hello
my dad and i just found out yesterday that he has AD. he is only 57. i am a wreck with this diagnosis. i have no idea what to expect and have so many questions. how long until he no longer remembers his family? i am the sole caregiver. my brother and sister live too far away.
the dr. put him on exelon patch. he started it this morning. has anyone had good results with it and if not what are you/your family member taking? how long will this medication slow the progression?
if anyone can help me understand all this please respond or send me a private email.
thank you so much

autum250@yahoo.com

I took Aricept for 4 years before it quit working then I was put on Reminyl at my request.Tnee was changed to Razadyne the generic name is Gaslentimine I take 16 mg per day & I'm doing fine.I was retested 5 yrs ago & instead if Alazheimer's I have Vascular Dementia. I'm doing quite well after all this time.I was dx at age 57 with AD but am 69 now........

Hi autum, Welcome to club, and sorry that you find yourself here. There are a number of good resources to help you and your dad understand and cope with the diagnosis and the changes that come with these diseases. The alz society has a 24/7 hotline that you can call for help and advice. Read a variety of the posts in the forums to get an idea of the range of experiences that members of the forum have dealt with. Your MD should be a help in understanding, and if not then ask for a referral to a experienced neurologist. I would also strongly suggest that you and your dad talk to an elder lawyer to get the financial and legal paperwork in order. Your dad needs to name name a dpo and make his advanced directives known. On a slightly different note, my dad found exelon very helpfull, early on he said felt blank without it, and alive with it. Not everyone can tolerate individual medications so a good doctor is a good doctor.

Dear autum,
Welcome to these message boards. It's wonderful that you are stepping up to support your father. Many family members are in denial until it is too late.

I am 59 with neuro-cognitive lupus. I began having a fairly sudden onset of memory loss over about 3-4 months in 1987 when I was 37, was diagnosed as depression/anxiety and put on anti-depressants for about 6 years. After that time I was diagnosed as lupus and started lupus meds. The memory loss persisted. I had some other neurologic symptoms also. Over the past 2 years I sought more evaluation as I was having more trouble functioning. What I've been told is that a lupus antibody damaged my brain. I started Exelon patch 4.6 mg/day 1 month ago; 2 days ago I increased to 9.5 mg/day. I have noticed an increase in my daily functioning and some increase in memory.

Exelon and Aricept help, but do not cure, dementias. Not all patients respond to these medications, and there are side effects that have to be monitored. There are also lifestyle changes that are crucial for the Alzheimer's patients to maintain their early functioning.

You have come to the right place. The people on these boards know the most about Alzheimer's disease and the related dementias because they live with them every day. We are positive and inspirational, and even funny at times. If your father can use the internet, please invite him to visit us. We would love to hear from him. Of course, you are welcome to return here to post or to post on the Caregiver's message board.

I hope to hear from you and your father soon.

Iris L.

Hi Autumn, thanks for joining our incredibly caring and intelligent community!

I'm so sorry about your dad. I was diagnosed about 2 years ago, currently I'm 54. Think of it as AD, with an extra helping taken from frontal lobe functioning.

What kind of symptoms is your dad having? I think we'll manufacture some medicine soon (I can hope!) that will stop progression, which is as good as it'll get until we figure out prevention.

In short, if he remembers you now, there's a good chance he'll remember you for many years to come. Getting on the right meds, working on any needed lifestyle changes like healthy diet and exercise, will help a great deal.

Re: meds, I take Seroquel for some of my nastier complications, and my memory drug is Namenda. I wasn't tried on Aricept & the gang, I have too many features of some sort that make me a poor candidate for those.

I'll wait to see what questions you have, after you digest all this and respond. I hope your dad will join, and chat with me & others on the more disease-oriented sites, I Have Alzheimer's & Alzheimer's Under 65.

Meanwhile, I have a joke for your dad:

A very worried man was at his doctor's office, to get test results.
The doctor said, "Bill, I'm afraid that you have two serious illnesses."
Bill gasped then said, "What's the first one?"
Doctor: "I'm sorry to tell you Bill, you have lung cancer."
Bill: "Lung cancer?? Oh, no!! That's horrible!! What else do I have?
Doctor: "Bill, I'm afraid that you have Alzheimer's disease.
Bill: "Alzheimer's?? Oh, no!! Not Alzheimer's! Oh, well . . . at least I don't have cancer.

Hey Alan

Good one! Have you got any more jokes, could sure use one tonight!

M

LOL, Alan!

Iris L.

I'm trying to think of another, but that's the only one I can come up with. I'll work on it. Meanwhile, I wonder if anybody else reading this has one?

thank you all for your responses. my dad does know me but just has problems remembering things. he will go to the store and once he gets there he forgets why he went. stuff like that. he has been telling stories of his past lately also. is that a sign or symptom?

thank you all so much. i am finding alot of info on this sight!

autum

Dear Autum,
Hello and welcome. I'm sorry to hear about your Dad's diagnosis.
Perhaps your Dad is just reminiscing about the past? It may or may not be a symptom.
Please, read all you can about EOAD. Call your local AD Assn for help and support. (go to the bottom of this page and click on "Chapters."

