Just wondered if anyone has had this experience. After an acute situation with my husband where things weren't "connecting" as he says and he knew we had a dog, but the name didn't sound right, he knew where we were but it didn't seem right, etc., which landed him in the hospital overnight, he went through a lot of testing. All negative for stroke. Does have mild sleep apnea, oxygen goes down to 83% during the night at times. Getting hooked up, literally with that. But Doc sent him to neuro at the Cleveland Clinic. He did say Larry has some mild memory problems and problems with new learning, but didn't think it was caused by dementia. They are looking at possible silent migraines. I was relieved at first but in the last few weeks am worried they are missing the boat. I have 8 pages in a journal of "things or symptoms" that I think are not right. They range from putting our grandson in his car seat in the back seat of our van and then getting in the car and starting to take off, but forgetting to close the van door, to being outside and seeing that the lights were on the outside of the house and reaching for the switch on the outside rather than the inside, to asking me where his pencil is, speaking through it because it was in his mouth, to getting me and others lost in stories because we can't really follow where he is going with it, to giving him three bills to pay, naming them, putting them by the computer and he paid only two and said he didn't know he was supposed to pay all three and then didn't even record them in the checkbook like he always has done I could go on and on. But I grow more and more worried. He is 65, I am 50. He looks older all the time. His voice is getting weak and hoarse. He is very tired (but started on Lexapro 2 months ago). He just seems to be aging/slipping right before my eyes. His eyes most of the time don't even look the same to me. Has anyone else ever been told it is not Alzheimer's but it was?????

Happycamper,,,I understand your concern,,,and you have every right to be concerned too.
I suggest that you get a 2nd opinion from another nuerologist.

I would look for a nuero that has more experience with forms of dementia,,and get a full copy of the medical diagnosis and all Cat Scans,,MRI's,,PET Scans,,for the 2nd opinion .

God,,,I hope its something simple that has been overlooked and has a simple remedy/cure

But if its not,,,you want and need to know.

I myself suffered for a time with Migraines,,,and I never did what your husband is doing. Please get a 2nd opinion,,,and please come back here and let us/me know what your find out. I wish you and your hubby the very very best of luck. Peace

Hi Raven,

Thanks for the advice. I just knew this was supposed to be a specialist in dementia and so I didn't even question it. But as time goes on, I don't know what to think. Like, this afternoon, I was telling Larry a story about how I ordered a grilled chicken snack wrap from McDonald's thinking that was a better choice than a hamburger. I told him I asked for the nutrition pamphlet and then I started reading it to him. A wrap has 830 mg. of sodium, a hamburger only has 500. A wrap has 270 cal. a hamburger, 250...and so on for about 6 items of comparison total. He finally just looked at me and said, I don't have any idea what you are trying to tell me. You keep talking and I don't know what you are saying. Sometimes I think it must be me! I am going to email his internist who should be making a follow up appt. sooon anyway and give him some information on all of this at which time he will schedule an appt. I am sure. I will ask for a second opinion. Thanks so much!

If anyone else has any other observations on this, please feel free to send them to me!

Thanks so much!

Dear Happycamper,
I agree with Raven. Please get a second opinion with a neurologist who specializes in dementia!
I have suffered with migraines for more than 40 years and have never had those symptoms.

Yes, I know exactly how your husband feels about conversations. Sometimes, the information doesn't process correctly and makes no sense, so I can't understand.
He'll probably need neuropsychological testing too.

Good Luck
Please, keep us posted.

Peace and Hope,

My husband is 57 years old, started having problems about 8 years ago now with episodes that have been diagnoised as Absence Seizures. 5 years ago his memory started failing at an alarming rate. He can no longer, write his name, remember his address, phone number, basic math, he no longer drives (he was lost for 1 1/2 hrs, 5 miles from home) He has had 5 MRI, PET Scan, EEG's, CT Scans & numerous blood test. Which none really confirm it is Alzheimer's. He has seen 4 different Neurologist which all seem to lean toward the seizures causing his dementia. Since dementia runs in his family, I have never been able to accept that it is not Alzheimer's. He has all the symptoms that his grandmother & mother had, just at a younger age.
I agree with everyone else get a second opinion.

