FINDING A DOCTOR

The only test David flunked in his life, would be the Alzheimer's test that our family doctor gave him in October 2005.

Our daughter and son-in-law insisted that we try and find a neurologist,............ to make sure the diagnosis was really Alzheimer's. I started looking for a neurologist, ...... not asking anyone for a referral, because I was keeping Alzheimer's a secret early on......

Don't keep secrets and never choose a doctor by his web-site!!! I looked for a neurologist in the San Antonio area on the internet....woo-hoo, I thought I'd found a good one (his web-site sounded wonderful).....

NOT.....this man had no compassion what so ever. Each time we'd leave his office, I'd be so angry! Our Vet. treats our dog better than this man treated us.

We ultimately found a compassionate doctor 'by word of mouth' and good recommendations. He was everything I'd hoped for in a doctor. .................. if you don't feel comfortable with the doctor you've chosen...... move on!

The new doctor was amazed that David couldn't spell or do math, but his memory was still so good, and he was still functioning so well . He gave a referral for David to go to Houston's Baylor Medical Center for testing. This was September 2006.....I thought for sure that David had Early Onset Alzheimer's, but after many hours of testing in Houston, they said he was in the moderate stage. This was shocking to me, because his memory was still good in so many ways.......

Researchers have identified a genetic risk factor which may increase a person's risk for developing AD. That risk factor is the Apolipoprotein E(ApoE) gene, which is located on chromosome 19. This gene is involved in determining what type of cholestrerol carrying protein is inherited. There are three different forms of the ApoE gene (ApoE 2, ApoE 3, and ApoE 4). Each person inherits either a 2, 3, or 4 version of the gene from each parent, so that all people end up with either a 2/2, 2/3/ 2/4 combination, a 3/3/ or 3/4 combination, or 4/4 combination.

Research indicates that inheriting an ApoE2 version of the gene may help protect against developing AD, or perhaps delay the onset of the disease. The ApoE 3 gene is neutral and neither increases nor decreases risk for AD. Inheriting a type 4 version of the ApoE gene increases one's risk for developing Ad. However, only about 1/2 of all patients with AD have a type 4 version of the gene, and among all persons who do inherit an ApoE4 gene, only a subset will develop Ad. David has the 3/4........

The Houston doctor prescribed 2 Aricept a day, instead of the usual 1 a day. She also ask David if he was still driving. She said he shouldn't drive anymore. David reached into his pocket and handed me his keys, and he's never said a word about driving since that day.... that's the kind of man he is......

This was really a stressful and upsetting time !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! However, I'm so glad that we decided to go for all the testing. We had answers, (they certainly weren't the answers we wanted), but there's something to be said for no more guessing...From this point on, I would be honest with everyone............ and we would move forward with the life we have.

I praise God for compassionate doctors and medications that slow the progression of this disease.........