Living with Early Dementia or Mild Cognitive Impairment - Meet Others

@craigbyrom
Good to hear from you again!
Sorry to hear the news. How many of the skin biopsies came back positive? I had one on my neck come back positive.
Attitude means a lot right now, concentrate on what you have, not what may happen.
Easier said than done, for sure, but it will help.
I decided to retire sept 8th. I was going to wait another year, but things are becoming slowly more difficult. So I decided to go early, while I can still enjoy myself.
My doctor put me on Buspar for anxiety, really messed up my stomach. I'm glad you’re going to Mayo- no place better!
It’s the Fourth of July and I am foregoing my 8:00 bedtime, going to the city park and watch the fireworks, it has been many, many years when I watched them as a child, yet I still find them very exhilarating.😃
Keep the strength! Regards, Ashley

@ashley43725 good morning to you, I hope the fireworks display was worthy of skipping your 8pm norm.
I’m sure it was, Fireworks displays still amaze me especially when choreographed.
My biopsy from ankle was positive/ abnormal, I don’t recall thigh or neck being positive.
Glad to hear you went ahead and retired, I know you have set yourself up with your hobbies to stay busy and engaged; important.!
I to am processing if I will retire or do one more project coming up in August.
Thing is, it’s out of state and I’ll be a long ways from home.
I stay busy here, but my social engagement is at a minimum and that’s what work would help with.
I have a few more weeks to decide so, one day at a time right now.
Take care - Craig

@ashley43725 Plan on doing something every day during retirement. Give yourself a reason for tomorrow.

I found no joy in fireworks this year…same old same old. Plus there were thunderstorms nearby & I got a migraine. I’m turning into an old grouch. No joy, no real feelings of love, not much interest in anything. Is it my antidepressants dampening the good with the bad? Or is this the apathy of Frontotemporal dementia?
Does it matter which is which? I obviously need the antidepressant. I tried upping it & it gave me the runs.
At this point, I am passively suicidal, hoping to die of heart issues before the dementia gets bad. Meanwhile, I do still enjoy going for walks when it’s not too hot & muggy. I try to find small things to enjoy. Some days, my husband goes out of his way to give me pleasant experiences, for which I am appreciative—of his efforts.

Sorry for the downer. I was just looking back, and just a few months ago I was trying to help others through the scariness of getting an MCI diagnosis, trying to help them see what a difference an attitude shift can make. What happened in the meantime, I asked myself. All that happened was I got a diagnosis in early June of Frontotemporal dementia, based on three MRIs: 2011, 2023, & April 2026. Still MCI stage, but now I know what’s coming. It’s hard to forget. I guess that’s the trick, to get so involved in something that I’m able to just “be.” So I’ll look for such activities and opportunities.

Hello, Nice to have this group formed. I'm 79, been on Aricept 5mg for a year and now going in for a PET Scan to determine if I am a candidate for Leqembi. It seems like the best road for me at this time...I still drive, cook, play mah jongg, other games, etc. Aricept has helped me regarding finding keys, glasses, etc. Actually remember names of old actors, movies, etc better than I ever have...Feel that Leqembi is a possible godsend so we'll see...

@susanejw oh Susan. Please don’t give up! I have found you to be a touchstone for me with my dementia.
Did you say you lived in Maryland? That’s something else we might have in common. Let’s bond over all of the things that are joyful. I’m posing some garden pictures to show you one of the places that I still find joy my friend.

@midnightwalker welcome. I’m pattee and I’m 77 and live in Maryland. It’s wonderful that the Aricept is helping you.
I also still do all those things that you mentioned. I’m making sure that I enjoy every minute of it.

@fletchette Welcome back. Are you on Aricept too? I feel a bit overszealous in beginning Leqembi when I really do everything I've ever done just about as well as I've ever done it; but this is the real world, not just the imaginary always -feel- good world I'm often living in. Really hard for an optimist to become a realist...

@fletchette Thank you, Pattee, for the encouragement. I’m trying to lift out of this slump I’m in. Did you grow those flowers & trees? Beautiful! I live in the woods in Garrett County—nothing but green outside my windows, this time of year! A lot of things we plant get eaten by deer. Do you have that problem?

I’ve had to stop driving. I was just too nervous. I’m going to try a ride service to get to the doctor’s sometimes, so I won’t be so dependent on my husband. Then we can do the more fun things together.