Is it just my state?
I've been having memory problems for a couple of years.
Includes sometimes not recognizing where I am while driving, dicing eggs when I want to make deviled eggs (all kinds of wrong treatment of eggs!), staring at an onion because I didn't know how to cut it, getting lost on familiar trails, leaving eyeglasses on night table when I get up (have worn glasses all my life and never done this), not being able to make sense of numbers on clock when I wake up at night (not recognizing it as a clock, I guess), Saying the wrong words..
example: someone sees a bird in a bush and I said "a bird in the bush is worth 2 in the head". It makes some convoluted sense, sure, but it NOT the right phrase. (don't feel bad for laughing because we all did)
I get close to, but do not use the right words all the time.
So...being told by a counselor that these are not normal aging things, I went to a neurologist.
I had the Montreal test, and got a normal score with the memory questions being the ones I missed. They gave me hints on 2 or 3 words (had taken this online several times and was familiar with it) Dr. said he thought my problem is depression due to dysfunctional family Chaos surrounding the care of my aging parents.
Dr. ordered a brain MRI and it was normal.
Dr. also ordered the extensive dementia testing with neuropsychiatrist.
I am waiting for 9 months for this appointment and am on a cancellations list but have not heard from them so far.
I was ready to blow this off as, yes, depression, but keep having memory problems when I am feeling good. I was blaming my husband for leaving cupboard doors open...and it took a good month to realize it was ME.
I am feeling much better this year because I switched meds, but still memory issues.
So is the long wait to see the experts something that is widespread across the U.S.? I had also called a university memory clinic. They told me I was too young for their program, and even with a doctor's referral it would be a 6 month wait.
I just want to get this testing over with. It is no wonder people don't get diagnosed early if they can't get in to get tested for a year. And next May will be a year since I first asked for an appointment with anyone.
I do keep a diary. Opinions of drs are mixed whether this is stress/depression or the start of something.
We are getting ready to do an estate type will and I am clear & have talked to husband about my wishes, what to do, where to live, etc if I develop a problem. I've been around a lot of people in poor health, several with dementia and have seen the difficulties it causes families.
Luckily, I am not currently working. But these problems have affected my life anyway.
It really just seem to be the lack of doctors here that will do the big long neuropsych test. I'm on a waiting list, but when things settle down here, I am going to call them anyway and check again.
Sorry for the short answers ...was out of town with one of my parents dying & we still have funeral family chaos to get thru.
Best wishes, and I am impressed with your desire to get this investigated, rather than ignoring it.
Really there just not enough geriatric internists or specialists, I got my mom to be seen within days as she had torn her rotor cuff and the orthopedic surgeon would not do surgery on her unless she had cleared a geriatric review for being cognitive and competent for dealing with post surgery rehab. She got a priority appointment cause of surgery Pending by his request. Otherwise it likely would be 9 mos out.
if your not keeping a diary of things, please try to. It will be helpful as I’d bet there are patterns are forming. My mom was Lewy Body Dementia and on retrospect she really had all the classic symptoms.
I’m wondering if maybe your having aphasia starting rather than Alzheimer’s or Lewy. Aphasia really affects language skills. If your job is real visual or sensory - like your a hair stylist, graphic designer- or you’ve had the same job forever (like you’ve taught 3rd grade 20+ years, so you have a system in place) it might not be apparent that aphasia is creeping in. As you can work almost on autopilot. I have a decades long BFF who has primary progressive aphasia & got finally diagnosed at 60. She noticed things were going amiss & more than stress related missives. It’s very different than my mom’s Lewy Dementia was. I’d see her every 3-6 months for a few days past 20+ years and I could notice the change obviously really just last 2 years or so; but if you just ran into her and had the usual 3 min casual conversation you didn’t notice it.
Google aphasia and see if it fits some of your episodes.