Alzheimer's is only one of many dementias. But clearly something is wrong. I wouldn't quit until a real diagnosis is made... not just a "best guess". His treatment (and possibly his recovery... it can happen with some dementias) is fully dependent on an accurate diagnosis.

N Duke: Basically I agree with you BUT when MRI and especially "PET Scan" do not offer explanations re pathological changes as in case of my husband,Bud (see: http://freepage.twoday.net/stories/3038870/ )

I am not so sure how much help a second opinion would be considering today's climate of greed and deception.

It was Bud's "2nd opinion neurologist and neuropsych" who finally diagnosed Alzehiemrs. The first neuropsych at Courage Center In Minneapolis called his problems "profound and unusual memory loss and cognitive impairment."

The second opinion -- neurologist higly recommended by University of Minnesota, has been reversed with neurologist now saying "he does not have Alzheimers."

When I asked WHY his diagnosis "Alzheimers" still remains on his records -- after reviewing the neurologist's letter to PCD (Internist), the neurologist said "it depends upon the "purpose" as in lawsuit, insurance, etc.

The neurologist can't and won't state his opinion that the statin Bud was taking may be a major contributor to his now "moderate-to-severe memory loss and cognitive impairment."

The neurologist is not "a research scientist" but there is plenty of evidence "out there" -- mostly "anecedotal" -- evidence that supports very strong reasons for persons not to take a statin (with rare exceptions such as Dr. Duane Graveline mentions on his website: www.spacedoc.net ).

Dr. Graveline does strongly caution that anyone who is taking any statin (for lowering cholesterol), should also be taking as much Coenzyme Q-10 as he or she can afford.

The pharmaceutical companies know full well -- an early patent re statins combined Coenzyme Q-10. Coenzyme Q-10 provides energy to brain cells.......

Since I have been an EMF researcher for well over a decade by the time I learn this extremely important "tidbit" (if something that important can be referred to as such), I already knew that low level electric field exposures also reduce one's natural production of Coenzyme Q-10.

The neurologist's problem in "identifying cause" of Bud's problems is beyond his scope of expertise. He sort of nodded his head when I originally told him about what I knew re statins but he was not the prescribing doctor nor did he really have sound basis for stating his opinion re statin link particularly since Big Pharma has such a "firm grip" on that class of drugs. Lipitor, which Bud took, is "a major money-maker" for doctors as well as Big Pharma.

I had also explained that Bud first improved when I moved his electric clock off his nightstand and started him on melatonin -- both actions would have been expected to increase "vital melatonin." Studies are too numerous to cite at this time. The links to one or more are on my website and I am still reviewing the 43 page melatonin study that states "may prevent onset of Alzehimers and Parkinsons.....and/or reduce severity of symptoms thereof....."

In our increasing "Blue World" of constantly being bombarded by signals from cell phones, cellular antennae, high voltage lines, WiFi, etc., it is imperative we patients and caregivers alike do all we can to reduce especially night exposures -- electric fields very close to beds. This can be from electric clocks, fans, monitors, security alarms, air-puifiers, heating pads, electric hlankets and much more. See my website for some additional items-of-concern.

We are staring to hear more and more about precations for cell phone usage. I am finding many persons are sleeping with cell phones charging on their nightstands and even under their pillows. I interact "daily" with the public, many of whom read one or more of my posts on Omega World News website and who telephone and;or email reporting such information.

