My husband has been recovering from major surgery all summer, so we are seeing quite a bit of him at home 24/7. He has a busy medical career otherwise, and we see very little of him. He is in his mid-50's.

Several things have happened recently that just seem waaaaay off for his personality, starting with his supervisor sending him out on medical leave early for throwing a tantrum in the office. Computer glitched, he slammed the desk and began yelling and cussing. Free pass to a summer of medical disability - stat. He has always had an explosive temper at home, but he's not physically violent with us - just loud and mouthy, swearing etc. Nobody really takes it seriously and he calms down pretty quick. But that's the first time it ever happened at work.

He's been seeing a psychiatrist for "depression" and is taking meds. Personally, I don't think "depression" even begins to cover it, but what do I know?

My husband loves to cook and knows his way around the kitchen. But TWICE last week, he forgot and left a pan with his breakfast on the stove . . . the home filled with smoke, and those of us who woke up, took care of the mess and tracked him down. He was outside one time, and in the garage another time. He was actually shaken up enough to honestly ask me if I thought it was ADHD (which he has) or Alzheimers. We've both worked extensively with Alheimers patients, so I found it interesting that he would hone in on *that* possible explanation to the exclusion of others (stress, pain pills etc). Makes me wonder if other things are happening that he is worried about and not telling me.

Another thing. He gets sudden, radical, abrupt, MEAN personality changes. He's never been an overly touchy-feely guy, but I'm talking out-of-the-blue viciousness and near violence. After the episode passes, he looks scared and realizes he's crossed lines. I tell him I worry that there is something cognitive going on - some kind of brain glitch causing this sudden behavior change.

He doesn't disagree with me. Just looks scared.

What were your family members like during the earliest stages of Alzheimers? Can you look back now and pick up clues you may not have noticed at first?

TIA,
Shannon ;o)

P.S. DH had knee replacement surgery - absolutely nothing to do with the brain or central nervous system.



Edited 2 time(s). Last edit at 08/17/2013 05:19PM by shannon.

But these questions are better directed to a health professional. This does not sound like just a combination of depression & ADD (personal experience with both, direct and indirect.)

Perhaps he should be tested for early onset dementia.



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 08/17/2013 05:27PM by serena.

I'm not a person that knows much about anything medical. I've never been around anyone with Alzheimer's.

I have had 3 friends that had brain tumors. Your description fits what they were dealing with.

I don't want to scare you, and hesitated to say anything because what do I know? NOt much. But it does sound a bit familiar. Maybe he should have a brain scan done just to put you both at ease.

I have done years of research in the field. LEt me give you a few easy test that may indicate early demetia:

Have your husband count in sevens, start him a random number like 56. See his reaction and if he can manage or forget the task.

Tell him 3 words. Like pencil, tree, chair. tell him to remember those and and that you will ask him those words ifa few minutes.

Have him spell the word "world" backwards.

asl him certain dates like your birthday, your wedding date, who the president was when you married. If they are things he shold know, take him to a neorulist for further testing, I can recomend you the best in Utah.

Ask him th tell yout the 3 words.
if he has a hard time with these tasks, ask him to do easier things like write on ap iece of paper and put it in an evelope, ask him where the stam goes and to adress it to you.

Usually the onse of demetia is hard to peg. The patient will begin with memory slips, like forgot to bring home the bread or got lost a familiar place or loses keys all the time or repeats themselves.

if you need more infor let me know.

Okay, you're scaring me. I can't remember who the president was! I was too busy trying on wedding suits and looking at flowers and saying "Yes, dear, anything you want." I can't even remember who was Secretary of Commerce! Help!

The funny thing about your post is that he gives those tests to seniors everyday! I still think I'm going to sneak them in and see how he does.

;o)

I'm in my 30s and could only remember 2/3 words two paragraphs later!

Yes. What you have said is very much like what my husband and I experienced with someone we were very close to.

He had very early-onset Alzheimer's.

