I at stage 3 or 4 but my neuro tells me I'm "doing well" on the medications, which is I why I posted the last inquiry. I feel kind of useless not doing anything and just waiting for whatever is going to happen to happen. I asked her (neuro) the time between stage progressions and she smiled and said, "Hopefully, a long time." I share the hope but, since I feel good most of the time, I sometimes think I'm wasting my time going to the appointments every couple of months. Any similar reflections or am I rambling? And when are most of you guys on line? This forum posting has a tremendous time-delay doesn't it?

Hi FDean,
You sound like you are doing really well! I was just diagnosed with EAOD, been on ss disability for 2 years with other problems. Maybe you could volunteer. I try and stay busy.
I joined the YMCA and do swim aerobics 2xweek. I also tried out Buddhist Meditation and I think I like it. I try ro exercise as much as I am able, it calms me down for awhile. I started taking Namenda 2 weeks ago, so far nothing. My memory is really not that bad, it seems to go in and out. I am glad you are feeling well, i hope it lasts for a very long time.
When you go to your neurologist every few months does she constantly test you? I am volunteering for a research group. Whats the worst that could happen? My death sentence could be pushed up a couple of years!!! Have a great rest of the day, hope to hear from you.
Jordan

Jordan: Thanks for the note. I feel like I'm doing well, which I'm told is part of the FTD. But, I feel like working at something, maybe volunteering is good idea, but I can't drive because of my doctor's restrictions. I'm probably delusional with the idea of working, but I'd like to try.

As for my neuro, she checks the medications, does a few general office exams and I have blood tests every six months. I've been on the Namenda for almost 2 years and the Aricept as well. I have done well with them. I don't think they "help" your memory as much as the stabilize and/or slow down the progression of the disease. I think I'm right about that. I've joined two research groups and they were ineffective. In fact, my neuro told me get her approval before participating in any studies in order to obviate any problems with the meds I'm taking. Good luck with your search and with the meditation. I might try that.

Fdean, I think it would depend on one's particular symptoms. For instance, those of us with irritability problems might not work out, but a more placid symptom set could . . . well, be a Greeter at a large store, perhaps?

Hey guys:

I just saw my neuro and my shrink yesterday. Apparently I'm delusional (my comment) to think I can work. It's just frustrating to be so sedentary. I guess I'm not doing as well as I thought I was. I'm having an Pet-scan next week and some blood work. Ain't life grand?

Fdean,

Hang in there.

Please, let us know what happens!

Hello and Welcome to all the Newbies,

I am sorry for what brings you here but I am glad you've found us.

Please, share your story with us. Perhaps we can help?? If not, we're great listeners!

quote:

Originally posted by Fdean:
Hey guys:

I just saw my neuro and my shrink yesterday. Apparently I'm delusional (my comment) to think I can work. It's just frustrating to be so sedentary. I guess I'm not doing as well as I thought I was. I'm having an Pet-scan next week and some blood work. Ain't life grand?

Hellp Fdean,, my name is Tom and I would like to add to the welcoming committee! I believe I (along with may other onb this site) understand your flustration completely. I isn't fair. We got cut down in the prime of our careers. All we can do now is to keep a positive attitude as that is our major live line. Ouyr attitude effects everything else we do.

I would like to take part in this but I'm having problems understanding it. I have been on medication for about 1 1/2 years now but had lots of problems before getting to the right doctor. Maybe today just isn't a good day to try and figure this out.

Dear Cbartells,

Hello and Welcome to the AD Message Boards. I'm sorry for what brings you here but I'm glad you've found us.

You're doing great by posting your 1st post. You're in the right place. Can you tell us a little more about your self and your situation?

How can we help?

From today's NYTimes.
http://www.nytimes.com/2009/08...istof.html?th&emc=th

What an awful solution.

Dear Mimi,

Thanks for sharing that story.

How awful is right! Our government should be ashamed as well as all the politicians involved in this Healthcare Mess!

Hello to All the Newbies and Young Onsetters,

Welcome to the AD Message Boards! Please, come and join us. Share your stories with us. Perhaps we can help you. If not, we're great listeners!

Come and join OUR Family!

hello everyone Djsarg Here. Things are going ok with me. the lady from the Alzheimers Association came to my house and talked to me. THEY ARE GREAT PEOPLE!!! she told me about a thing call :safe Return" its is a great thing to have when you get to wandering off like me and get lost. I didnt even know there is a thing called "silver alart" its like a amber alert but for people that maybe wander off or missing. Anyhow the program isnt free there is a cost for the service. they were so kind they paid for it for me with a grant. I am telling you they have a wealth of info and help aval if you havent talk to them you sure should!! Hey you all have a great weekend and ROCK ON! Love you all! DJSARG

DJ, congratulations on the good home visit, you were due a break.

