This is Day 2 of my travels thru learning about Alzheimer’s while on my way to the, “Walk To End Alzheimer’s 5K” which is coming up on November 1, 2014. Today I’m diving into the top 14 Symptoms of Alzheimer’s, these are the top symptoms that I’m seeing posted on many of the Alzheimer’s sites which I will list at the bottom of this post*. In listing these symptoms it does not mean that everyone that comes down with Alzheimer’s is going to go through each stage listed here and then others may go through a stage that I didn’t find or list. I apologize in advance to those of you that have a symptom that’s not listed here. Feel free to send me your symptoms and I will be glad to update my post to help others that may read it later down the line.
SYMPTOMS
Memory loss that disrupts ones life. - Challenges in planning or solving problems.
- Difficulty completing familiar tasks at home, at work or at leisure.
- Language problems
- Confusion with time or place.
- Trouble understanding visual images and spatial relationships.
- Repetition, repeating stories, routes or even books
- New problems with words in speaking or writing.
- Misplacing things and losing the ability to retrace steps.
- Decreased or poor judgment.
- Withdrawal from work or social activities.
- Hygiene issues if any hygiene at all.
- Changes in mood and personality.
- Odd behaviors
As you can see most of these are really self-explanatory and I don’t want to take up much-needed writing space. To read more details about each of these symptoms and at the same time be able to download an Alzheimer’s Early Warning Check Sheet which is made possible by the Alzheimer’s Association click on or go to the following link, http://www.alz.org/national/documents/checklist_10signs.pdf. Once your done being evaluated by your primary care physician they may send you over to see either of the following specialists; Neurologist who specializes in the nervous system and diseases involved with the brain. A Psychologist who has the training needed to test ones memory and other mental functions. You may also have to visit a Geriatrician or a specialist in the caring of older adults and Alzheimer’s. Then finally, a Psychiatrist who deals with issues which affect ones mood and the workings of the mind in general.
If you or a loved one is experiencing any or several of the above listed conditions, please visit your general practitioner as soon as possible. It would advance things in the emergency room or even the doctors and specialists offices if you take in a one or two page sheet which has all of your insurance information, emergency contact information, medications, allergies, etc. I have added a sample copy below for you to take and work it to fit your needs. If for some reason you or your caree has enough going on with them medically try using the most recent 4-6 month with of data on your hand in sheet** If you feel it necessary to have a secondary sheet that picks up the earlier medical history that is fine if requested by the doctor. I came about his figure when going over mom’s information sheet at a recent appointment and both doctors felt 4-6 months worth of data would be enough. I hope this helps you when going to a medical appointment or into the emergency room. Thank you for tanking the time to read my blog. I look forward to any and all comments, suggestions, tweaks or thoughts you may have.
* Information contained herein was obtained from several internet we sites with the main two being: http://www.alz.org/ http://www.webmd.com/ ** MOMS MEDICAL INFORMATION
Born: 5/21/1946 CAROL B. SMITH Primary Care McClellan AFB
Social #: 123-45-6789 Physician: Dr. Travis (916) 733-3333
Emergency Contact: John Smith (916) 123-4567, POA & Son
Jane Smith (916) 890-1234, Sister
CURRENT MEDICATIONS SURGERIES
Medication Dosage Number Per Time of Hysterectomy
Day Day Gall Bladder
Alprazolam (Anxiety) 0.5mg 2 am/pm
Baclofen (Spasms) 10mg 1 am/pm R – Knee Replaced
Bumetanide 0.5mg 1 am/pm L – Knee Replaced
Cetirizine (Zyrtec) 10mg 1 pm Lung Drain & Scraped
Citalopram HBR 40mg 1 am Double Heart Valve
(Crestor) 5mg 1 pm Replacement w/ Bovine
Vitamin D 2000mg Daily Pace Maker Inserted
Ferrous Sulfate EC 325mg 1 am Right Femur Broke
Fluticasone Prop 50mg 1 am (Plate & 7 Pins Inserted)
Fragmin (Shots) 18,000iu 1 Daily
Furosemide (Lasix) 40mg 1 am/pm
Gabapentin 300mg 1 pm MISC. ITEMS
Iron 1 am/pm
Lisinopre 2.5mg 1 Daily Moms Neurologist, Cardiologist &
Loratadine 10mg 1 am Podiatrist are located in the
Melatonin (Sleep) 3mg 1 Bed David Grant Medical Center,
Paroxetine 20mg 10 am/pm Travis AFB, Travis, Ca.
(Anti Depressant) (707) 423-7499 Office
Potassium (Klor Kon) 10mg 2 am/pm (707) 723-2900 Fax
Singular (Roxane) 10mg 1 Daily
Sprivia 18mg 1 pm
Spironolactone 50mg 1 Daily
Tramadol HCL 50mg 1 4-6 hours
Veramyst 2x Each Side
Warfarin (Coumadin) 25mg 1 Daily
Xopenex (Inhaler) 2x Each Side
TAKES FOR ALLERGIES OLD MEDS
Clarinex 120-2.5mg 1 As Needed (AN)
Claritin (Amiodarone) 10mg 1 am/AN
Ferrous (Celexa) 324-325 As Needed
Gluconate (Coreg)
Zocor (Fenofibrate) 10mg 1 As Needed
Levothyroxine
ALLERGIES
Ampicillin Horse Fly’s Percocet (Itching) Tramadol
Bees Microdantin Red Wine
Dillaudid Morphine Scented Soap
LAST UPDATED: 10/4/2014
(FYI – THE INFORMATION SHEET IS UNDER MS EXCEL AND UPDATE MINIMUM, MONTHLY)
Namaste’,
Richard K.
PickYourPain@att.net
AUTHORS BIO:
Richard is a trifecta caregiver, along with his wife he cares for himself, with Chronic Back Pain which he’s had for 21 years. He cares for his brother in-law, Robert who has dealt with Epilepsy his entire life now lives with Richard and his wife. He also advocates for his mother who has various cardiac related
issues, severe hearing loss and other medical issues. You can read about his experiences with chronic pain and how he deals with his mothers and brother
in-law’s issues on PickYourPain.org or at Caregiving.com. He is also involved in several of Caregiving.com’s support groups and chat rooms, he is co-host of an internet based radio show about caregiving. Richard is also a patient adviser, board member for Intake.me which is working to improve the intake process at
medical facilities. Richard has three adult children who despite them having to deal with his medical issues growing up,he says,“They have turned out better
than I’d hoped for.”
iCareTalk.net 