He would accidentally set himself on fire repeatedly (he smoked), and (in a later stage) would "steal" food from his children (sandwiches and cookies, etc., prepared by their housekeeper) and think himself very clever for wresting their food from them.

In a much earlier stage (at the beginning of the process), one of the "odd" things he began doing was bitterly castigating my husband for "having no sense of humor"--and a robust sense of humor is one of the things my husband has always been famous for.

This very close friend of ours was a writer, and he would stand by the file cabinets which held his many manuscripts, point to them, and say, with great, dramatic, Boris Karloff-type deliberation: "I...used...to...write...stories...like...those."

He died in his mid-thirties, one of the youngest (at that time, anyway) victims of Alzheimer's.

I am very, very sorry. You have no idea how sorry I am for you and for your family.



Edited 2 time(s). Last edit at 08/17/2013 05:54PM by tevai.

My BIL has memory issues: drives to meet friends for dinner in town and does not remember any of the 17 mile trip there when he pulls into the place.

My sister started researching "brain chemistry".
A woman Dr. found great restoative properties with pure coconut oil...you can find her story on line.

The essential nutrition can change the brain chemistry.

We have a lot of toxins and electronic waves going into our bodies. It is making our immunue systems work hard.

There are also some surprising findings of what could be causing the brain chemistry to change.

Nutrition can help slow it down.
Get into a Dr. the brain scan sounds like a good start.
Please note: I am NOT a registered medical health professional.

Only people who are members of the AMA and licensed are by law, allowed to give out medical advice...especially for money.

But go read the findings on brain chemistry and how to improve it by nutrition..a few nutritional suppliment boosts can help.

Also trace minerals....and B-12....good luck.

My BIL forgot the warm ashes he'd gathered into a small metal bin for dumping. My sister found the ashes after the warmed container had scorched the rug!

I think you know it's time for some very thorough check ups. Something is going on. Now to find out what it is and how to treat it if possible.

The problem I have seen, personally is the specialized doctors divide up the body into such small sections of expertise, there is no doctor coordinating all of it and catching the gaps.

The GP, as we know, is the one who should be the coordinator, putting all the little bits and pieces together (sometimes literally!) S/he should take the initial history of the issue at hand and then refer to specialists if need be. Even then, the GP should implement or at least continue the treatment plan suggested by any specialist/s. If more than one specialist is involved then the GP, again, should coordinate all the specialists and their advice.

You have to watch for effects of multiple meds and their contraindications. You have to pay attention to any acute medical issues first and then address others in order of diminishing priority.

The only exception to this GP-first model would perhaps be an internist, who would do all of the above, plus lend expertise re meds, and look at the whole picture (which, as SQ says, other specialists likely don't do).

So, GP first, and go from there. And as a great supporter of the "you are your own best advocate" school of thought, the patient and pt's family can act as back-up to the GP's over-sight as well, asking questions and making sure that things get done, as well as learning/knowing the patient history, their med list, and their symptoms as well as past and current treatments, and what helps and what doesn't, etc.

Thank you nightingale . . . of course! It's the GP. He's being followed by ortho, psych, P.T. etc. but I bet it's been a long time since he saw his regular doc. Good advice and I will insist he follow through.

;o)

I echo the advice to seek medical help (which I always do, I know) and which I know you will do anyway, as you're so clued in that way.

If the meds are a new Rx (like, only since the surgery) especially narcotic pain meds, the temper issues *could* be related to those. It may happen when he is a longer way out from his last dose (i.e., ready or overdue for the next dose). Of course, this is not ideal and should be discussed with his MD. (He may need a new Rx or a dose adjustment or maybe he's addicted or addictive, etc).

Could it be temper flares from sleep deprivation (maybe due to pain)? Sleep deprivation can severely affect one's mood (leading to temper flares as well as going the other way, into depression) and personality (sudden changes easily noticed, as you're describing).

Could he have an occult infection (from the surgery)? This can also have detrimental effects, aside from the purely physical problems related to underlying medical issues, if any exist.

