Support Group for Those of Us Living With Mild Dementia

Well,
I’ve been diagnosed with MCI; as I’ve spoke about here and have been sharing my experiences and symptoms.
I have been sharing these same experiences/ symptoms with all my doctors.
Had neurology appointment today and he broke the news that everything is pointing towards Lewy Body Dementia and is starting me on Donepezil or Don Perrone.😁
Sorry I had to throw a joke in there as it’s my way of coping.
I have been thinking that this is what I was going to hear from him based on my research, but it’s a lot heavier when he says it.
I hope the Donepezil will help.
I look forward to my visit in June and all the additional and new testing. Need to make sure they plan on skin biopsy for me.
I am blessed to have loving children, my son is my champion with all of this.
Thanks for reading.

Hi Susan, thanks for your note. I do have vascular dementia as confirmed by CT scans last autumn. I was diagnosed with MCI about 3 years ago based on written and oral tests. But now I show my red blood vessels are shrinking and my memory is a bit worse. I also have some minor gait issues. I’ve been prescribed 2 drugs, memantine and Rivastigmine (a patch I change daily). And I have put myself on the Mind Diet (easy to find on the internet). A big change in my eating habits but I hope, worthwhile.
I’m 77 years old, married with 2 daughters and 4 grandchildren. I live in Columbia. I garden. I read, but don’t remember much day to day - a huge pain! We love to travel and so far, that’s OK.
I’m you want to chat privately, text me at 14107074398.
It’s not a death sentence, yet☺️

I, too, identify with what you are experiencing and am scheduled for an MRI of my brain this Thursday. Did you get your results immediately?

@craigbyrom, if we can’t laugh, what’s the point. I know I’m batsh*t crazy but when I take my meds as prescribed other people aren’t jerks.

@dbamos1945 There are two books I have read that really gave me insight as to what a person dealing with Dementia experiences. Reading them gave me a better understanding of what my husband was experiencing. “Still Alice” and “Still Me.” I highly recommend you read them.

What you’re describing is actually something a lot of people in early stages of Dementia and Mild Cognitive Impairment quietly wish existed, because caregiver groups don’t always fit when you’re still very much aware of your own changes and trying to process what’s happening from the inside, and while there are some “early-stage dementia” or “living with dementia” groups out there (often run through organizations like the Alzheimer's Association), they can be hard to find or not available everywhere, so the idea of starting a dedicated group for people in the mild stage is actually really valid since it would give a space to talk openly about fears, future planning, and day-to-day coping without it being framed through a caregiver lens, and it doesn’t even have to be complicated to start sometimes even a small local or online group where people just meet regularly to share experiences and practical tips is enough to make a big difference in feeling less isolated.