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Alzheimer's Disease
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HopeFloats
Regular Member
Joined : Missing Key Value : en-US, 587 2005
Posts : 123
Posted 3/29/2009 5:24 PM (GMT -7)
Hi -

My husband who turned 50 in December was diagnozed w/AD about 3 weeks ago.  We have twins that are 13 years old.  He has had Lyme Disease for about 8 years although we think he had it longer but it went undiagnosed.  A PET scan showed that he has it and I was wondering what can I expect - if he hadn't had the scan we really wouldn't have known at all.  His Lyme Disease is neurological - his neurologist has put him on Aricept and Exelon. 

I am wondering about time and if anyone can give me ideas on how long each stage can last -

Any input or insight would be greatly greatly appreciated. Also are these two meds a good combination (Aricept 10 mg 1x day, Exelon 4.6 mg patch 1 x day).

Thank you all - I AM sure this site will become one of my life lines.

Hope Floats

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janet s.
Regular Member
Joined : Missing Key Value : en-US, 577 2005
Posts : 67
Posted 3/29/2009 8:15 PM (GMT -7)
I wish I knew so much more about Alzheimer's disease to help others and to help me learn more about both my elderly parents who have it. It is so sad to see a parent get old and turn into someone they're not. They make things up, insist on doing things they can no longer do, and as it progresses it's even worse. Of course, I am sure this disease is the worst for older people. My mom is 86 and my dad is 91. They can't communicate well anymore, or hear each other, or know when to get out of each other's way while using their walkers. My mom is starting to get lost using her walker. Thankfully, they live in an AL and have a great aide.
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Howlyncat
Elite Member
Joined : Jan 2005
Posts : 24909
Posted 3/30/2009 3:09 AM (GMT -7)
Welcome to you
Hope Floats
There are so many threads that are full of info here for you to read and I
KNOW that all the family here will be of the best help they can to you in this time
it is a horrid DD and you will need this forum for luv.....caring ......support

I know it has been my lifeline for so long now............

Stay with us and vent all you need to
I am sure it may help a bit
Also know you are not alone
I have brought some helpful threads up for you ......

LYN

**Fixing typo's

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HopeFloats
Regular Member
Joined : Missing Key Value : en-US, 587 2005
Posts : 123
Posted 3/30/2009 4:15 AM (GMT -7)
Thanks Lyn,

I do not see the posts - can you help me

Do you have any idea on stages and how long they can last???

Thank you again - our family appreciates it, especially me......

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Red_34
Forum Moderator
Joined : Missing Key Value : en-US, 579 2004
Posts : 23581
Posted 3/30/2009 4:34 AM (GMT -7)
I don't think anyone can tell you how long each stage will last. Some people who get AZ have it progress rapidly and in others it can take a while. The medication that your husband is on is meant to slow down the progression but there is no cure - unfortunately :(

But I want you to keep this phrase in your head for the future:
Your husband is STILL in there.

This has helped me tremendously when my grandmother came down with AZ. She is an assisted living center right now but she used to live with me for 4 years. I was taking care of her and as she declined I had to keep telling myself that she is still in there.

Definately come back and post as often as you like with questions or concerns. I know this forum helped me immensely with my grandma.
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Howlyncat
Elite Member
Joined : Jan 2005
Posts : 24909
Posted 3/31/2009 6:38 AM (GMT -7)
There is threads on How Caring For A Loved One Affects YOU.........
Power Of Touch
What Do You See?
Plus many others
The threads are up towards top for easier finding

I hope this helps

LYN
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tyno3
Veteran Member
Joined : Missing Key Value : en-US, 580 2008
Posts : 1081
Posted 3/31/2009 8:07 AM (GMT -7)