About the wandering: I haven't had any of that so far. What can you tell me about it? Is there anything about that time that you can later remember?

What seems to lead up to an episode? I.e. worn out, thirsty, or maybe nothing you can identify?

When someone finds you, how does that feel? And after that, if you remember, how does home look/feel to you?

Anything? I'm just so curious about it.

Hiya Alan,
i remember parts of it. I been lost 4 times. One time i broke a arm, one time i had a TIA and the other two times i was found in differnt cities. It hard to remember what i do remember comes back when people start telling me what they know happened.
Have you or any one heard of "sundowners" i was told that it is a part of Alz. Please dont take this as fact just what i was told. But every time i have wonder off it was at night or when the sun was going down and coming up. i get real confused around that time and have a hard time remebering is it morning or is it night. from what i was told that on each time i wondered off some thing startaled me, like a dog chasing me when i stop to try to find home, the car alarm went off, the home alrm went off when i was walking out. I guess the short of it is for me it is worse from dusk till after dawn. i know sounds wierd but that me, lol. About the progam i spoke of is with the ALZ assocation and the fokes at medicalert. its called safe return. they will have everything a police, fire or ems would need if or when found. it has a number that is ingaved on the bracelet assigned to you with a number to call, they will have a photo of you all your meds and mediacal issues as well as your emg contact names and number. if your family find that you are missing. they have a toll free number to call with the same id nunber. they will start the calls and notify all the local fire ems and police. and the police can issues whats called a alart like a amber alert but for poeple who get lost ect.. like a person with alz. I am not tryn to get them bussness or anything i just want to make sure what i find out and helps me might help some one here. please feel free to ask me anything, that is why this is here right to shair info and for support. call the toll free number and speak to the alz hot line they can sure help you. God Bless and take care.. oooo p.s. the radio station let me back on the air dj'n from home. they added a 10 second delay to my broadcaqst so if things did go wrong no one will know but me and the owner. i so love my music. lovs ya all hugss kisss ^5's alround.. DJ Sarg

quote:

Have you or any one heard of "sundowners" i was told that it is a part of Alz. Please dont take this as fact just what i was told. But every time i have wonder off it was at night or when the sun was going down and coming up. i get real confused around that time and have a hard time remembering is it morning or is it night.

A real DJ??? Cool!! What music do you play, or is it a talk show?

I've been told that it's appropriate for me to say that I sundown. Not every day, and not always close to sundown. But, I do have a radical personality change, with little if any memory of what happens then. I get hostile, extremely so before I was put on Seroquel. Now I'm not a threat to kill somebody, but I still get verbally nasty, and use perverse and condemning language that I don't even say in my mind when I'm at my best.

I haven't wandered so far. But there's something inside me that says I need to pay attention to it, like an intuition that wandering is in my future. I don't feel that way to other symptoms that I don't have yet.

im on the air now on wildman radio.. i will bbs

Alan I play anything and everything. i have from grapal jones to beat your heard on the wall till.. well you get the point. yES ME TO Alan it seems like it comes and goes. some of the tiggers i can tell you i know for me. STRESS, it seems to happen when i am stressed out. loud noise when im confussed, makes me run away ( like a dog barking and running, the house alarm, ect..

I also have wide open all over the place moods. Like some times i think people i know or are my friends are stealing from me, NOT TRUE. and yes a the same outburst's. I think some of it caused (in me) some times i feel so stuiped, helpless, scread,ect.. and i hold it in till i just cant stand it anymore. The doctor put me on anti-depress. i havent noticed a change myself.

the real bad thing about wondering off Alen is when i have hurt myself, ran out of O2 after walking MILES looking for a car that i didnt even have. It took hours for them to figure out what had happened and who i was. i could have easly died that morning. I had no ID nothing. The had a team out looking for my car and they thought i had ran off the road and was hurt. They thought there was others in the car hurt. now where that all came from i havent a clue.

I have no way of known it will happen. we place the loveseat it front of the door at night with notes saying call or get angel so she can help me figure things out. double lock all the other doors. i just want to stay home Man i just want to stay at home not a home.

