While at this point the tests show that my husband's illness is pseudo-dementia caused by depression and is treatable, life is still very frustrating. After being on the anti-depressants for over a month now, I can see some improvements in some things, but still much needed improvement in other things. He now remembers how to do computer things that he had forgotten, but he still forgets some very important conversations. The problem still is that he forgets that he may forget.
I still have to be in charge of his medication because he forgets to take them at least half of the time. Tonight before going to bed (he was already in bed), I checked to see if he had taken his meds. He had not. I woke him up to take his meds. He insisted that he had already taken them and didn't believe me that he had forgotten. I insisted he come to the kitchen so he could look for himself. I had the packets labeled with dates so I would know if he missed any. When he saw that he had NOT taken Tuesday's meds, he insisted it was Monday. "No today was not Monday; it was Tuesday. So half asleep, he just took what I gave him.
While I am very relieved that he does not, according to the doctor's, have early onset Alzheimer's, pseudo-dementia caused by depression is still very frustrating. I cannot count on him getting things straight from the doctor or our attorney. And when he promises that he will tell them to communicate with me because he might forget things, I can't count on that he will remember to tell them that. So I still must go to all doctor's appointments and communicate with attorneys on issues. It frustrates me that he insists that he will remember to tell them that he might forget what they say, so to communicate with me.
It was recommended to him to get counseling on his own to help deal with this. The problem is, because of lack of emotions, he doesn't see the problems. I wrote notes in a spiral notebook for him to take to the therapist, so he will remember to tell her certain things, like if I need to know something, he will probably forget to tell me.
The doctor that gave him the neuropsych tests called and told us that if things do not improve down the road, he can get retested several months from now. We now have the first tests to compare to. While that is really good, somehow I just wasn't comforted enough to take away the worry.
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Hi - My name is Rhonda Brantley and my your blog sounds just like my life. I too have a husband diagnosed with EOAD exacerbated by years of untreated depression. He is 63 and I am 47, we have a 16 year old daughter. I have not written much on his illness as we've had to close a business and have numerous legal battles ahead. I am interested in finding doctors who may actually be specializing in early onset. We're on Excelon and Namenda and are at about stage 5. Thanks for sharing your experiences and I intend to check in. RB.
ReplyDeleteHi, please keep writing even though your husband's diagnosis is different than what you thought. I, too, gave my own husband (senior to me by many years) a diagnosis of early, early onset AD, but our doc thought it was more psuedo-dementia. And indeed, there was a tremendous change in attitude after the antidepressants. There was some improvement in memory too, but mostly he is a lot less angry and that helps. We have a 3 year old daughter, and there are times that I feel that I am taking care of two toddlers. I feel like judgment, reasoning, temperament and attention are more affected that straight out memory. There are times I wonder about him--are you just being a jerk? But that, coupled with the very real moments of memory loss, make me believe without a doubt that we are on some path to AD. I just think it is very difficult to get a firm diagnosis of AD this early.
ReplyDeleteCaroline,
ReplyDeleteThank you so much for posting your situation. I just wanted to cry, because it's exactly what I'm going through. It's actually a relief to know it could be treated with anti-depressants. I still need to get him in to see his doctor and get the meds started. I work full-time because he basically lost his business and I feel like I am carrying too much of the load. I thank you again, because now I feel like there's hope.
Hi,
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My husband is 45 and undergoing the diagnosis process. He forgets everything, has urinary incontinence and balance problems, fails to shower, misses appointments, forgets conversations from five minutes ago, sleeps all day and has intense anxiety if he has to go into a public situation. He sustained a head injury and carries the APOE 3/4 Allele. For those two reasons they are looking at EOAD. I pray it is pseudodementia, but he has been on a heavy load of antidepressants for more than a year with little improvement. We have four children, ages 4 to 13, and I have switched from stay-at-home mom to breadwinner. It is terribly stressful, so just wanted you to know I sympathize and empathize. Thank you for your blog.
ReplyDeleteWOW! Reading these blogs has hit on a few familiar areas. I am a 56 year old male and recently diagnosed with the possibilty of psduedo dementia. The Dr prescribed Lexapro and I have been on it for 8 weeks, it appears to be working great, so great that I believe alot of my lack of emotions, persevierence, ambition and desire problems have been rooted by my wife of 24 years. I just told her a week ago that I believe we would both be happier if we divorced. She has said that I would have to pull that trigger as she would not. She has been diagnosed as a border line Narcissist and was committed to a mental institution for a week after threatening to kill me to her docter, a Phyciatrist and then the police. Her very selfish, strong, dominent and controlling manipulative personality has led me this state, so I believe and feel that for my own future mental health and happiness I must make the difficult decision to take action or I won't get better. After reading these blogs, maybe I am to sensative, confused and need her strength if I have this condition. It sure appears that I am thinking more straight and clear than ever. Maybe its my way of trying to combat the mental loss and gain some controll that feeds my confidence to a level of worthiness. Very difficult situation.
