anosagnosia

prov1kenobi

My wife and I have been my brother’s main caretakers for almost 5 months. He will not take his medicine every day, nor will he keep his appointments woth his doctors. One is an oncologist My brother has a mild form of leukemia), and one is a neurologist, who recommended that my brother get a more thorough neuro-psychological exam. My brother has acknowledged that he has thinking issues, but he will not acknowledge that he has alzheimers and leukemia. When we tell him he has Alzheimer’s, he gives us all a wrye smile and tells us that we are the ones who need to see the doctor.

Is this anosagnosia ?

SusanB-dil

Hi prov1kenobi -

The definition states: Anosognosia, also called "lack of insight," is a symptom of severe mental illness experienced by some that impairs a person's ability to understand and perceive his or her illness.

It is not denial, but rather the perception of the person that there is nothing wrong.

MIL has anosognosia, but will go to her doc appointments. We have to cajole and bribe to get her to take her meds each day, and we do not bring up the alz nor vascular. A PWD usually doesn't accept that. She knows she has had a stroke somewhere down the line, so we often tell her the meds are keeping her stable from having another. You may have to use fiblets to get him to the doctor. "An exam is required to keep your insurance" sometimes works.

Do you have POA and HIPAA accesses? This is important.

prov1kenobi

Good morning Susan…

My brother def has a lack of insight. He does occasionally acknowledge though, that there is something wrong. My wife and I have to cajole (good word by the way), into taking his meds and going to the doctor. The other day, his thinking was way out of whack and I looked him in the eye and told him he had alzheimers….and again, he gave me that wrye smile. He did go to see his oncologist the other day without too much resistance.My niece does have POA and is well aware of what is going on.

Phoenix1966

I think you’re probably hoping that your LO will have an “Ah ha!” moment by repeatedly telling him he has dementia. It’s not going to stick, so, as hard as it may be, you need to let go of the idea that he’s going to accept/remember his condition for any real length of time. You’ll only get that “wry smile” at the best of times. As his disease progresses, confronting him with his diagnosis might become more and more distressing to him in the moment.

If your niece has medical and legal POA, I think she’s going to need to get more involved(if she isn’t already) in his care if his cancer treatments are falling by the wayside. Like Susan mentioned, fiblets will become your friends as they can help motivate a LO to go to the doctor.

It’s a long, hard road with no finish line in sight. Your LO is lucky to have a caring family looking out for him since he can no longer do that for himself. 

Iris L.

prov1kenobi wrote:

Is this anosagnosia ?

Yes.  You will have to learn to use the work-arounds that the members talk about.  There is no way to "fix" anosognosia. 

Iris 

prov1kenobi

You know, you are right. I got into it with my brother last night. My brother thinks he lives in a lodge somewhere in North America, but he actually lives in a beautiful log house in the middle of Alaska. He was very very confused about everything. i asked him if he knew why hevwas going through this….he said no. I told him he had a form of Dementia called Alzheilmers. He said that he was fine. and I did actually think that he could have that ah ha moment. I inow it will never happen. i did fall into that trap

Iris L.

PS: I used to live outside Fairbanks.  I miss the northern lights.

Iris

prov1kenobi

i have lived in Fairbanks since 1973. The Northern Lights have been spectacular this year. I still live near the dog mushers facility on Farmers Loop Road

Iris L.

I lived on the base 1978-1979.  I wish I could visit again.

Iris

prov1kenobi

Iris, the winter has been pretty mild. I tjink that we have had a week of -30f temps….nothing colder around here. Back in the early 70’s, We had lots of -50 days…now, that is cold

Iris L.

I remember -60 degrees F. I remember the fresh air and the fresh water.  I loved the 24 hr summer days.  You're making me nostalgic!

Iris

prov1kenobi

maybe in North Pole. I might have seen -60 once or twice in college.