But on the up beat part I was on the air tonight did a three hour set, had a great time it all went well. i love music it is my way of tuning out the world and relax there is music for every mood. I some times play music in french, spanish, some people tell me they dont understand the song. i tell them shhhhh close your eyes feel the beat the voice infection thats all you need to understand the music. ok got to run. ROCK ON!

Hey DJ,

Sounds like you need to check out "MedicAlert & Safe Return," Please, go to the bottom of this page and click on "MedicAlert & Safe Return" and follow the steps.

Good Luck.

Keep on Rocking On!

woohoo Lisa wow its great to hear from you. I did call the Alzheimer's Association about the safe return. The Nicest Lady came to my house to visit hope it ok to tell her name (Denise) from the Greater Indianapolis (Indiana). We talked about that safe return program and i just couldnt afford it. Denis told me that they had a grant to help people pay for the program and wow she filled out those papers and they paid for it all. I already recieved my ID tag and card for my walet. Lisa you probly dont remeber but Thank you for telling me about the hot line. THEY ARE GREAT PEOPLE! Everone should check it out, its well worth the money and if you cant afford it call your local alz group bet they will help you!

I have one question. i seem to be forgeting how to spell things and it seems like most the people i see out like at the store i know them but i cant put a name with the face.

Got to run now. ROCK ON!

Dj,

Good to hear you're on the program! You must wear your ID always!!

Glad to help.

Keep on Rocking on.

Hi DJ^Sarg,
I too forget peoples names. It goes with the territory. I have no problem saying. "I have memmory problems and just can't remember your name." It's never been a problem.

Enjoy playing!

well i was on the air today doing my 4 - 7 pm today. it didnt go very well i just got realy confused droped all three streams ( dead air). The Boss was there to pick it back up. i dint want to go on the air after that. i was so very embressed about it all. but blanco (the boss) told there wasnt anyway i was not as he said get by butt back on that horse and move on. So i did the 3 hours and felt better that he was so understanding. He did send out a memo to all the staff explaining what was going on and that i would always be welcome to dj for him no matter what. omg the feeling of him saying that was like a little piece of heaven.. Now thats a true friend, to risk people tuning another station for me, wow. Way kool.

Im sorry i repeat myself but i just to tell people to call the hot line they have contacts and well if they can help you bet they will!!! I just cant find the words to thank each of you for all your help and suport. Even if didnt reply to one of my post's you still help me. I had the luxury of learning from your experance;s and what worked for you. SO YES THANK YOU ALL!! Rock ON!

O by the way. on the 21st i will be doing a 3 hour set on the radio all three hours in suport of the cause for the 21st.for the memory walk. all my friends are going to wear purple.

So if you guys would like to tell me what tunes you think would be good to play during the three hour set. i have over 22,000 songs and can get about anything with in seconds for please help make it a very special set for me let me know ! ROCK ON! DJ^Sarg

quote:

i seem to be forgeting how to spell things and it seems like most the people i see out like at the store i know them but i cant put a name with the face.

Hey dj, good question about the different kinds of memory problems. Let me try to explain this:

There's the memory problem caused by losing the actual memory.

But there's also the problem where the information is still in memory, but your connections to it are damaged.

Tunes I'd like to hear: "Reeling in the Years," "Don't Stop Believing," "Hey, Joe," "Tied to the Whipping Post," "If I Could Turn Back Time," "Leaving On A Jet Plane," "No More Tears," and on and on I could go!! Play what your gut tells you to, can't go wrong.

WoooHooo wow great tunes Alan, i have them all. It seems like everyday i learn something new about alz. Some good some not so good. But everyones life is like that in one way or another, good times and bad times.

Im not sure if its is allowed or not, could someone tell me if i can post the url for my special set today 1 - 4 P.M. EST. so those who may want to can tune in on thier computer. Remember to day is the memory walk, Chin up and a purple tie. Gosh im way to happy for this early hours lol ROCK ON!

is everyone ok? Havent seen any post's for awhile now. Hope All Is Well With Everyone.

Hey DJ,

This is the Newbies Welcome Site for "Alzheimer's under age 65."

Most of the time it's just newbies that post her. But I'm doing ok. How about you??

You may want to "Start a New Thread" to ask how everyone is doing or start a new topic!

Keep on rocking, DJ

Thank You Lisa. Glad ya are doing good.

djsarge, I just came across this thread and wish I had found it earlier so I could have heard your radio broadcast on World Alzheimer's Day. How did that go for ya? Did you get a lot of response?

Are you having trouble finding your way around the message forums?

