Alzheimer's Disease Support Group

Alzheimer's disease (AD) is the most common cause of dementia and characterized by progressive cognitive deterioration with declining activities of daily living and neuropsychiatric symptoms or behavioral changes. An early symptom is memory loss (amnesia), usually manifesting as minor forgetfulness that becomes pronounced with illness progression, with relative...

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tgik 12/24/2013

MY HUSBAND WAS DIAGNOSED WITH ALZHEIMER'S A LITTLE OVER A YEAR AGO. HE WENT BACK TO NEUROLOGY LAST TUESDAY AND AFTER FURTHER TESTING AND MORE QUESTIONS THE DOCTOR TOLD MY HUSBAND HE DOES NOT HAVE ALZHEIMER'S. HE TOLD WHAT HE HAS IS LEWY BODY DISEASE. IT HAS ALZHEIMER'S SYMPTOMS PLUS PARKINSON'S SYMPTOMS.
HE HAS STARTED HALLUCINATING. HIS MUSCLES ARE STIFF AND HE HAS TREMORS IN HIS HANDS. HE ALSO HAS TROUBLE WITH HIS SHORT TERM MEMORY.
HE IS A VIETNAM VETERAN AND WAS EXPOSED TO AGENT ORANGE. HE IS 100% SERVICE CONNECTED. WITH ALL THE PROBLEMS HE HAS FROM THE AGENT ORANGE PLUS PTSD HE TAKES ABOUT 40 PILLS A DAY. THAT'S NOT COUNTING HIS PUFFERS AND INSULIN. THEY'RE SETTING HIM UP WITH A TEAM OF GERIATRIC DOCTORS. THEY'RE SUPPOSED TO HELP HIM WITH HIS MEMORY. HE STARTS HIS APPOINTMENTS NEXT MONTH. THAT'S ALL I KNOW RIGHT NOW.
I HOPE EVERYONE IN THIS GROUP HAS A VERY BLESSED AND MERRY CHRISTMAS. HUGS, CHRIS

annettearizona 12/25/2013

For years my father had been diagnosed and treated for having parkinsons-and now they say he has dementia. Make up your minds :)
Glad they figured out what is happening with your husband.
Merry Christmas to you and yours too

Paigegirl 12/27/2013

I am diagnosed with EOAD. (early on-set Alz disease). The neurologists thought I had Parkinson's. I had the worse side - effect from Dopamine. The final diagnosis is dementia as mentioned above and PTSD. As you take care of your husband remember to take care of yourself.

deleted_user 12/31/2013

Be careful guys. Dementia is a general term for altered mental ability generally associated with aging. Within that is Alzheimer's, vascular dementia and Lewy bodies dementia plus a few really obscure dementias. The only one that can be accurately diagnosed while the person is alive is vascular. The rest can only be diagnosed based on symptoms and then confirmed with an autopsy.

So often as symptoms appear and disappear the suspected cause changes. Treatment should be based on symptoms and is a trial and error and ever changing.

So while Alzheimer's is a dementia not all dementia is Alzheimer's. This is a really common mistake made by people who have been hearing about Alzheimer's for decades.

jbnewport 01/01/2014

Paigegirl, so sorry about your dx. Do you have family support?

What is your age if you don't mind my asking?

JB

Paigegirl 01/03/2014

I will be 59 on the 14th. After much research I don't think its early onset either. My diagnosis is indeed dementia. I would not choose neurology as a career. 1) I am not smart enough though I am very young:) 2) Imagine trying to sort out all these mess. 3) I won't be able to sleep 4) There are days when I don't know my left ear from my right. Lol.

annettearizona 01/04/2014

Who needs to know their left ear from their right-as long as they are both attached :)

Paigegirl 01/04/2014

That is so true! My girlfriends have many a good laugh at my expense. I think its great that we have a sense of humor. Oh! the ears are attached but I kept on trying to shove another back of an earring which already has one and totally forgot I have another ear. LOL

deleted_user 01/16/2014

Whatever problem it may bring to you and your family, remember you should be with your husband all the way. God bless. Prepare yourself physically, emotionally and mentally as this can bring a lot of pressure on you since you are the wife.

Barrythebread 01/17/2014

Sorry about your husband (Chris) as I was diagnosed with Mixed dementia 9 years ago (Alzheimers, LBD and Parkinsons disease).
please try to stay positive

pd2012 01/20/2014

tgik, Firstly I'd like to thank your husband for his service and sacrifice.

My father hallucinated often and had many delusional episodes. It's very hard to see them go through this. I know LBD's symptoms mimic Alzheimers. It's good that they've given him the proper diagnosis so that the correct treatment can start.

Saying a prayer that with the proper treatment; they can stave off symptoms for many years.

Hope all is going well and hope you had a wonderful holiday season.

PD

tgik 01/21/2014

THANK YOU EVERYONE FOR YOUR SUPPORT. WE WENT TO THE FIRST APPOINTMENT WITH THE GERIATRIC TEAM OF DOCTORS. EVERYTHING THEYWWOULD DO FOR HIM HE IS ALREADY DOING, IINCLUDING HIS MEDICATION. HE QUALIFIES FOR FOUR WEEKS A YEAR FOR RESPITE. HE GOES BACK TO THE DOCTOR IN SIX MONTHS.
I HOPE EVERYONE HAS A BLESSED NIGHT. HUGS, CHRIS

deleted_user 02/14/2014

There is tons of good information on the website.
Lewy body dementia association lbda.org.
My father was finally diagnosed after two other doctors were "sure" it was alzheimers. Lewy body is very different and some of the alzheimers meds can make it worse. Do your research and be his advocate with the doctors. Many have no idea what the disease is and some just say it's dementia and that nothing can be done- that's never the case.

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