The dept of neurology at the University of Florida offers an Online Cognitive Screening Test which measures Verbal Memory and Executive Functioning and is easy to take. Maybe this could offer some insight. You will have to google it, since I don't have enough postings to paste urls

I just want to echo and emphasize what every other poster in this thread has said about the role of stress in exacerbating symptoms - physical and mental. Reducing stress, I'm convinced, is the number one thing I've done to improve my health and impact of PD on my life.

No easy or generic ways to do that; stressors are different for everyone. But identify and deal with them. Sometimes you have to be selfish; sometimes you have to be hard on yourself; can be difficult, but worth the effort.

John, I have begun to forget so much that it scares me too. I can start a sentence and by the end of the sentence I have forgotten what I was talking about to begin with and can't finish the sentence. It is scarey, but then you already know this.

For example: On January 2, 2009, I was cooking at my daughter's and needed a potholder. Now I know my daughter's kitchen, but that day I couldn't find anything. It was like I had never been in that kitchen before. When I needed that potholder, I stood in the middle of the kitchen, with my daughter watching me saying, I need a ?, I need a ?. It was five minutes before I could remember the simple word "potholer."

The only suggestion I can make is this that you may want to consider at some point in time: During 2008 I began to have serious thinking problems and I became very poor with handling my finances, which aren't much to begin with. By summer I was getting desperate, I wasn't able to correctly pay my bills, and my car payment became a serious problem. I was told about Mental Health America's Designated Payee program. I applied for the program and now my bills are paid by someone else using my money. It has been a God-send for me. It is a relief to have this problem, which I can no long do on my own, in someones reliable hands. I can't afford a bookkeeper and MHA is free...no fee!!

I can relate to the problems you have learning and playing music. Yes, stress makes things worse, but if I am performing, there will be some stress. I don't perform any place fancy- just recitals with my students and I play in a coffee shop once a month for tips. If I try to play anything from memory, my mind will go blank at some point, so I always play from music. Even with music, my mind will go blank at times and I feel like I am sight reading. At least with the music I can sight read which is better than nothing.

My neuro recently prescribed Exelon for me. I have been having a big problem with getting lost. If traffic is backed up and I try to take an alternative route, I always turn the wrong way. I told my neuro that I hope the Exelon will help me make fewer mistakes when I play guitar. Here is his reply from an e-mail:

"There may be other medications that can help your memory. We should give exelon a chance first. Some patients with memory problems can improve by playing memory games, learning a new language, etc., This is a typical stragegy we use that be effective however, I think your guitar playing and teaching is doing the same thing. That being said, I do have patients with neurologic disorders functioning at very high professional levels and they will still report benefit from the "mind Games" they play on a computer. If you are interested and can't find any on your own would be happy to contact some of these people and find out which programs they prefer."

Aricept is being RX'ed for PD now.

It might be something to check into. It was amazing for my dad.

You are so right Curious. I am checking into that and Rasagiline on my next Neuro visit.

Stitcher, my dad had no bad sife effects from Aricept. The good ones, his memory was sharp as a tack. Things he never thought he would get back, like his childhood. The short term improvement, I can't even tell you how great that was. No more forgetting the little things or his meds!!!!

I hope you find something that works for you Stitcher.

First I want to thank everyone for their thoughts and suggestions. I will try some of them including an electronic datebook. The device will only be good if I remember to put the information into it! As it is, I missed another appointment this morning, which had the office staff a bit more confused than I was! That happened even after writing down the appointment!

Right now I e-pay my bills so they're all set. The only thing I have to watch is that I don't spend too much cash. For that I've removed my bank-card from my wallet and only carry enough cash for lunch out once a week and gas for my car.

At work I take my time. My job isn't that stressful even though there can be days when it gets busy. Other than those odd days here and there, which for me are a good thing because it makes the days fly by, I'm pretty quiet and allowed to do what I need to get done as long as it gets done. What's been getting me is jumping from one subject to another, which confuses me lately.

