Being prepared for the Neuropsychologist appointment: Tips

That’s such good advice @meitsjustme . With computers today, we forget that some things use real paper! I hope the neuropsychologist was nice about it. It must have been an unpleasant shock to arrive and then find out the papers didn’t. As if you weren’t anxious enough going to a new doctor!
Did the meeting go well?

Yes, the new doctor is kind and seems thorough. Now we have to wait for a few weeks for her to compare the results of the various memory tests he took to an average result for someone his age. That process takes two or three weeks! Then, we'll have an appointment with the neurologist and maybe, finally, have a diagnosis. At least with a diagnosis, we'll know where we stand, what to expect, and if there are any actions we can take to mitigate the situation. Wish us luck!

I found the follow-up appointment to the testing to be really helpful and eye-opening. Looking at my husband’s results against the norms was actual data I couldn’t explain away to myself or him. Later, thinking about it, I realized how many ongoing small adjustments we’d made to daily living, as my husband’s thinking abilities declined.
The follow-up appointment was also really helpful in that it galvanized me to find an Elder Law attorney and get all the important legal matters in place- updated wills, Advanced Directives, POA. I’ve never used the POA, but it’s in place for the future.
One thing I wasn’t prepared for at the appointment, and found shocking, was seeing the test parts he had trouble with. His clock had one number and no clock hands. I googled what the clock test shows and that was eye-opening too.
My husband had repeat testing after 8 years and having that baseline data to compare and contrast to proved very helpful to his doctors. It helped me to get a sense of where we’re going with all this and plan accordingly.

@centre thank you for your very nice message. I’m sure it’s going to help folks in their thinking and planning. Was your husband cooperative with the testing?
What adjustment have you made in your daily life to help both of you?

My husband’s PCP recommended the testing, therefore my husband was very willing. At the neuropsychologist’s office, I came in the room, but sat back out of sight and didn’t make a peep. The neuropsychologist was very warm and kind, presented the test items as something fun, spoke the instructions clearly, and moved on when test items “stumped” him. It was a very good experience.

You asked about adjustments made to daily life- I taped little signs around- on the fridge-“Be sure to close the door”, on the faucets- “Be sure to turn off “, on the back door- “Don’t leave- plumber coming”. I found paid help for the lawn care, snow removal, and small household repairs. He was happy to give that up! I bought a clock on Amazon with the day of the week, date, time, general time of day (morning, afternoon, evening).
I had been doing the finances, I set up the online app for his credit card to notify me of any usage over $1.00. He got into online shopping, often ordering duplicates or nutritional supplements to be delivered monthly. I hid the checkbook after I walked in on him getting ready to write a $250 check to a scammer he had allowed to take over his computer. The guy (with a heavy accent) claimed to be calling from Microsoft and needed that check to clear the PC of “viruses”. I told him his mother would be ashamed of him trying to steal from a senior.
It was kind of like a constant monitoring as best I could. He was happy to have me take over driving, but very unwilling to have me do his medications.

It was interesting to read how you handle life. I have a whiteboard with what is going on each day. My husband is still able to drive. He just received another form for dr to fill out on his driving. He has lewy body dementia. He has an appt nov 8 at a courage kenny driving assessment program. He drives by himself. No one has been in a car riding with him since feb 18. I keep telling him he drives better by himself so he can concentrate. He is continually mad I wont ride with him
It is a daily struggle. Our pcp knows. We have appt mon. We see him once a month.
He now says he doesnt think he has “this lewy body” thing.
He has no symptoms.
We are struggling with finances. He is controlling on that! I have caught some bills not being paid. I am trying to get them all on auto pay. Now he says his computer is all “screwed” up. He only receives emails on his phone. So I cant check to see if any problems with bills.
We do have a durable poa. But clause in there that no one can take over finances until dr deems he is unfit. We are tottering back and forth there.
He is mot mellow. He is usually angry and upset. Especially if things dont go the way he thinks they should. Been a tough week.
Thanks for listening.

I'm sorry you're going through this.

Hello @Becksbuddy ... hope things are moving along with your quest for a diagnosis. I just wanted to mention, in case you don’t know, that a Neuropsychologist is not a medical doctor (M.D.) degree. He/she is at the doctorate level and as such, can make diagnoses. They typically are the ones who administer psychological tests as their degree means they have expertise in this area. Blessings.

Does our PCP need to write a script so my husband can be evaluated by a neuropsychologist?

I believe that would be determined by the coverage afforded you in your policy.