Neuro Pyscological Testing

JulietteBee

Well, mom's new pcp is on top of her game and I am so pleased.

After mom failed her SLUMS test, the doctor finally was able to get my mom a neuro consult. She has an HMO, so annoying referrals are required.😢

Anyhow, referral obtained, appt made. Mom saw the neurologist today for them to review her MRI from July and consult on "mid-stage dementia." I kept telling all who would listen that there was nothing early about my mom's case. The pcp agreed and identified mom as being in mid-stage, corellating exactly with my nursing assessment.

Well, the neurologist showed me mom's MRI which reveals MASSIVE amounts of "severe, bilateral white matter disease with ischemic changes." I kid you not, it was alarming to see the extent if the damage.

The doctor explained to me/us that the MMSE & SLUMS test are diagnostic only. The neuro psychological exam is confirmatory. She recommended it, then scheduled mom to come in early next year to complete the 2-hour test.

Mom asked what it entailed and was told it will be like an oral exam at school. Mom bawked at the length of time, but the doctor assured her that she would be in the room with her the entire time and she can take mini breaks as needed.

Today was the first time mom was not argumentative or disputing her condition. There was no signs of anosognosia today. Poor soul, I think she has resigned herself to her fate.

Hopefully she will now share her health struggles with her siblings, friends, and her other healthcare providers.🙏🏽

Maybe now we can both get the support we need, from those who should make up our familial support system.

H1235

Im glad you have found a good pcp. That’s so important. I hope your mom continues to accept the situation. My moms two hour evaluation gave a very detailed report of exactly where she had deficits. The information confirmed what I had already noticed, but that confirmation was good. My mom was very accepting of the diagnosis at the office. She even went so far as to say I knew something was wrong a while ago, but no one would believe me. I was thankful the neurologist told her she should stop driving and was not safe to live alone. She did grumble about this. What I found when we got home was that while she accepted the diagnosis she saw herself in the mild cognitive impairment stage. She also saw dementia as only effecting her memory.

JulietteBee

Thank you for sharing your experience, @H1235.

They say a picture is "worth a thousand words." It is so true. Today, my mom wanted to read the written report from her MRI and said she was now ready to tell her family. I asked her, why now? She said that this was the first doctor who ever told her what was happening to her.

That is absolutely untrue, BUT keeping D.A.R.E in mind, I simply said, "Okay! Well I thank God for that neurologist." She insists no one ever told her and it is only since she moved into the apartment that I started using the word, Dementia, and she didn't know why I was saying that.

<scratching head>