentioned that he is having hallucinations and "BINGO"...now he has LewyBody dementia/Alzheimer's so...what to do! what to do! All I know is that he has dementia and or Alzheimer's from everything that I have read and heard here on this site. I guess I just take it for what it is worth and know that he is not going to get better. The neurologist diagnosed him and gave him Aricept and called it a day. WHATEVER! right!
ronnyd--not sure what you mean re the type of Alzheimers? Do you mean AD vs. another disease that causes dementia?
If it is AD, you can go to the Fischer Center site and look up stages of the disease. You will find Dr. Reisberg's scale, which identifies the stages and substages in great detail. I think this is what the specialists use and it gives a good idea of where the patient is and what is coming (and generally when) in the future. Keep in mind, though, that this is the most common pattern for the progression of AD and many patients deviate, to varying degrees.
Correct Mimi. I think as we have found here some with Alzheimer's have variations of something else along with it. Of course there is EOAD and regular AD.
When my DH was to the phycologist who specializes in Dementia, I was told that he has bV fronto temporal , vascular Dementia and Az..he explained that there are number outs dement it's and my DH has Three. In his testing, and it was extensive, that is where the bv showed up. The Vascular was diagnosed with an MRI and the AZ from his memory loss and also it showed the beginning on the MRI as well. He explained it as Dementia being an umbrella with all the other diseases under it. The Riesberg theory is a great tool and my DH shows up with stages 3,4 and 5. But I was warned to to hold to much stock in this as they vary from time to time and person to person. It is so frustrating and confusing. I have just given up on being concerned about stages. Right now he is not presenting any symptoms of anything but the memory loss and some other minor ones but it will change again. He is in a good place right now so I am enjoying the non screaming and yelling and bossy ness. He is waiting for his LTC bed and is quite happy right now but wants to be alone quite bait. So where does he fit in these stages ? God alone know that. The Dr. Is just telling me to watch for any differ signs of regression.
I wouldn't worry too much about stages. Any suffered is likely to show symptoms from multiple stages and no one shows all symptoms. And symptoms can disappear
Dementia isn't a disease, though it is convenient to refer to it as one. Rather dementia is a cluster of symptoms. I used to be able to word this definition better.
After the first signs of dementia, our primary care Dr. ordered a brain scan and said it was vascular dementia. No doubt about it. We never saw any other Dr. or specialist. In fact over the eight years till my Dear Helen passed, we only saw the Dr. twice. Helen didn't like him. (Before the dementia, she would give him a hug every time she saw him and say "Have you hugged your Doctor today?)
I kept the doctor informed of her condition by sending him little notes, and after I found this website and all the support here, I would ask for the medications I thought best and he always complied with the prescriptions.
After Hospice stepped in, they would send a doctor to visit occasionally and for the last eight months in the nursing home it was only nurses in charge.
As for stages, it may sometimes be helpful to quickly describe a condition, but Helen never seemed to quite fit any of them.
My DH has had numerous small strokes that showed on the MRI. There was also so plaques that might be AZ. The fronto lobes showed some shrinkage. They said that that just shows that there is three Dementiaish signs. His behaviour showed most of the Bv and his memory showed the AZ. This is how I understand it. I don't think it really matters as he has something that is causing these symptoms and there is no way he will get better. I believe only an autopsy will confirm what he has.
Jazzy, I agree, the bottom line is they still ,after about 15 years of trying, can't really say for a certainty which one they really have until they can autopsy the brain.
Yes , you are right about that. The doctor said that the MRI showed numerous small strokes or TIA's.
I well remember the MRI. The machine looked very formidable and hostile. It was like a huge donut, about 15 ft high and my Dear Helen was scared to death of it. They gave her a shot of something to ease her mind and strapped her onto a little platform which rolled on a track into the center of this big machine and told her she must not move. They all left the room and watched through a window. I sat there talking to Helen, trying to keep her calm and when they turned the machine on the noise was deafening. This lasted about 40 seconds and after it quit, Helen yelled real loud "Get me out-a here".
As it turned out, she did remain motionless and they got a good scan but it certainly was a harrowing experience for her, and me too. I was happy that we only had to do this once.......George
My wife can get claustrophobic so she doesn't look forward to the scans. Last time she had one she was very nervous beforehand but came out smiling, saying it was fun.