My dad with early dementia has agreed to see a dr next week. This is the first time to this dr, (geriatric specialty). I mentioned that he has "memory issues" when i made the appointment. So this is the first time he has gone to a dr. to even begin looking at this issue. Any idea what i should expect from this? Other tests they will do? Questions we should ask?
Kind of concerned that they will not like the outcome of this since both my mom and dad are in such denial. My dad seems agreeable to going..today anyway. I dont know if he realizes they will be looking at the dementia issue.
Another thing i didn't mention that my dad also had some dizzy spells in the last couple of weeks. I think the dr. kind of keyed in on that .. and the fact that his heart rate was very low (in the 40's). He also has poor circulation and has several previous procedures to improve circulation in his legs.
I believe the dr.really thinks his problems are vascular and problably related to his heart. We have another appointment tomorrow with the cardiologist to see what is going on there and how the blood flow to his brain looks.
Anyway... he drew blood, watched him walk, tested his strength and coordination, asked him some questions.
So we have another appointment tomorrow with the cardiologist which i will also give an update on.. if you guys are interested.
Katie, if I'm not being too nosy, will you let us know how it went with his appointment?
You might also consider a note that would be given to the doctor ahead of your dad's visit, so that the doctor knows what to look for if there are particular memory issues. When you think about it, we ask doctors to do a lot when we expect them to walk in cold with a new patient and figure out what is going on when often the patient won't report the whole truth of their situation (sometimes because they're in denial or because they really can't remember).
I wrote out a note to my mom's doctor before her last visit. Unfortunately (or fortunately) mom's doctor no longer carries around a paper "chart" for my mom, she only had her laptop. So she was juggling my folded piece of paper with her laptop. It was kind of awkward. But my mom didn't catch on.
I'm really not sure what my dad expects from this or if he is even aware that they might approach this issue. Bookluvr, I am expecting that he might want to back out at the last minute.. hopefully not though. He has been at my house since Sunday and knows that he has a dr. appt tomorrow morning.... and that the dr. is an "old person" dr... lol.
I'm a little nervous about it myself though... so is my mom. In some ways its better not to know.. officially. Maybe they will listen more to a dr.
I'll report back and let you all know how it goes...
attendance.
I always go into the exam room with both my parents, unless the exam becomes really personal, because I found after the fact Mom would have heard one thing, and Dad would hear the opposite. At least I can settle the disagreement as I try to listen carefully and take mental notes.
My parents have a geriatric doctor who I think is doing an excellent job. My parents are now in their mid-90's.... but my parents don't like the doctor because the doctor is a *woman*.... [sigh].
Anyway, I like this doctor because she take into consideration the caregiver, too. If my parents need any testing, she tries to have it done at the time of the appointment so I won't need to take more time off work to drive my parents, etc.