Testing, testing...

It occurs to me in looking at the first three blogs for this site that the reverse order will not seem natural because of the way I am relating things. If you tell a friend about Sharin' Support, you probably should say, "Start with June24." To start reading today about testing might cause someone to wonder if the author is even sensible. Also, today's heading about testing refers to the same day of the diagnosis, June 17, 2007. There could have been some tests earlier, but things didn't work out well.

One time a couple of years ago we (sisters and I) convinced Pop to take our mother to a doctor. He took her to their "family doctor," not a gerontologist or any other kind of specialist. Pop later related that the doctor put a piece of paper in front of Mother and asked her to answer the questions. She took one look at the list of questions and became irate. So Pop (in order to stem off an explosion most likely) wadded up the sheet of paper and tossed it into the trashcan. Since I did not see the paper, I do not know what "set her off." However, there are many resources one can check on the internet to read about symptoms and early signs. I am including a few questions here as an example:

The symptom screener can help you find out if the problems you're noticing could be symptoms of Alzheimer's. Answer the eight questions below about changes in your loved one and share them with the doctor. For each question, answer "Yes, a change" or "No, no change" or "Don't know."

"Yes, a change" indicates that there has been a change in the last several years caused by cognitive (thinking and memory) problems.

1. Problems with judgment (problems making decisions, bad financial decisions, problems with thinking, etc.)

2. Less interest in hobbies/activities

3. Repeats the same things over and over (questions, stories, or statements)

4. Trouble learning how to use a tool, appliance, or gadget (e.g., VCR, computer, microwave, remote control)

5. Forgets correct month or year

6. Trouble handling complicated financial affairs (balancing checkbook, income taxes, paying bills, etc.)

7. Trouble remembering appointments

8. Daily problems with thinking or memory

Talk to your doctor or health care provider, especially if you've answered "Yes, a change" to two or more questions.

The preceding was taken from an advertisement for Aricept, a medication that may slow the progression of Alzheimer's.


Now, back to June 17, 2007--the Testing

The doctor, I shall call her Dr. Tee, asked Mom questions in a frank manner, very clearly, with just enough elaboration that we could understand what she was asking for, but Mom continued to barely conceal her anger (and could it be contempt?) as she tried to field the questions and come up with adequate answers.

She reminded me of students I have had who did not know the answer but did not want to admit to the fact. They would answer with a comeback of their own to make it seem like, well, of course, they knew the answer. Why did I ask? But when pressed for more info, they really did not know.

For instance, Dr. Tee asked Mom her age. Mom chuckled and replied that yes, she knew her own age.

Dr. Tee: Well, what is it?

Mom: Well, I'm in my seventies.

Dr. Tee: What is it? (All this time Mom kept looking to Pop and me for a hint or sympathy or something.)

Mom: Oh, 75 or 77. You can figure it up.

Dr. Tee: Yes, I can; I have your birth date right here on the computer. But I want to know if you know. Most people know their own age when questioned and can just blurt it out.

This was maybe the first "big" shock to be revealed. There were more to come.

Upon Dr. Tee's request, Mom was unable to draw a clock with the numbers on the face and then draw hands on the face indicating the time to be 11:10. Her drawing when asked to do this made me want to burst into tears instantly. But Mom continued to act as if she did not understand what the big fuss was all about. She asked us, "Isn't everyone forgetful from time to time? His (Pop's) memory isn't so good sometimes." (And then to me later, "His is a lot worse than mine. Why's he trying to put all of the blame on me?")

The next part seemed to come straight from The 36-Hour Day. Dr. Tee told Mom she was going to say three words. She wanted Mom to repeat them and then remember them because she would ask her to repeat them again in a little bit. Mom repeated "tulip, brown, umbrella." The doctor changed the subject for one or two minutes and then asked Mom to repeat the three words. The whole time I was repeating them in my mind, thinking, Come on, Mom, you can do it. She could not name one of the words. First hint from the doc: the first word is a flower--no response. Did I say rose, daisy, or tulip? Rose. And the same with the other two words. Even with the hints, Mom did not appear to have a clue what the doctor was talking about. This shock was really bad.

We talked about where they go during an average day, what kind of activities they are involved in, who handles the finances, who does the driving. The responses from Mom did not get any less hostile as time went on.

Mom and the doctor went across the hall for the physical testing. After she put Mom in that room, she came back briefly to talk to Pop and me. She said, "I can't leave her in there for long because she will become more upset." So listen quickly, in other words. She asked Pop how many vehicles they have; he said, "Two." She asked how many drivers; he said, "Two." She then said, "No, you have one driver; get rid of one of the vehicles somehow." Then she went across the hall to check Mom's reflexes, heart, blood pressure, I suppose. When they came back to us, she mentioned that Mom was very healthy. She also said she has a slight heart murmur. No one was aware of that.