Hope you don't mind, but as Lisa has stated this thread is for new ones to the site to introduce themselves. I've started a new thread just for you to post your updates here:

http://alzheimers.infopop.cc/e...11002361/m/556106212

Hope this helps.

Sorry Becky I dont understand what you mean about theads things. I had a great set that day.. the turn out was great. thank you for asking.

djsarg,

Each discussion (topic) under the Alzheimer's under 65 forum is called a thread.

This thread is a welcoming thread, not a general discussion thread. You can start a new discussion (topic)by clicking on the
"Start a new discussion or poll" link at the top in purple.

Hello and Welcome to All the Young-Onsetters,

This is your forum. Ask what you want. Talk about what you're interested in. Tell us your stories!

We're all in this together!

Again, Welcome to OUR family.

Hello,

I am 28 years old and my mother, who is 53, was diagnosed with early onset several years ago. She is now in stage three and not doing very well. I am writing today because my father and I are the care takers for the time being, but the day that she will need something more is quickly approaching. Not to mention, I am on unemployment and looking for a job and I'm not sure where that will end up being. For now, I am at home with my mom most of the day. My dad doesn't really want to deal with the fact that she needs more help during the day and I cannot be the one to do it for long. He owns his own business and has to be at the office all day, every day. I feel guilty about the prospect of leading my own life and not being at home to help, but I also know my mom would not want me to see her like this. This has been such a weight on my shoulders lately. Any help, advice or streams to follow would be greatly appreciated.

Best,

Kelly

KellyM,

Hello and Welcome to the AD Message Boards. I'm sorry to hear about your mom but I'm glad you've found us.

I was diagnosed at 53. It was hard on my daughter, too. Your Dad needs to get POA's and all the legal stuff done while your Mom can still make some decisions about her future.

Actually, This is your Dad's thing. You need to find a job and go on with your life. Yes, you can help but this is NOT YOUR responsibility! Do you have any brothers or sisters who could pitch in and help? What about other relatives?

Perhaps you need to contact your local AD Assn for help and Advice??

Go to the bottom of this page and click on "Chapters" and follow the directions.

If you ever need immediate assistance, please call the 24/7 AD Helpline @ 800-272-3900.

You may, also, want to post on the "Caregivers site" too.

Good luck. Please, let us know how you all are doing.

Welcome to OUR family. You are NOT alone. We're here.

Hi my name is Sierra and I recently turned 18. My father is in the process of being diagnosed with Alzheimer’s, but it’s pretty obvious that’s what it is. I just recently left home for college too far away to come home every weekend, and since I left he seems to be getting worse much faster. My mother is not willing to help with anything, and I have a sister who is 11, and a brother who is 14. Before I left for college, I did most of the housework, and drove my siblings, bought and made the meals, etc. and now that I’m gone, my Dad was supposed to take over, but that isn’t going well. Has anyone been through a situation like this? I’m not sure what I should do. I feel like I should be doing something, does anyone know?

Dear Sierra,
I wish I were closer and could just hold you in my arms.
Please, right now, call the Alzheimer's help line and talk with some one.
1-800-272-3900
You need help with your burden.
After the phone call, come back and we'll talk some more.

Hi, Thank you for your response.

I did call the hotline awhile ago. I talked with a very nice man who basically told me that I need to find someone else to help me, family and such. I understand why he said this, but I really don't have any family that would be willing to help, and I know I'm going to have to do this on my own. I just don't know what to do now. He also told me to send my Dad's doctor a list of his changes, but that is hard, considering I live so far away. My Dad is an awesome person who is completely different now and my brother and sister don't understand why. I'm scared to tell them, because they will definitely be devastated. My Dad doesn't know what's going on. I don't even know if he noticed all of the changes as a problem yet, so I'm very on my own, and I just don't know what I'm supposed to do. I feel like I should be doing more.

Thanks again,
Sierra

Wow, Sierra, what a load you have already done.

Has your dad applied for SSDI yet? He needs to. Maybe AD association can point you to some resources for help getting it done.

With some income replacement, maybe you can find a home care person who can carry some of the load. Does your family belong to a church? Sometimes, they can help, especially while you get the rest figured out.

I guess your mother is busy with a career. Your brother and sister need to help pick up some of the load, if only to lessen the load they put on the family. My kids were doing their own laundry when they were in elementary school. It was how my wife got them to be more responsible for their clothes.

Maybe the next time you get home, you can take them somewhere where you can privately talk with them about this. They may think it is more than they can handle, but without a father to depend on, they will need to take some personal responsibility with their own growing up. It appears that you already have. GOOD for YOU!

