Vascular Dementia.

[Deejim]

Hi I feel in limbo at present. I have been having all the symptoms of Vascular Dementia but have been putting it down to other things. In the last few days my daughter who lives with us at present, (a 45 year old registered nurse) say she feels we should be talking to the GP about the above. I have been doing a lot of research online and its a bit frightened. I was a community care manager before I retired and know how v.d/Alzheimer's can impact on the sufferer and carers. Maybe I should just wait to see GP when holiday is over. It's useful to hear other sufferers and carers views. Dee

[sassy59]

If you are concerned then please get an appointment to speak with your GP. He can then set the wheels in motion for tests etc.

Good luck to you xxxx

[Hidden]

Yes, do see the doctor as soon as you can. There are medications that can slow down the progress of dementia if taken early enough.

[MAS_Nurse]

Hi Deejim, and welcome to the forum. As sassy59, exhaustedwife and your daughter have advised, please make an appointment to see your GP. It may help you to write down your concerns to take to the appointment. Looking for information online can sometimes increase anxiety, so please see your GP first and stay on this supportive forum. Do any other members of the forum have any suggestions to help Deejim, please? Happy New Year to you and best wishes.

[Deejim]

Thanks for your replies, Yes I know I should seek GP advice, but I hate going out, hate being under scrutiny by doctor, and don't know if I want tests, as I know the could come back positive. Also need to dodge around daughter's commitments. Bit apathetic at present, and I know that's a symptom, I will also need to make a GP appointment and that's not easy. Dee.

[Barbnken]

Please please please see you GP. I was also very concerned about my husband because I wasn't sure what was wrong. Since his diagnosis last June I have been able to more understand why he finds things difficult to do. It's given ME peace of mind and we no longer have stupid tiffs about inconsequential things. I wish you and your family a peaceful New Year.

[Hidden]

Hi Deejim,

It is a really scary thing, and it probably feels more comfortable to stay away from doctors and pretend there is no problem, but the thing is that ignoring it will not make it go away.

The longer we avoid a diagnosis for any condition usually means that the long-term outcome is generally less positive and that does also apply to things like vascular dementia. There is help out there but you need a diagnosis first. It’s easy to scare ourselves online with Dr. Google and that’s far more frightening than finding out for sure what’s really wrong.

So try to screw up your courage and make that GP appointment. You could get assurance that things aren’t as bad as you fear, but if it is what you fear, you’ll have more courage to face it when you know exactly what it is that applies to you and not just a list of online symptoms that are just generalities. Make this your number one priority for 2018!

[Wendy_J]

As with the others I urge you to go and see your GP, I understand the fear and worry but the more you know the more you can do to plan and help you make the most of things which can only be good for you as it will give you control over things and bit of piece of mind for your family.

[Deejim]

Thanks Wendy.

[AliBee1]

Hi. As the other people who have replied have said, please see your GP. If your daughter cannot take you then maybe a trusted friend could come with you. The problem with the internet is that not all the information is correct. My husband was initially diagnosed with Vascular Dementia but the way he behaved just did not fit in with what I had read and so I wrote everything down so that when we went to see the consultant he had a really good picture of what was going wrong and he was finally diagnosed with a rare form of dementia, not vascular, and some liver problems, but then the right course of action could be taken and things improved. It must be very scary but things are always better when shared and when you know what you are dealing with. Good luck.

[Deejim]

Thanks Alibee, I am trying to get an appointment with GP but its not easy. My daughter has a couple of days off next week so lets hope we can do something then.

[chadd]

Hi Deejim, your daughter is correct your GP should be your first port of call, while the internet is a good source of information the prospect of possibly having dementia for whatever reason can be very frightening, some time ago I myself had a THAT or initial stroke but because I have always been a fairly active person my oxygen supply to my brain and other organs was good but that was more by luck than judgement. You will be better getting professional advice because the symptoms though they are explained in detail on the net can only be confirmed by professional diagnosis if a person is vulnerable it can have a terrifying affect on that person's life. Please take, e your daughters advice. Chadd

[graham2512]

Think most people live in denial for as long as possible as there's no cure or effective treatment head in the sand seems a good idea as you're daughter is a health care professional perhaps you should as she suggests it may be a relief to know what the truth is xxx

[Deejim in reply to graham2512]

Thanks Graham, yes you are all so right and I thank you for that. I am seeing a MH Nurse who is going to be helping me reduce my antidepressant next week and will ask her advice. We have just bought a retirement flat and moved half an hour away from last home so haven't met GP yet (there is only one!)