Dear Hope Floats: I can't give you answers either, I can only share a little of my experience. Both my Paternal Grandmother, and her son, my Father, were/are afflicted with Alz. Both  began to show signs quite early, like around age 50 -55. I first noticed my gramma when I was in my twenties, she would talk about the "little people who came at night and moved everything around, so she couldn't find stuff'. I tried to pin her down on it, did she mean the grandchildren, "heavens, no" says she, these are evil little folk who come when I'm asleep, the grandchildren, are always asleep then, too". what it was, of course, was she was burrying things, hiding things in odd places like flour in bathroom hamper, that sort of thing. She was always kind and pleasant, except she reserved her anger for the little folk. Her husband lived to be 94, and took care of her right till about six months before he died, when we got services in for her. She lived another two years dying at 92. At the final stage, the worst of her symptoms were quite playful. She would wait till someone wasn't looking and steal food off of their plates. Keeps xmas and Thanksgiving interesting.

My Dad, he began letting my stepmother take over everything at around age 55. He began to tell the same stories over and over again. He began misplacing things. The biggest problem was, he was phobic of doctors and it was hard to pin down what was really going on. He continued to deteriorate, at an uneven pace, like he'd become more and more forgetful, then he'd have times when he seemed very much his old self. He is currently in a fairly modern facility which allows dementia patients free range of the facility, my choice, big time. I took care of him myself the last 2.5 years before placement, placement was by the Police and local Adult protection agency, b/c he was becoming combative and after three police involvements, they put him in for 72 hours observation, and was then transferred directly to a facility. I had imput into which facility, I was given several choices. Come to find out this past February, he has a golf ball sized tumour sitting in his head putting pressure on his amyglia. Ergo, the acting out, intimidating, aggressive behavior. Because he feared doctors so much, he refused the Cat scan ordered two years prior, otherwise they might have caught it earlier. I don't think that would preclude the alz. however, he would still have dementia, regardless of the tumour.

My Dad is happy where he is. There are lots of men in that facility, and he is very popular b/c he is really hilarious, always was, and they all follow him around waiting for what will come out of his mouth next. He is in the best possible situation. i can get to him in twenty-five minutes and tend to all his needs, pay his bills, etc. It is a difficult but rewarding journey, many run away from it. I don't recommend that course of action. Come here, get all the supports you can, cry alot, beg a lot, be firm with authorities, you are his advocate. They are making great progress with managing alz. the only thing to fear is fear itself.

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SnowyLynne
Veteran Member
Joined : Missing Key Value : en-US, 579 2004
Posts : 1539
Posted 3/31/2009 9:05 AM (GMT -7)
Hard to believe a Dr is giving Exelon & Aricept together.Aricept & Namenda but not Exelon.........
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tyno3
Veteran Member
Joined : Missing Key Value : en-US, 580 2008
Posts : 1081
Posted 3/31/2009 9:48 AM (GMT -7)
Is it a bit scarey when docs say, it works, but we don't know how or why it works. This is pretty flimsy science. My Dad seemed to do well on Aricept but was changed to Reminyl, after he threatened to drive a bulldozer through the doctors office. Probably no correlation. I found the Reminyl (just my observation) caused him more agitation, however the unknown brain tumour was in play simultaneously.

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SnowyLynne
Veteran Member
Joined : Missing Key Value : en-US, 579 2004
Posts : 1539
Posted 3/31/2009 2:00 PM (GMT -7)
I have been on Generic Razadyne (was Reminyl)for 8 yrs......Still doing well......
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tyno3
Veteran Member
Joined : Missing Key Value : en-US, 580 2008
Posts : 1081
Posted 3/31/2009 4:33 PM (GMT -7)
Awfully glad to hear that SnoweyLynne. I don't really know, with my Dad how much erratic behavior is attributable to the disease process and what's caused by the tumour. That really took me blindsided. I was dealing with him in one way as having alzheimer's and then to hear "Brain Tumour, size of golf ball, been there for some time, inoperable." It oddly; isn't a sad thing as he is happier, now, than I ever remember except as very small children when he put together amazing Christmas's for us, full out, hundreds of lights, a room full of presents, until my mother became so sick, mentally ill. Then everything went away. Well, I guess we all have good and not so good memories. My dad will be trumpetted out of this life in Grand Style, you watch me, now.
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