Even something like a bladder infection can cause cognitive symptoms, although there would likely be other, more obvious, symptoms too, but this depends on age. Often in the more elderly a bladder infection can go undetected at first and cause a misdiagnosis of memory impairment, confusion, etc. (Not that I'm saying your husband is elderly!)

As for the psychiatrist, s/he may be unaware of some of the ?new? realities with your husband and may not review or change meds or re-evaluate diagnoses unless made aware of the changes that are concerning you both.

I would swiftly seek medical advice on all of the above, especially due to the safety concerns for the family and for your husband himself.

My uncle had very early onset Alzheimer's (in his 50s). He was known in the family as a gifted academic. He worked as a professor at a London/U.K. school. He was always a bit "different" in that he was distant and seemed moody and none of us kids thought he enjoyed our company, etc. It was hard to talk to him as you always felt you needed to provide intellectual conversation, not always easy for young nieces with such an uncle. He was a very handsome man and had a wonderful huge laugh that showed off his beautiful teeth, which is an aspect of him that I always noticed and enjoyed. He and I had some kind of connection in that through high school I sent him excerpts from my favourite poems and he sent me postcards from all over the world where he travelled as a Lieutenant in the Royal Navy.

The last time we visted the UK before he was diagnosed I did notice that he was giving odd answers (even for him) to simple questions and he reacted with some anger to some of my non-confrontational comments. We just put it down to the usual - that Uncle C was being Uncle C (a bit off and challenging to make conversation with).

His diagnosis was made while he was still working as a professor due to him needing medical leave because of not being able to keep up with all the marking requirements. In retrospect he was confused and couldn't keep the marking and student records straight. It was a terrible time for him and my aunt when he ended up being let go, as he had always been so high-functioning and productive. The MD once remarked that he wasn't formally diagnosed until later on in the disease progression due to his high IQ and history of being so highly functioning, which made his test scores artifically high (thereby resulting in him consistently testing high/normal for a longer time than may otherwise have been the case).

When I visited a few years later, when we knew his diagnosis, he had deteriorated markedly. The police had called my aunt several times due to finding him on the railway tracks. Initially they thought he was suicidal but she thought it was just him getting lost. I guess we won't ever really know. I found out that my aunt was allowing him still to drive and against my better judgement got into the front passenger seat when we went out one day. I was terrified because he drove so fast, way over the speed limit. I observed that he couldn't stand to have any vehicle in front of us and for as far ahead as he could see he thought he had to catch up and pass them. I thought maybe it had something to do with spending so many years on the high seas when he could see a clear horizon, or something.

My aunt didn't want him to lose his driver's licence because he loved to go for drives and for her, it was the ultimate in him losing his independence. Also, I believe, when you live with someone and see them all the time, you get used to gradual deterioration and may not note how severe it has become.

It was one of the hardest things I've ever had to do to take my aunt into the GP's office and gently suggest that my uncle shouldn't be driving. The MD was shocked as he had thought, I guess, that my aunt would have put a stop to it long since. He told her that as of then his licence was revoked (he had to send in the paperwork as it's not really in his power to implement that). I felt guilty for a very long time that I was the one that caused Uncle C to lose his licence/car/enjoyment of life, although I knew it was a serious safety issue, for my aunt and uncle but also for the driving and pedestrial traffic out there. My aunt was only finally convinced when I asked her if she wanted her ill husband to end up killing someone. Not a good legacy to contemplate.

Another thing was that he suddenly started craving ice cream, as much as you would feed him. My aunt was concerned about him gaining weight and so she would argue with him (arguments don't work with A's patients!) that he shouldn't keep eating ice cream. I said I thought she could ease up on that as did it really matter so much about a little weight gain. So she did and that stopped at least those arguments and the ice cream made my uncle happy, at least.

He developed a blood disorder (I don't know the diagnosis) which caused a lot of pain. It wasn't connected to the Alzheimer's. It was very upsetting to us all. Like he didn't have enough problems or suffering? That was his eventual cause of death. A mercy at the end as with Alz it can be lingering, as we know.