My wife and mother both lost their fathers at a young age. They tell about how the family was able to weather the times. My wife was 9 when her dad died. She raised her two brothers as her mom worked. Her ability to organize and maintain a household is amazing. We raised three kids together. They all learned from her experience as a youth.

If your sibling just take on take on the part that applies to themselves, the workload will be greatly lessened. They can even rotate helping with meals. For the short term, they could possibly help/oversee your father with meals. He is likely still capable, just not reliable. This will be their last chance to spend time with Dad.

They likely have school friend families that can help with the transportation needs.

Just ask, you will be surprised with the willingness of others to help.

Thank you for responding, and I definitely heard what you had to say. I will consider each of the options you gave me. Unfortunately, my mother is not busy with a particular career, she actually just doesn't care. I won't go into depth, but the is the ultimate opposite of helpful, loving and caring. Were running out of parents. I will look into the options you gave me.

Thanks!
Sierra

Hi Sierra,
I'm glad you called that number. Think about what Mark said. He has good ideas. Can you call your father's doctor and talk with some one there. Some practices have a social worker on staff (only a few), so ask to speak directly to the doctor. If they give you a hard time, explain that there are circumstances you want to discuss with the doctor. Ask if you can e-mail him? Get a time to call.

If church is not an option, (and really think, have you any connection to any church?) What social services are available in your area that you can contact.

Also think about who at college you can talk with. There should be some kind of a office you go to with problems. I don't see how you can do your college stuff with your worries. There is help, you just have to find it.

And your siblings are old enough to be told.I'm sure they've been noticing things.

How about relatives or dad's friends?

Sierra, I am so sorry to hear the rest of your story.

Yes, your siblings are old enough to understand. You might want to tell them with the help of professionals or a support group. Find a support group for families of AD parents. You may find a grandmother type who has already lost her AD husband who can take you under her wing. There are some amazing people out there if you can just find them.

My Mother-in-law would be one of those. She buried her husband due to AD six years ago. Since, she has done elder care for a home care agency.

My mother is the same way. My dad passed away from AD 2 1/2 years ago.

Asking at local churches or other social setting where seniors meet would be a good start.

As Mimi said, check with your school to see if they have any support for you.

This is a really hard thing to say, but it needs to be said. Maybe your school can defer your tuition and admission to next semester. You will be better prepared to study knowing that things at home are working better. You sound very capable.

A few months at home to get the wheels in motion could be a great investment of your time. You could meet with the local social services agency and arrange the programs for your dad. Social Services may be able to get your mother involved more. This also might be an important time for you to spend with your dad while he still knows you.

Finding that special grandma type to help you would be well worth it. There are plenty of senior types who do not have local children and grandchildren to spend time with. They are often eager to adopt a local family.

My wife and I have a few families where we go to 'hang out' with their kids so mom and dad can have a date night. The kids look forward to us as a much better option than a babysitter.

I have hang out duty this Friday afternoon with a 2, 5, and 8 year old.

You are asking the right people the right questions. Now you need to find the local people to ask for the help you need.

Sierra's To Do List

Call Alz Assoc to find a support group.
Call Social Services to find what they can do to help.
Contact Senior Services/Legal Aid to determine if you need to set up Power of Attorney or Guardianship. Your mother's unwillingness to help may become a problem of her getting in the way, financially or otherwise.
Bring your siblings into the group to understand.
Check with school to see if they have any options for you.

There are four objectives for you.
1. Your siblings' care.
2. Your father's care.
3. Your family's financial situation.
4. Your own care. Don't let yourself get over loaded.

Did your father ever serve in the military? If yes, the VA may be able to help.

Did your father ever work with toxic chemicals or heavy metals? A good attorney may be needed.

I know this is a lot of information to understand.

Print out these comments so you can read them later. You are going to be growing up very fast. You can do it, especially if you are willing to be bold and ask others for help.

You have already made a great start.

My best to you.

I wish my 27 year old daughter had your strength. She has disowned me because of my dementia.

Welcome Sierra.
You have received excellent advice from Mark and Mimi S. The main thing is to understand that you cannot handle your situation by yourself. You are dealing with your father, your mother, your siblings, and you are just becoming an adult yourself.

The advice given to you to work with your father's doctors is good advice, but it will take time. From your post it seems like your situation is becoming critical. You can call Social Services for your city or county. If the situation is not yet dire, you have time to make plans. You need a professional who can assess your family's home and help your family make decisions.