If you need any immediate asistance, please call the AD Helpline @ 800-272-3900.

You are NOT alone. We are here for you.

Please, keep coming and posting.

Autum, tell your dad I said to watch out, telling all those stories about his past means he's developing "B.O.M.S." pronounced like "bombs."

It stands for "Boring Old Man Syndrome!"

Autum

Don't listen to Alan. He just had a birthday and is feeling the effects of it! Be Nice Alan1

Perhaps he is reminiscing. If he is confused, it's all he can think about. Alzheimer's for early onset takes our newest memories first. Then, it takes those that are a few years back.

Don't be afraid. Ask your dad questions. Have him start a journal. It will also be a place for him to reference specific events,times and days of the week. In other words, help him remember his short term events that are lost to Alzheimer's.

You may want to contact an Alzheimer's Organization in your neighborhood. Believe me, they are knowledgeable and can inform you of what to look for and how to behave with your dad. He will repeat himself! He will forget conversations! Please don't loose your patience with him. Love him, after all, he's still dad.

Good luck to you. You may want to show him this website, as he may want to communicate with all of us who are afflicted with this disease!

I am now 50. I was diagnosed at age 49 this past August, 2008. It is what it is...don't be afraid, love him.....

M

Happy Birthday Alan!

I knew this day was coming but I forgot the date.

Many Happy Returns of the Day! May you keep your wonderful spirit and wit for a long, long time!

Iris L.

Alan,

Here's a good joke for you.

A Chicago man and his wife were listening to the radio one morning when they heard the announcer say, "Forecasters are calling for 8 to 10 inches of snow today. You must park your car on the even-numbered side of the street so snowplows can get through."

The wife went out and moved her car.

A week later, while they were eating breakfast, the radio announcer reported, "We're expecting 10 to 12 inches of snow today. You must park your car on the odd-numbered side of the street so snowplows can get through."

The wife went out and moved her car again.

The following week, they were eating breakfast and listening to the radio again and the announcer said, "National Weather Service is calling for 12 to 14 inches of snow today. You must park..." Just then the electricity went out.

The wife was very upset and with a worried look on her face, said to her husband, "Honey, I don't know what to do. Which side of the street should I park on today so the plows can get through?"
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With the love, understanding and patience in his voice that all men married to blonds soon develop, the husband replied, "I've got an idea, why don't you just leave your car in the garage
this time."


I used to be a blond but my hair is now either falling out or turning grey.


Autum250,

Check my post under EOAD earlier symptoms for today. I listed some things you can do to help your dad.

Mark of Idaho

I'm a gray/blonde but, I can blame my empty headness on Alzheimer's!

I liked your job though....

M

Here's one,
A couple who both have AD were watching TV together late one night when the wife realized she was hungry for a caramel sundae.
"Would you mind going to the kitchen and fix me a caramel sundae? I have a sudden craving for one especially with a cherry and whipped cream on the top," she requested of her husband.
"Sure thing dear, I can do that for you," he replied while getting up to head for the kitchen.
"Don't forget the cherry with whipped cream!" she yelled as he left the room.
"I won't," he reassured her.
After some time in the kitchen he finally returned and presented his wife with a corned-beef sandwich at which point she examined it and excalaimed, "I just knew you'd forget! There is no mustard on this sandwich!"

Hello Autum, my name is Tom and I want to WELCOME you to this board that is designed for people like you and I!

I’m sorry to hear about your problems. As you have already read, you and your dad are not alone. In June of 2008 I was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s related dementia. I began visiting this message board in August and the people have become important to me. I’m sure that you will find many more supporters here for you.

I will attach a link to a site that will lead you to your local Alzheimer’s Association
Chapter. Those people will be able to assist you with local resources and thoughts to improve your life:

http://www.alz.org/apps/findus.asp

Please call the 24/7 Helpline at
1-800-272-3900 if you have any pressing issues!

After this initial posting you might find the "Care Givers" forum.


Please come on back to visit us soon!

Serenity Prayer
God grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change;
courage to change the things I can; and wisdom to know the difference.

Good one Noel

OK, finally remembered my other AD joke:

Two elderly women were having lunch together, as they often did over the years. Finally, one spoke up and said, "I'm sorry, but I have to admit that I can't remember your name! Please, what is it?"
The 2nd lady glared at her friend for what seemed like forever, till she finally said, "How soon do you need to know?"

Two older ladies were out for an afternoon drive around town. The driver blew through a stop sign, then at the next intersection, she blew through a red light. Her friend yelled at her and said, "What are you doing? You just went through a stop sign, then you went through a red light!" She looked back at her friend and said, "Was I driving?"

Iris L.

Iris, that one made my face hurt, it's so funny!!