I guess I'd suggest that a medical opinion is definitely the way to go, quickly. Then of course, just dealing with the day to day from there. It *is* frightening, any such symptoms or even just the thought of such a diagnosis. But not knowing sucks too. So, that's where I'd start.

I'd say, as a word of comfort, that *usually* it's the simplest explanation. My money for now is on the Rx's. That is what I'd check out right away. And go from there. Good luck to all of you.



Edited 3 time(s). Last edit at 08/17/2013 08:01PM by Nightingale.

Yeah, I would look at the meds being a large factor... Only a DOCTOR will know.

Definitely get him to a doctor to have a full evaluation. There are other conditions/diseases with similar symptoms to Alzheimer's and some are treatable. I just read a news article in the past two weeks about someone who'd been misdiagnosed as having Alzheimer's. I wish I could remember what their actual condition was . . . .

My grandma had dementia/Alzheimer's. We noticed when she began forgetting to take her glaucoma medications properly. There was also an incident with leaving a pan on the stove. She was very obstinate that there was nothing wrong with her and she refused to go into a nursing home for a number of years.

I have no experience with this so no helpful advice. A lot of people have chimed in which I'm sure will help.

Shannon, I do want to let you know that I'm thinking of you. You've had more than your share of s**t over the years and this would be just one more thing to add to it. You must be a pretty tough woman to manage it all. I know it's hard and it sounds like it just got harder. Your RfM buddies are here as always. Wish there was something I could do to help. :)

TG

Is he worse in the evening versus in the a.m.?

Does he remember past events better/in more detail than more recent/current ones?

Has he begun calling close friends and family by other, mistaken names, or simply stopped referencing them by any name at all, when talking about them with you? Instead, he has begun describing them by saying what they do, where he saw them, or how he knows them?

Has he recently begun "lying" to you about what he does/where he is when you are not with him, what he's spent or eaten, who he sees or talks to, which seem like very silly lies, or wholly unnecessary ones? I mean, in situations where if the answer was yes, or the opposite of what you expected him to say, wouldn't have made any difference to you whatsoever, either way--and he would have known that is so, in his more normal state?

Not a doctor, but did have an elderly relative with the disease, worked in an eldercare setting for many years, and also had a MIL (and do have a nephew) with a different brain disorder.

He might be covering lapses of memory in these last two ways. And in the first two, showing signs of increasing mental fatigue as the day goes by, and inability to handle complex processing of information/memory while he struggles to stay in the moment and remember what is happening right now.

Have him checked for physical/organic disease, have the Drs double check his meds, and gently suggest, given his asking you about it, that he be tested to see if he has any signs of decreasing mental acuity.

Particularly important to me, are his tantrums and the context in which he's having them.

Good luck. I wish you nothing but good news, from here on out.

I don't know if he's on pain meds, but they can cause memory loss and cause someone to have anger problems. There are some people that when they hit around the 50 mark have a lot of problem with pain meds. I would take a look at that first if that's the case.

Big time pain meds: Morphine and Percocet.

But he's a medical professional and his first thought after nearly burning down the house twice in one week was ALZHEIMERS. Why on Earth would that pop in his head unless other stuff was going on that he wasn't sharing with me???? He *knows* narcotics can cause personality changes etc.

;o)

Could be post-surgical psychosis, also known as ICU psychosis.
Note that having been in an ICU is not necessarily what causes it.

Have your doctor evaluate the pain meds he was sent home with.

I wish you and your husband the best. I am caring for my mom with Alzheimers. She started having lapses in judgement that were manifest with her sending thousands of dollars to telephone scammers. Then being very worried and paranoid that people were coming in her house and taking things - or sometimes - leaving things! I hope there is a better diagnosis for him since he is young. Sending you good thoughts.