Sierra, I have to be blunt. Since you are not living at home, and since your mother or father are not capable of caring for your younger siblings, if another relative can't step in then the children will have to go into foster care. Foster care was set up to handle situations like this. The welfare of the children is the first priority.

You are not the only one in your situation, Sierra. There is a 21 year old woman who is also caring for her siblings while caring for her grandparent with dementia. She visits the chat room often and she goes by Brittany06. I would like for you to meet her.

Sierra, what's before you may seem overwhelming but you can do it. But you don't have to do it alone. Be insistent about getting help. There are many people who will help you in your community and online. Take things one step at a time and get the help you need.

Please post back and let us know your progress. We are always here for you.

Iris L.

Thank you all for your advice.

Sierra

You're welcome. You've come to a caring place. keep in touch.

quote:

Originally posted by Chuck Jackson:
Yes, there is a growing number of Early Onset Alzheimer's Disease. I am one of them. DX at age 50 in 2004. I follow in my mothers and brothers footsteps. The real tragedy with EOAD is that it can still take so long for a person with symptoms to get a proper diagnosis for the disease. Many Doctor's still do not believe that a person younger than 60 can have Alzheimer's Disease.
My diagnosis was based on a well documented family history of the disease and the advent of some very puzzling occurances in my private and professional life. I thought that I would see signs closer to 55 rather than age 50.
It is very important for those of us who have been properly diagnsosed to speak up; and tell our stories so that we can educate others about this disease. Please if you read this, and have questions, please feel free to ask about the effects of Early Onset Alzheimer's Disease on the family and the patient.
chuck

Dear Chuck,

Are you willing share what the early puzzling symptoms were in your professional and private life? They could be helpful to us and others. Thank you for considering this request.

quote:

Originally posted by Alan in Colorado:

quote:

i seem to be forgeting how to spell things and it seems like most the people i see out like at the store i know them but i cant put a name with the face.

Hey dj, good question about the different kinds of memory problems. Let me try to explain this:

There's the memory problem caused by losing the actual memory.

But there's also the problem where the information is still in memory, but your connections to it are damaged.

Tunes I'd like to hear: "Reeling in the Years," "Don't Stop Believing," "Hey, Joe," "Tied to the Whipping Post," "If I Could Turn Back Time," "Leaving On A Jet Plane," "No More Tears," and on and on I could go!! Play what your gut tells you to, can't go wrong.

Alan, your description is so great..."the connections to the memory are broken." And it's not just conceptual memory. It's process memory that gets interrupted, too. So, when communication is diminished, perhaps the mind is still working....it's just the messages don't come out. Thanks.

Hiya Noahlurv, thank you i have your requests in the stream for today. I add requests when i am not on the air a few times to try and make sure everyone's requests gets heard by who requested them.

Have you ever looked up some of your requests, bet ya didnt know just how meany covers there are of some of the songs. Please check the sarg update board for some special's coming up on "OUR" radio stream. Keep the music playing!

ROCK ON!

Hello Newbies and Young-Onsetters,

Welcome to the AD Message Boards. I'm sorry for what brings you here but I am very glad you've found us.

This forum is for you. Please, ask what you want to know. Vent your feelings, fears, anxieties and joys here!!

Welcome to OUR family. You are NOT alone. We are here!

Please, share your story with us!!

My wife has just returned from Mayo Clinic and after some extensive testing was diagnosed with early onset. She is 59 with symptoms dating back over three years. She has not had any idea of a diagnosis leading to Alzheimers.Not only does she oblivious to the memory loss and cognitive difficulties but gets very defensive when anyone... medical or layperson... brings up these difficulties. Right now her self esteem is shattered and she feels her life is over. It's tough to know how to support her. All she keeps telling me is that I can't relate because I'm not the one being told "I don't have any brain left." She still functions well. goes running daily, doesn't drive but cooks. She is self employed as a seamstress and puppet-maker. She has forgotten how to make some of her puppets and has been experiencing some small motor difficulties. We have recently moved to this town so have no real support. My first attempt to find a local support group a few months ago was not successful and I have been sooooo overwhelmed with my new job I've just been hanging on. Now all my love wants to do is "Take the cat and run away." And I feel pretty overwhelmed, not sure how best to help. She insists I tell NO ONE because then everyone will think she is an idiot. I feel like it is crucial to share this with our family and friends so we can have their love and support. I have told her that she is NOT alone, there are 5.3 million people living with Alzheimers, we don't have to go it alone. "Yeah but they are not me." Is her response. Thanks for letting me vent. It is a start.