Dementia Support Group

HELLO; i am new to the group. I have been diagnosed with MCI mild cognitive impairment and early memory loss.

I have trouble keeping relationships going because I dont remember to keep in touch or forget conversations I have had with other people. I am very socially inactive except I do attend a early memory group one day a week. I drive a distance so I dont know if I will be able to keep attending once the winter hits here in Michigan.

I turn 60 years old on Monday November 17. I am embarrased around others and cant seem to keep a conversation going.

I am concerned about my quality of life and how this will progress since I am so young.

Has anyone else had experience wilth experiencing early memory loss at such a young age.

Looking for support from others.

lmyers23

I am so sorry for having problems so young. I would advise going to the dr. and seeing if he could give you aricept or something to help slow down the memory loss. Maybe you should keep notes to help you remember things.

Welcome and know I am here for you.

Hugs

Lori

singingangel; Thank you for being there. I am sorry for the loss of your mother.

It is alright. When she died last year she had even forgotten how to eat, and then to even breathe. She is no longer suffering.

I am sorry I didnt type more. I have to share a computerand hubby gave this to me very late.

I am not sure what to tell you about having a conversation. Maybe someone will have an idea. Know here no one will have a problem if you forget something. This is a caring group. The alzheimers site is a nice group also.

Take care. See the doctor. Make sure you write down all your concerns first.

Hugs

Hi, I don't post over here very often, but I did want to say that while in-person interactions are more difficult for you at this point, on mdjunction, you have a written record of everything you said and everything that other people said. It won't completely substitute for doing things in-person, but it can help to widen your circle of friends.

In person things are harder. I have watched both my Grandparents go through what you are facing and it is really tough. It is probably harder for you than it was for them because you are facing it much younger, and they could always play it off as their age showing.

My Grandma had a lot of the same reaction that you seem to (and I probably will when it comes my turn) to be embarrassed and withdraw from social situations. My Grandma couldn't withdraw completely because she still went to church with my Grandpa and he LOVED to talk to everyone. The nice thing about seeing the same people over and over is that eventually, even though she didn't always know who they were, they knew her and knew that she couldn't remember them so they would introduce themselves every week and save her the embarrassment of having to try to figure out.

I would suggest that you reach out to a few of your best friends, or old friends if you have withdrawn from them, even if you can't remember to do it regularly and explain to them about the memory problems, how it has effected you and see if they would be willing to call you sometimes to chat. My guess is that once they know that you are having medical problems, they will be happy to support you any way they can, including being understanding about some memory lapses. You would support them through their medical problems too (you might have already), it is just part of friendship.

I hope some of this helps. I know you are in a very tough situation.

Oh, I almost forgot, Happy early Birthday!

Happy Birthday. Sorry I didnt know. Celebrate and have lots of fun.hugs

Dr. Alzheimer only performed two case studies. He died during the second study so the medical world was compelled to name Dementia after him. The truth is, no doctors know what Alzheimer's is. They say it's a plaque on your brain, but what is the plaque.

Dr. Alan McDonald has studied Alzheimer's extensively and found (in one study) that 70% of the autopsies he performed were actually the Lyme spirochete in cyst form causing the Alzheimer's.

He has since found that up to or more than 90% of all Alzheimer's is an infection of some sort, but mostly a spirochete like Lyme or Syphilis.

Both of these can mimic other diseases like MS, ALS etc... I am 36 and have bouts of horrible dementia. I have two PET scans to support Alzheimer's, but I also tested positive for Lyme. In true genetic Alzheimer's, dementia rarely comes and goes.

I suggest that all dementia sufferers get checked by a "Lyme" specialist, not an Infectious Disease doctor (stuck in paradigm). Especially if the dementia is accompanied by any other symptom!

HELLO; Singingangel; I have been attending a group of people who have different phases of early memory loss.

Many of the people who attend are much older. We spend an hour doiong brain games as a group, suduko, anagrams,etc. I also try to do word games at home. The remainder of the time we have a speaker come in to talk about various aspects of alzheimers. I have not been diagnoses with it, but I have mild cognitive impairment, which my neurologist says may never turn into alzheimers.

The last time I was at group, two members took over most of the discussion of the group. I felt left out because when I started to say something , one of the group facilitators would interrupt me. This became very frustrating because I have trouble finding the words to express myself.

I left the group early as a result. I am just feeling alone and want to find a good fit to get the support I need.

Thanks for being there.

Sorry that group didnt work out. I read even taking walks can help. Do the games, read, and do some walking or exercising.Mabe that will help. Know we are here for you. You are very welcomed here.

Hugs