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Living with Early Dementia or Mild Cognitive Impairment - Meet Others

Posted by Lisa Lucier, Moderator @lisalucier, Jun 22 9:45pm

As promised, Mayo Clinic Connect now has a group dedicated to living with Early Dementia and Mild Cognitive Impairment (MCI) support group. Follow the group to get notifications when new posts are made.

This is a welcoming, safe place where you can meet people living with early dementia or MCI, or who are wondering about these conditions or undergoing testing. Let's learn from each other and share stories about living well with these conditions, interacting with others who do not have these diagnoses, and offering tips.

Looking forward to welcoming you and introducing you to other members. Feel free to browse the topics in the Early Dementia and Mild Cognitive Impairment (MCI) group or start a new one.

Let's chat. Why not start by introducing yourself?

Interested in more discussions like this? Go to the Early Dementia & Mild Cognitive Impairment (MCI) Support Group.

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Lisa Lucier, Moderator | @lisalucier | 22 hours ago
In reply to @susanejw "I found no joy in fireworks this year…same old same old. Plus there were thunderstorms nearby..." + (show)
Profile picture for susanejw @susanejw

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.

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@susanejw - it is entirely possible, too, that your antidepressants are dampening the good with the bad. I had that happen about 15 years back. I was taking citalopram (Celexa).

I finally realized after going to some Christmas concerts that would normally noticeably lift my spirits that I just didn't respond. I was emotionally flat. No low lows, but the high highs were gone, too.

I did ask my pyschiatrist about this, and he said that what I was experiencing with a flat affect was a potential side effect of the medication. So, he offered to switch my medication. Switching to a different antidepressant worked to get me back the whole emotional spectrum.

Have you gotten to ask your primary care doctor or psychiatrist about what you have experienced? If so, what did he or she say?

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susanejw | @susanejw | 20 hours ago
In reply to @lisalucier "@susanejw - it is entirely possible, too, that your antidepressants are dampening the good with the..." + (show)
Profile picture for Lisa Lucier, Moderator @lisalucier

@susanejw - it is entirely possible, too, that your antidepressants are dampening the good with the bad. I had that happen about 15 years back. I was taking citalopram (Celexa).

I finally realized after going to some Christmas concerts that would normally noticeably lift my spirits that I just didn't respond. I was emotionally flat. No low lows, but the high highs were gone, too.

I did ask my pyschiatrist about this, and he said that what I was experiencing with a flat affect was a potential side effect of the medication. So, he offered to switch my medication. Switching to a different antidepressant worked to get me back the whole emotional spectrum.

Have you gotten to ask your primary care doctor or psychiatrist about what you have experienced? If so, what did he or she say?

Jump to this post

@lisalucier Thank you! I’ll ask my neurology people about that. I had assumed it was the apathy that comes with Frontotemporal dementia, but maybe not, or not entirely.

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Pattee Fletcher | @fletchette | 1 hour ago

Thanks for this suggestion. I too will ask my psychiatrist about switching meds. I have been thinking that my mood has been from taking in the diagnosis.

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