ReplyDeleteThank you for the post. I am a 53 year old female, I believe I have psduedo dementa. I have been on depression medication for more than 10 years and it works great, Effexor gave my family the old me back. Now my Doctor is testing me for EOAD, so many tests. I have been in the diagnois stage for 10 months, it feels like forever. Thanks for allowing me to express my frustration! It helps....
ReplyDeleteThank you so much for your blog...please keep it up! I too am the younger wife of a 62 year old male who is currently being tested for either fronto-temporal dementia or psuedo dementia. We have 2 teens and I currently work while he is on medical leave. He has been struggling for over 3 years while we go from doctor to doctor looking for a diagnosis...it is so frustrating! We are looking at him losing his job just while our kids are headed for college...the loss of the friendship of my husband is the hardest.
ReplyDeleteWhile researching on the subject, I ran into this blog and am so happy to see there are others facing the life I am. My husband was diagnosed with clinical depression 9 months ago with a touch of pseudo-Alzheimer. He was let go from work 5 months ago, place in an IOP, put on anti-depressants but nothing seems to work. In fact, he is getting worse and I am getting more and more frustrated as the primary caregiver and only person working in a house of three. Most days my husband sleeps in late and once awake just sits in a room all day starting at the wall. He has had brain scans and other tests and they could not find anything else to associate his illness with. Nor are the doctors helping me any longer! Apparently, once he's finished a program, they wash their hands of him and move on to the next victim. I find myself getting depressed as well because the state of our finances is nil. I may have to file for bankruptcy & am at a loss as to how to help my husband get better! And of course, he in no way seems able to help himself. As a last straw I made an appointment with the state for disability. If anyone has found a miracle answer (which by the way I am believing for my husband), please let me know. As one writer said, I feel as if I am working with a 5 year old and not a grown man. And between his condition and my stressful work situation, I feel as if I am able to lose it! HELP!!!
ReplyDeleteMY HEART IS GREIVED TO SEE AND READ THE NUMBER
ReplyDeleteOF MEN AFFLICTED WITH AD AND PD. I WANT YOU
TO AGREE WITH ME IN A SHORT WORD OF PRAYER.
ALMIGHTY GOD, YOUR WORD SAYS IN MATT 7.7
ASK AND YOU SHALL RECEIVE.I WANT YOU TO
DEMONSTRATE ONE ON ONE
YOUR DEFINITE POWER. IN THE NAME
OF JESUS CHRIST OF NAREZETH, HEAL MY HUSBAND
NOW.THE BLOOD OF JESUS PAID FOR THIS HEALING.
I WANT TO SEE DEFINITE RESULTS IN THE NAME OF
JESUS CHRIST. I CHALLENGE YOU, IN THE NAME
OF YOUR SON JESUS AMEN.
IF YOU HAVE PRAYED THIS PRAYER, LOOK FOR
RESULTS.
My mother aged 95 has always been considered remarkable and outgoing as she still lived independantly and had a wide circle of friends.Overnight about 8 weeks ago she ceased taking phone calls and complained of back pain and seemed very flat and sad and suddenly her short term memory failed.As she needed assistance to make sure she took meds. got up out of her chair,ate,drank went to bed she was admitted several times to and acute hopsital before it was deceied that she was not safe to live at home and it would be better that she take some time out in a nursing home until she could maybe improve.Naturally at her age dementia was diagnosed but as it was so sudden and came immediately after the death of her oldest childhood friend her last brother who was younger than her having a stroke and her carer of whom she was very fond leaving her as she had developed cancer of the oesophagusall good reasons in my opinion to become depressed particularly when she could suddenly imagine the end of her own life ,a situation she had not spent much time meditating. It is very sad as she seems not to remember any of the events that led up to her admission to the nursing home or even where she is. This has happened so fast we are reeling with shock.Any suggestions[her GP does not think she is either depressed or suffering from dementia.]
ReplyDeleteI am 52 years old. A few days after my wife and I found her mother dead in our home, I "developed" profound short-term memory loss and a about a week later a miserable depressive episode. That was over four years ago. After multiple visits to psychologists, psychiatrists, Stanford, and U.C San Francisco, I still have no satisfying answers. Some have called it pseudodementia. U.C. San Francisco says I have Lewy Body Dementia. My I.Q. measures exactly what it was 30 years ago. All I can say is that the situation is pretty grinding on all involved. The memory loss is unchanged. I can't hold a real conversation, understand movies or most TV shows. It took over two years before I could read short pieces. Even though I still work a little, my business, paperwork, etc. is in shambles. The IRS is constantly sending me notices, fines, etc. Fortunately, a super-helpful sister and my CPA brother have saved my 'bacon'. It doesn't seen that doctors have enough experience with these 'odd' dementias to really understand them. I wonder if the nursing home environment makes folks worse instead of better. I'm pretty sure a visit to the nusing facility would be very detrimental to me. N.M.
ReplyDeleteMy wife was showing similar issues. We went to a neurologist that diagnosed her mom's dementia and he said it was due to a sleep disorder and was pseudodementia. Put her on Gabapentin and wow, what a difference. energy, attitude, etc. 180deg change in 2 days. She sleeps now. Her memory is not what she thinks it is and there are still other issues. I see some reversion in some areas as well. Don't think we are out of the woods yet but sure have had a nice reset for a time.
