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Old 11-25-2012, 05:41 PM
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waterwillow waterwillow is offline
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Join Date: Mar 2012
Location: N. Ireland
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waterwillow waterwillow is offline
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waterwillow's Avatar
 
Join Date: Mar 2012
Location: N. Ireland
Posts: 104
10 yr Member
Default Hard Road

Quote:
Originally Posted by Bobbi View Post
Long story short: I've been care-giving for someone who is suspected (by three physicians and a neurologist -- also a physician, it would seem ) of having FTD, a.k.a., Pick's Disease.

In all of my searching for info. that may provide insight re: testing that may offer a more definitive answer, the only sources I could find all tend to reference having to wait for an autopsy. Not very promising to see that blaring.

This is the first article that says a MRI may be helpful. With the advance it Dx'ing since 2009, maybe there is more hopeful info., as well, that I've just not come across, yet.

However the Newsbot works: Great! I feel enlightened, especially since I've taken the person for ER attention (when totally disoriented) and never hope to ride in the front of an ambulance again or spend another holiday at ER. A CT was done. And, more recent, a MRI.

I'm most accustomed to looking at CTs, MRIs, X-rays re: the spine, so I don't know exactly what it is that doctors see within the imaging, but it's definitely brain atrophy or degeneration, as they've said.

My heart goes out to everyone who is living through the maze of dementia... and, in whatever form it manifests itself. Not easy to watch another person go through so much, possibly understanding something isn't quite right but not understanding exactly what it is or all that it entails.

Before I became ill myself I was a support worker in the community and one of my cases was a gentleman with FTD. The individual is very fortunate to have someone like you to supply that safety net. It's one hard road that both of you tread. All we can do is make that journey as pleasant as possible and ask for help when things start to get too much.

I can remember attending a training day and being told that there were at least 102 forms of dementia and she suspected manymany more. You hit the nail on the head when you said that it was a maze, one that has an elusive exit.

To all those out there supporting those with dementia I take my hat off to you.
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