Alzheimer's?

[terric]

Hi,

I've never been here before. I go to the MS board. I have lesions on my brain and clinical signs of M.S; both very indicative of MS. I'll know for sure next week as I had a lumbar puncture.

I have problems remembering words, have a difficult time learning. I told the neuro, and he did the 3 word remember thing. I got that right away. About 15 minutes later (while I was waiting for an appt) he came into the waiting room and asked me to repeat the same words. I remembered 1 word. I still rememeber the 1 word..apple.

I'm worried this problem may be alzheimer's and not related to the MS.

What do you think?

terric

[Tootsie]

There are hundreds of different types of dementia and Alzheimer's Disease is only one. I would think, that since you already have demonstrated, lesions in your brain, your difficulties with cognition would be due to that cause. Certainly, it is much more hopeful than Alzheimer's Disease, as there is much encouraging research being done on MS.

Ask your doctor, if you can be referred to some kind of therapy that would help you develop skills to use to compensate for the difficulties you are having. I worked with 3 different women with MS and all had different challenges. One functioned well without any special aids. Another used a scooter to save energy as she had to travel to different parts of the building. The third used something called a "Cool Suit." It consisted of a cap and a vest that circulated cooled air through tubes connected to a portable ice chest. A small motor pushed the air into the tubes, vest and cap. By lowering the body temperature, her synapses worked better and she could speak clearly. Otherwise, she slurred her words and more than one person talking to her on the phone would think she was drunk. Cheerio.

[Jo6]

Tootsie has given you some things to work on. I hope you do discover it is one of the 100 or so. Alzheimer's is a very heart breaking disease.

Tootsie, I too wonder if Alzheimer's should be called a "disease". I guess in the grand skeme of things it doesn't matter. It still feels awkward to me.

Terric, I hope you have solved your puzzle by now. If you find out, please let us know. Sometimes we will stick a label on something and it would not be right. take care, Jo