DH had an appointment with his neurologist today and oh, the doctor was anxious to tell us such good news. It seems his last test results were not what would be expected from someone with Alzheimer's and in fact were SO good DH may not even have dementia at all! When I asked what would explain DH's behaviours the doctor said perhaps a combination of different things, one of these being aging. I said "I know from where you're sitting 63 looks really old but all the old people I know know what day it is!" But it gets even better....the doctor is so happy with these test results, he's going to do everything he possibly can to make sure DH gets his driver's licence reinstated. For the next two hours DH ran an endless loop of question: what did the doctor say about me driving? Can I drive now? What day is it? What did the doctor say about me driving?can I drive now?whatdayisit?whatdidthedoctorsay..." AAAHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!
Man you just have to shake your head with some doctors.
You tell your neurologist if he even tries to reinstate his driver license that you are going over his head to inform the people with more power than him about how he is endangering the rest of the general public if your hubby get behind the wheel of a vehicle. And when he get into an accident and he will that you will make sure the victims know that he was the one that gave him the green light to drive so they can sue him. Then go to the college of physicians and surgeons and report him.
I would then get a new doctor this one certainly doesn't get it.
which test did he take to give such 'encouraging' new diagnosis? If it is the MMSE - well my husband's score goes up and down depending on the day, how tired he is, his mood, etc.
I had one Dr. Diagnose Kevan with "just depression" but his depression turned out to be bvFronto, VD and AD. I'm with the others,"GET A NEW DR, FAST" is this Dr. A family Dr. Or a Neurologist specializing in Dementia?
How frustrating! The first law of being a physician is "do no harm", and I am afraid that this neurologist has caused more harm than he could ever be aware, by even suggesting that your LO could have his license back. You have previously reported that your LO cannot operate the new washers and dryers in your building. If he can't do that, then how can he be expected to run an automobile? Particularly when he doesn't know what day it is, or has difficulty finding his way around by himself? Get a new doctor, fast! I know that isn't easy, but you don't want more harm to come to pass!
Because the test did not confirm the diagnosis of ALZ, it doesn't mean he doesn't have ALZ. My spouse had a Lumbar Puncture (spinal tap) and Brain Spect ( like an MRI with radioactive dye injected), which the Neuro said "were consistent with ALZ". Since many other tests were done looking for other causes (brain tumor, etc) it's likely ALZ. The point is that if it walks, talks, and quacks like a duck, it's more than likely a duck. You don't need a DNA test to prove it. Don't know where you live, but a Neuro affiliated with a teaching Hosp with a focus on ALZ/dementia would be a good idea. Maybe the ALZ association would be a good resource.
Jackiem29, couldn't help laughing at your suggestion that Ring give up the doc a "piece of her mind". If I've learned anything from having a spouse with ALZ, it's to treasure all the pieces of my mind, as long as they're working. Ain't distributing them in this lifetime.
after extensive testings the experts also came to the conclusion that my DH was depressed, burned out at this profession, and RULED out dementia. esp Alz. nope that was not the cause. I would get a new doc asap. telling the afflicted spouse they can drive again is ludicrous. I would be furious too. divvi
Is this neurologist a dementia expert? If not, drop him as soon as possible and find one who is. You might want to see a neurologist with experience with FTD since most neurologists are not familiar with it and a general dementia neurologist might not recognize it because it isn't Alzheimer's. I'm not saying it is FTD but it is difficult betting a FTD dx and it is primarily behavioral symptoms and not memory.
My wife scored a perfect 30 on the MMSE last year. Her neurologist said, despite that, that she clearly declined from the year before.
Your husband might need a complete neuropsych exam (6-8 hours) to get a better dx.
Amber, there would be nothing to sue about...all the tests would show DH is safe to drive. It's only my observations that are at odds with what science is proving. Lol. And as far as I know there is no "over the doctor's head" in this case. He is a well known and esteemed neurologist specializing in dementia and director of the Alzheimer's clinic at a local hospital.
Charlotte I'm not quite sure which test the last one was but DH has had a battery of tests since this adventure started.