I've been handling these two positions for the past 5 years without problems, and now with the economy the way it is, the order side is less than busy if there are any orders at all. If I attend a meeting and there are more than three bulleted items, I can't seem to remember the first one, which usually pertains to me. I've noticed this odd problem when retrieving voice messages or understanding a phone call. At first I thought I was having a hard time understanding the voicemail, but that isn't the case. I'll forget half of the message as I listen to it, or get it so scrambled in my head that it doesn't make sense at all.

Stitcher,
I haven't gotten too lost yet, or at least I've been able to recover my mistake. I've always had a good sense of direction so maybe this helps at least right now. The losing of words happens to me more often than not and that really bugs me because I've always had excellent verbal and writtne communication skills.

Totade,

Thank you for the post about the online memory test. I took it and my results are:

"You scored "Low Average" or "Low" or "Very Low" on one of the tests. This indicates that you may have a cognitive problem. You can take the test again if you like. If you continue to score poorly or are concerned about cognitive symptoms, you should consult with your physician. ...."
Note that this test is only a screen, and the results do not necessarily mean that you do or do not have a cognitive or a neurological problem.

I know there is the disclaimer in there, but this reflects pretty much how things are for me right now. Remembering things from a previous time and being able to react to changes are the two areas that give me the most trouble, and are the two areas where I need to remain alert at all times.

My technical job requires absolute consise troubeshooting skills, logic, and critical thinking. My not-so-technical order administrative job requires performing tasks in a set procedure. If I screw up the first job, I can ruin the network settings and the servers. If I screw up the second, I cause company embaressment and make myself look like a total twit because I have to send out appologetic emails to the customers.

To be honest, I really thought this was related to sleep issues, which I've had before off and on. But the thing is, I've been sleeping pretty well the past few months. I go to bed early, I make sure I empty my bladder before I go to bed so that doesn't wake me up, and I've stopped eating ice cream at night, which was affecting my medication (absorption and protein). Once in awhile my cat wakes me up because she wants to snuggle under the blanket, which seems to be way more often that not because it's so cold at night. The fact that she's sleeping with me again proves that I am sleeping at night because for almost 9 months she wouldn't even set foot in my room at night.

Rich,

The storm chasing isn't that stressful. It's actually quite an exciting and beautifully enlightening experience. The sky is dark against the gold and green field below and the swirling and boiling clouds above make this a very humbling and awe inspiring experience. I've always been interesting in weather and other natural phenomenon so this is another aspect of the same subject. I've always wanted to see a volcano too, which I did on my first trip. It was a dormant cone in New Mexico, Mount Capulan to be exact, but it was my first volcano visit.

Anyhow, keep posting the suggestions. I'm open to any one of them at the moment. This is quite a bummer because my mobility is the best it's been in years and I am actually feeling pretty good physically.

John

John: All of the advice given is excellent.
Mine is extracted from yout last sentence,,DO'NT GIVE UP! Bob C

I have Dementia with Lewy Bodies, which is a PD sort of diagnosis that emphasizes the cognitive problems over the physical problems. I was in a high-tech job (i.e., computer programmer). I just couldn't do that work anymore so I retired at the age of 57. I don't miss the work but I do sort of miss the social aspects of having a job.

If you haven't been diagnosed yet, it's a good idea to check your insurance. I had a policy that replaces my income and pays my retirement to the age of 65. I'm really glad I had that policy.

What folks say about stress is definitely true. You need some, but too much can make you miserable. Stress is hard to define, but you sure know it when you feel it.

I don't think I read anyone mention having a positive attitude. Don't give up or give in or even start to think that you are no longer in control of your life. Keep finding ways to enjoy life. Try to live your life to the fullest extent possible. You have to define that for yourself.


My medication list:
Excelon (rivastigmine) for cognition
Cerefolin NAC for cognition
Sinemet (levodopa/carbidopa) for movement
Requip (ropinerole) for movement
Melatonin for sleep