Living with Early Dementia or Mild Cognitive Impairment - Meet Others

Hi, @mountainsueh @pnutcline @larryh123 @jackchap @SusanEllen66 @susanejw @j1976 @ashley43725 @carmine100 @joycel10 @m961922zxymary @happyquilter @gardenia123 @billnanearney1889 @emk507 @edsutton @mikesfn @pb50 @heidiruth @fletchette @vijay26.

I’d like to invite you to join this new group, Early Dementia & Mild Cognitive Impairment. It's a space where each member can ask questions, share tips and learn about living with early dementia or MCI from each other. It’s also for those wondering if they may have these conditions or who are undergoing testing related to these conditions.

If any of these situations describe you, please join us. Pull up a chair and tell us a bit about yourself.

I’m delighted to accept this invitation. It’s so difficult to find any group for the actual patients. I have been actively looking for one since my diagnosis of vascular dementia. I feel so alone and I hope this group offers some support and discussion about what we are going through.

It is great to have a group where we can share our concerns, frustrations, laughs, etc.

One thing I realized when I became a Seasoned Citizen was that I was having trouble keeping my ducks in line. The solution was not to bring home stray ducks I find outside. We still think that we can do all the stuff we did years ago. We don’t have the body of years ago. Stop taking on new projects unless you have to.

We need a reason for tomorrow. Mine is gardening.

Enjoy the simple things in your day like seeing a 1935 Hudson in the supermarket parking lot. It is tiny inside.

1935 Hudson.

Hi, I’m Susan in western Maryland. I was diagnosed with MCI in February 2023. I was put on Zoloft. Later added Trazadone for insomnia. I was pretty stable, like still driving locally, until recently. It started being hard to pay attention when I was driving, & I’d find myself driving too slowly, with a lot of cars behind me. So I’ve given that up. I don’t like being a burden on my husband, and he goes away for several days or a week sometimes, so I’ve been looking into local ride services. (Few & far between in the country, but fortunately we live near a resort.) This past December I was put on Memantine, which really helps me feel more on top of things. My husband nicknamed it “Momentum,” lol. I had a third MRI in April, and they’ve decided I’m slowly getting Frontotemporal dementia.
One thing that helps, too, is taking a nap at some point in the day. I don’t usually actually sleep, but just lie in quiet, still room with my eyes closed for a while. It helps clear my brain of over-stimulation.

Hello!
What a wonderful chance for us to unload a bit and also to learn
I was diagnosed with Lewy body disease and MCI three years ago. I still work and enjoy life despite some limitations. Married for 25 years to a wonderful woman. She is my rock.
I love to chat on sites such as this and I look forward to the interesting conversations.
Regards, Ashley

Glad to have found this group to help me in supporting my husband. We are just at the beginning of seeking a diagnosis. Lots of anxiety but finally accepting the reality has helped.

@lauriem60
What type of problems is he having?
I understand your concerns and anxiety. This can be very difficult.
I’m glad you’re here with us!
Regards, Ashley

Does anyone else have extreme sensitivity to sound and/or light? I used to because of migraines, but now it’s magnified.
And I have a hard time taking in things like lectures on TV. I just want to leave the room & go outside where it’s quieter.

One good thing, I guess, is I’m starting to loosen up the dietary restrictions I’ve imposed on myself because of coronary microvascular disease, no dairy or desserts. I’ve been a vegetarian for 54 years, so this left me with being a vegan, and I was also really limiting my sugar. So, post diagnosis, I figured I might as well eat what I want from now on! I’ll die from eating yummy things and sitting around a lot. Not a bad way to go, eh? I had my first ice cream cone in ages on Monday, peach. It was delicious.