Jackiem29, I did give him a piece of my mind but just didn't tell it all here because of space. One positive thing...this is the first time I had the idea that he may have heard any part of what I was saying.
Again, thank God for Joan and this site. I would be despondent without my support system.
The way I feel today, I am not interested in looking for a new doctor. I am already spending too much of my life sitting in medical offices. And really on a practical sense: Who cares? What does it matter if DH has dementia or what kind? Right now he is stable, this disease can't be cured so what can a new doctor do except use up more sunny beautiful days wasted in waiting rooms.
Yes go ahead and enjoy the good days when they come, just please do not get your hopes up just to have them dashed when his symptoms manifest again. I agree about the doctors, there are too many variables, more than likely he was confused about which patient he was talking to or most likely he had the test results for the wrong patient or had misread them. anyway seek good advice about the legal aspect of him driving. if he is reinstated by the doctor's opinion, and he has a major accident, then who would be liable? certainly not the doctor. please weigh all your options before letting him drive.
Get a new doctor as all the others have suggested. And go to Health Grades to check him or her out. In fact I would to that with "Dr. Excited" and see what is possibly in his history closet. You can find out where they went to med school, internship, fellowships etc complaints and so on...You can check reviews and if you find one where the clients either loved him/her or hated him/her don't just ignore them..Our neurologist is one of those and he is top flight!! And all of us who admire him stick up for him when others ( I came across in the ALZ support group) would bad mouth him. He would tell you what you NEED to hear not what you WANT to hear. He is direct with DX and also instruction on what to do i e search assisted living or NH, etc. He is a leave no stone unturned kind of doctor and he has helped me so much with migraine control!
Just a quick update..... The specialist phoned me yesterday and asked me to phone MOT to find out what would be needed to get DHs licence active again. The doctor wanted me to find out the wording needed in the letter he would write to make sure the licence would be reinstated. I told him "I am not willing to do that. Since you think DH is so highly functioning, I'll put him on the phone and you can explain what you'd like directly to him." When DH hung up the phone he said "that sounds awfully confusing, I don't think I'll bother". This is good. I also told the doctor that "I don't care what your tests show I know the reality of what I am seeing."
Good for you! I had a psychiatrist diagnose Kevan with depression when we were out west. I'll never understand how she missed three Dementia's. Her geriatric nurse who did the in house test was floored. I moved him right out of the Province and got the correct diagnosis.
Maybe you need to get a new Doctor as the others have suggested.
Good for you Ring! I am so glad that you were able to stand up to the doctor, and that your DH will no longer be pressing to have his driver's license renewed. That will be a big load off your mind!
Good for you!!!! We caregivers need courage & you are a good example. I'll have to remember this, about putting him on the phone, but so far, we've not had that kind of problem with the doctor. Our PCP is doing just fine with it, thank goodness.
GRRRRR!!!!!! I can so relate. For years, Sid ALWAYS scored high on the mini mental (28 or 29 out of 30) regardless of how bad his reasoning, judgment, or memory was at home. He couldn't remember to look to see if cars were coming before he changed lanes while driving. After 2 near misses, I had had enough and turned in his license ( You can read about the 2 year nightmare that followed in the 2008 blogs).
I actually had a Neuro psychologist say, with Sid sitting there - Who said you shouldn't drive? You don't seem that bad to me. Then she called Sid's neurologist - yes, while we were sitting with her- and told him that she thought Sid was fine to drive. She then told us that the Neuro agreed. By the time we got to the elevator after that encounter, he had forgotten everything she had said except that he could drive.
At the next Neuro visit, Sid scored 28/30 on the mini mental, and the doctor said that they don't even consider stopping driving until the score is 25 or below. Regardless of the fact that Sid forgot to look in the rear view mirror when backing up, insisted he had the right of way when almost plowing into a group of kids who weren't using the crosswalk, and "rationalizing" that " it only would have been a small accident" when he almost hit a car in the lane next to him because he forgot to look to see if a car was coming.
So yeah, I get your frustration. Stick to your guns and do what you know is right.