My wife has early onset Alzheimer's. Her father died of regular Alzheimer's a few years ago. We noticed many things similar to what had happened with him--repeating same questions multiple times, not remembering her age or the ages of the children, getting lost driving, etc . . . She didn't want to see a physician because she "didn't want to know." But after further deterioration, the children and I insisted. It was really tough to get her to go in. There is no definitive test for Alzheimer's--it is diagnosed by process of elimination (it can only be diagnosed with certainty after death by examination of the brain). Although our geriatric psychiatrist (who specializes in dementia) tells us that her diagnosis is 90-95% certain, based on PET scan and other input.

While at the end stages, Alzheimer's can be truly horrible, so can a lot of other diseases. In the middle stage, where she is now, it is not so bad. She is happy, laughs a lot, doesn't wander, is not belligerent, has an almost childlike innocence. Of course, her forgetting who I am, much of the time, was really hard to deal with at first. But then I remembered that my new grandson (7 months) doesn't really understand how we are related either, and I love him just the same.

In many Metropolitan areas, there is exceptional support available for Alzheimer's patients and their families. I have been surprised how much help is available, and how much it helps me deal with things. I wish this kind of support had been available for my mother in law (or that she had found it) when she was caring for my father in law.

Of course, everyone has an opinion about Alzheimer's and how to cure it. It takes a while to get used to just smiling and thanking people as they give me advice or even free samples of this cure or that.

There are many many things that can cause Alzheimer's-like symptoms, some causes can be treated, some cannot. I hope this is one that can be treated and cured. But if not, even though it is extremely difficult to deal with the disease in a loved one, it is possible. And if you believe in a Higher Power of some sort (as I do), that Higher Power or the universe or whatever can open doors of help and support.

Thank you so much for your post.

My husband and myself are both medical professionals with a primary caseload of Alzheimer's patients. This is why I am so concerned. He would absolutely *KNOW* if he recognized signs within himself. This is why I am so concerned.

Thank you again.

;o)



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 08/17/2013 11:51PM by shannon.

Shannon - I think that (1) it is hard to be objective about oneself or one's own loved ones - which is why medical pros are advised not to treat their own families and (2) it is not uncommon for we in the medical profession to 'catastrophize' our own situations. I know that with nurses, you don't just have a headache, it's a brain tumour; you don't just have a sore arm from over-exertion, it's a heart attack, etc.

I often have to admonish myself to calm down and remember that usually it's the simplest thing or the most common thing or the most likely thing that is the likeliest cause. Such as, I'm more likely coming down with a simple cold which is why I have body aches and pains and a headache and congestion rather than an obscure tropical illness that is going to paralyze me overnight, although if I let my imagination go, it comes up with the tropical disease every time, even though I don't frequent tropical areas!

I'm also trying to teach myself lately, for my own sanity, that what seems rational to me isn't so clear to others and may not be all that logical after all, or else it *is* logical but logic doesn't always explain everything, especially when it's other humans that I'm expecting to be logical, most especially those to whom I am related.

My aunt, who was married to Uncle C in the above posts, is ill herself at the moment. Other relatives and I have been in frequent heavy transatlantic discussions about her decisions and behaviour since recent surgery as she has not seemed rational to us. Some are diagnosing Alzheimer's (which is the first thing anybody seems to think of these days when it comes to apparent judgement and memory problems) although still I think first of meds and sleep deprivation and pain and possible infection as more likely culprits. I think it would be a remarkable coincidence for her (or anyone) to develop rapidly progressive Alzheimer's concurrently with recent surgery and post-surgical time. So, again, I think (and hope) that there is a simpler and more likely explanation.

You know how they say that medical people make the worst patients? Part of that is our reluctance to seek medical advice for ourselves. Part is that we don't follow instructions all that well when it comes to our own care. Stubborn aren't we? Hopefully, part of it isn't that we fail to see our own MDs when need be.

So I'm expecting you to be in there with your husband early next week, seeing what the GP has to say. More than likely it will be good news, in that it will be something easy to explain and quick to resolve. Here's hoping. You guys deserve a break!