ReplyDeleteWell, my husband now at the age of 55 quit his job of 31 years the end of 2006. It took me 4 years to get a true diagnosis of Frontal Temporal lobe dementia. He had been wrongly diagnosed of depression, for 3 years. At the time the of diagnosis the Dr said that he was over half of the way in this process. All I can say is that the devastation caused by this disease is at time more than I can stand. Prior to this happening we had gone through a huge loss. We have lost everything and all I can do is to keep working. The IRS is constantly sending me notices and I think I will have to go to a tax attorney. This is something that is very destructive, I really don't know how much more I can say.
ReplyDeleteI am trying to take care of my 87-year old mother whose depression increased dramatically with a fall in October of 2010. Over the past few months she has become very harsh, nasty, judgemental and resists any social contact other then church. Lexapro is not helping and I cannot find a psychiatrist to take her to and her primary physican doesn't feel comfortable increasing her antidepressants. I am totally isolated and verhwhelmed.
ReplyDeletePrior to his retirement my husband's anti depressant of many years stopped being effective. He was trying to decide whether to retire completely or just drop back to part time. When he retired completely major depression and anxiety set in. It's been 3 years messing around with many drugs and therapy - and time spent in the hospital. He was diagnosed with pseudo dimentia about 2 years ago. We were relieved to learn the differences, but at the same time... I miss him so much. He will soon be 68 and I am 56. I never imagined that this fuzzy veil of mental illness would wrap around him and take away the vibrant, funny creative thinker that I fell in love with so many years ago. At the hardest moments it feels like living with a scared child in an adult body.I remain hopeful every day that things will shift for him. Certainly things are better in so many ways than they were a couple of years ago, and throughout, I still remain ever hopeful that my best friend will return with all of his playful vim and vigor - (even some is a gift) I know he wishes that too. But thanks for an anonymous spot to be able to say how deeply I miss him, and how sad it feels, and that I continue to make peace with his here and now. My guess is that I've got some anger and disapointment to embrace as well. Not toward him... but toward the disease. All diseases are crappy - and always there is a loss of one kind or another. But loss of personality is so poigniant,mystifying and hard to find the culprit to be mad at! Thanks - and healing wishes to all.
ReplyDeleteMy mother has just been diagnosed with pseudo dementia and we now wait for her GP to prescribe meds and move forward - it is such a relief she can be helped - we are assured she can be and it is all the result of a trauma - she had a car crash and two bad falls and has not been herself since. I was so relieved to read some of the blogs above and know there are others with this condition as I had never heard of it
ReplyDeleteMy mother who is 86 had a fall in 2011 and has been diagnosed with dementia. She spent 2 wks in the hospitaql after the fall with numerous xrays,cat scans and MRI,s with no broken bones etc. so they put my mother on haldol and she has never been the same. I never heard of dementia caused by depression. So glad I found this website.
ReplyDeleteMy partner is almost 60 and has been diagnosed with dementia syndrome - but having read your blog and several articles I think it is actually depression or pseudo dementia. He lost his eldest son 8 years ago and I don't think he ever got over it. He doesn't work any more and doesn't really have any interests. He is on medication for Alzheimers, but apart from making him more sleepy, I can't see they are doing him any good. I want to speak to his CPN about this, but am unsure how to broach the subject. Also I don't think my partner wants me to, but if it will help him, I think I have to
ReplyDeleteMy father-in-law is 60 and has been living with us a year now. Last January he started having memory problems and he lived in Alabama. We had to go get him and bring him back to Florida with us. We took him to doctors in Alabama but nobody could tell us anything. We brought him to the doctors down here and after six months he was referred to a psychiatrist for pseudodementia. The doctor has had him on Effexor 300mg once a day, Zyprexa 5 mg, and Remeron 30mg. His mood swings have went away since he has been on the Effexor but he seems to be getting more depressed. At least last year he would get up in the mornings and come up to my parents business. When he was getting out and doing more he seemed a little better. Now all he does is sleep all day and when he is up all he does is sit on the couch. He want even fix him anything to eat. If we don't fix him something in the morning before we leave all he will eat is oranges and apples. I have to make sure he take his medicine. If he misses the Effexor he becomes a handful. He picks at his son and tries to start arguments with him. We don't have any kids yet but I feel like we have a 2 year old living with us. He chews gum all the time and leaves the wrappers all over the place or I find them in my washer and dryer. He also leaves his fruit peeling around. I get frustrated and I vent to my mom but I try not to say anything to him. But I am thinking I need to make him get up and make him get out of the house instead of letting him sit at home all day. The doctor said he needs to be around people and socialize. We were wondering if anybody has had the doctor recommend electroshock therapy. Dads doctor has talked to us about doing electroshock therapy 3 days a week for 3 weeks. We have mixed feelings about this. If anybody has heard of this for depression or knows someone that has had this done for this could you please let us know if it worked.
ReplyDelete