Cordless phones -- the 2.4 ghz and the 5.8 ghz are not recommended at all -- "landline phones" are the only telephone recommended and even then, persons need to make sure there are no other things such as answering machines, caller ID's, etc. included w/the phone. It is becoming ncreasingly dificult to find even a landline phone that does not have a transformer box that needs to be plugged in to accommodate the "bells and whistles." No transformer box for any electronic device should be closer than a minimum of 3 ft. to one's bed. I usually recommend cordless phone base stations not be in bedrooms at all. I do not promote or sell any product but there are things one can do to help reduce exposures. Placement of a minimum of 5 ft. from bed may be an option although not necessarily safe.

There are an increasing number of persons reporting EOAD. Epidemiological studies re Leukemia chart increases in disease that show link to increases in electrification. This does not mean that we should not use electricity, of course, but we need to educate ourselves to what is going on. "Officials" are not going to tell the public what they know any time soon.

For anyone who doubts what I write about clocks, electric blankets, powerlines, etc., I suggest contacting the American Cancer Society and demanding to know what information is contained in their File 2 RAD IRIS 2 from 1993. I still have the envelope and accompanying papers -- one of which is the "USA Today" article re "prudent EMF avoidance" that is the item w/the file number clearly displayed.

I can not say enough about the large numbers of persons who are being led to believe that Alzheimers is genetic. Use of bedside electric appliances and cellular communications is increasing right along with the rises in autism, Alzehimers, M.S., Parkinsons, childhood Leukemia and even ADD and ADHD plus plus.....

I did do an assessment of a woman's home about a week ago and found an air-purifier very close to her bed along with a cord for a heating pad that was not visible to me. This person had been turning the circuit to her bedroom off at night but was not getting any better. Her blodwork is way off (consistent with documented facts in our family re two grandsons w/rare immune and my guinea pig studies -- "markers for irradiation").

Turns out she also has "close, chronic, prolonged occupational exposure to electric fields." She sits every day (or sat) right in front of another air-purifier 2 ft. or less from her recliner chair where she conducts her business from home. This would be similar to exposure to a sewing machine motor, welding equipment, electrical or telephone work, etc.

Chronically prolonged daytime electric field exposures due to very close proximity to many appliances is also knowm to interfere with one's natural production of melatonin. This would be the "opposite of light therapy."

We will all be hearing more and more about the need for precautions re cell phone usage as well as the need for redcuing other close electric field exposures as much as possible as well as the need for melatonin supplementation (and other antioxidants).

Certainly do all you can re doctor's opions and/or "second opinion" but don't rely upon actually getting the "correct opinion." A merging of known scientific facts is desperately needed. In our situation(s), we also sought evaluation by a hematologist but that was prior to seeing any neurologist. It was because of need to evaluate homocysteine levels. That is another long story also related to electric field toxic exposure.

Best wishes and take care - Joanne

Keep after it, Happy Camper - whatever it is, something is terribly wrong and you want to be sure it isn't something fixable. My mom, who has a mixture of vascular dementia and AD, was apparently told by her neurologist early in the disease that she might be having "silent migraines" - no headache but some mental and visual aberrations. I think he changed his mind about that as time went on and my mom's ability to cover up her problems frazzled a bit. Anyway, you are absolutely right to persist. I would make a short list of the most bizarre incidents and give it to all docs involved

Happycamper,

My former MIL was diagnosed with AD about 6 years ago. About a year after that, I started having some serious memory lapses. So, my paranoia kicked in & I went to PCP & then neuro for testing. All I got was a "possible" AD. But then, other things started happening: hair loss, unexplained weight gain, lethargy. Further testa showed serious hypothyroidism. (normal range 0.6-6.0 - mine was 139. MD said I should've been in a coma, but I told her I was too mean!) A few years of incorrect thyroid supplements helped produce something else - Lupus. I've now been on modified meds about 4 months & finally see minor but positive changes. Point is, there are a number of things whose early symptoms mimic one-another.

Keep pushing for tests to get an answer - endocrine system & adrenal gland function among them. I hope to God you get a different diagnosis like I did. That's not to say AD won't rear it's ugly head eventually, but at least for now, it feels good knowing I can fight these 2 things. Good Luck!