Re: Fw: Mini MENTAL STATUS Exam

[Guest guest]

In a message dated 2002-04-20 8:50:58 PM Eastern Daylight Time,

MaiLiis@... writes:

> regard to MMSEs. Does anyone know?

>

I have come to the conclusion that all the tests are really for the

doctors...there is very little offered to us in the way of meds or any

positive hope for improvement. so I am now resolved to pay no attention to

the #s game. So my head is in the sand, so what.

Ev

[Guest guest]

I have never heard of these numbers before. I seem to feel ignorant

when it comes to reading about the MMSE and scores relating to them. I

don't remember dads neurologist telling me numbers or scores. Not that

it didn't happen, or maybe the neuro. just didn't pass on any scores.

Anyway, I agree with the fact that they are just numbers. Dad and I

live the progression, with or without numbers. Good luck to all that

have been given scores relating to MMSE's and the like.

Sandie

Des Moines, IA

[Guest guest]

In a message dated 2002-04-22 12:56:21 PM Eastern Daylight Time,

MaiLiis@... writes:

> That you....or anyone....doesn't put value on it is beside the point.

> But I am curious as to how you came to your conclusion when you say you

> feel ignorant

> about the MMSE?

>

I don't know if it was my note you meant, or someone else's' but if your

husband is like most who have LBD, the very nature of the illness can change

any score from day to day, if not from hour to hour. To tell the truth I feel

he is under enough pressure, from himself, just to get through the day that

added pressure is not needed.

[Guest guest]

In a message dated 4/21/02 8:41:37 PM Central Daylight Time, buev@...

writes:

> so I am now resolved to pay no attention to the #s game. So my head is in

> the sand, so what.

>

Thanks for the very realistic chuckle, Ev! I KNOW that in spite of Bob's

staying steady there are other mental declines. aarghhhhhh

Cheryl

[Guest guest]

They may just be 'numbers' to you, but where my husband's testing is concerned,

I cannot

be that cavalier. These scores are used by Stanford research (just one among

many prestigious

research facilities) to track decline. Research results may be too late to

benefit your

father....or my husband...., but at least it's a measure of how the medical

community evaluates

the patient. That you....or anyone....doesn't put value on it is beside the

point.

But I am curious as to how you came to your conclusion when you say you feel

ignorant

about the MMSE?

Is it just me, or has this group deteriorated to just a " feeling " group? What

happened to the

FACTS we used to share? Call me hardnosed, but I came to this site more than a

year ago

in order to LEARN about the disease....not to join a chat group. Sorry to step

on toes...

but I am near leaving and thought it best to speak my truth.

Mai-Liis

I seem to feel ignorant

when it comes to reading about the MMSE and scores relating to them. I

don't remember dads neurologist telling me numbers or scores. Not that

it didn't happen, or maybe the neuro. just didn't pass on any scores.

Anyway, I agree with the fact that they are just numbers.

[Guest guest]

With all due respect Mai-Liis, you are one of the few among us who

has a scientific background.

I come here for both information and sharing of feelings but I don't

expect people here to be scientists and wouldn't use them as sources

of medical information--just as sources of ideas and observations.

Hope you won't leave. You can often shed light where the rest of us

are standing in the shadows.

> They may just be 'numbers' to you, but where my husband's testing

is concerned, I cannot

> be that cavalier. These scores are used by Stanford research (just

one among many prestigious

> research facilities) to track decline. Research results may be

too late to benefit your

> father....or my husband...., but at least it's a measure of how the

medical community evaluates

> the patient. That you....or anyone....doesn't put value on it is

beside the point.

> But I am curious as to how you came to your conclusion when you say

you feel ignorant

> about the MMSE?

>

> Is it just me, or has this group deteriorated to just a " feeling "

group? What happened to the

> FACTS we used to share? Call me hardnosed, but I came to this site

more than a year ago

> in order to LEARN about the disease....not to join a chat group.

Sorry to step on toes...

> but I am near leaving and thought it best to speak my truth.

>

> Mai-Liis

>

>

>

> I seem to feel ignorant

> when it comes to reading about the MMSE and scores relating to

them. I

> don't remember dads neurologist telling me numbers or scores.

Not that

> it didn't happen, or maybe the neuro. just didn't pass on any

scores.

> Anyway, I agree with the fact that they are just numbers.

>

>

>

[Guest guest]

Mai-Liis

I am sorry to have sparked your anger concerning the MMSE. When I

mentioned I feel ignorant in this matter, I was merely meaning that I

had no knowledge of this test, or the numbers. Our neurologist didn't

speak of this test to my dad or myself.......atleast from what I can

remember. I didn't mean to say that the numbers weren't important, to

you or anyone else, only that they have little value to me where my dad

is concerned. I have not had them during our journey in this disease,

so as of today, they still hold little significance to my dads

progression. Today is a very high stress day for myself, and I truly

feel God is still completing my test for the day to see if I pass or

fail. I chose not to fail, and not to let this or any other day get me

down. Life is all what I make of it. When I visited my dad today, he

was very emotional and cried uncontrollably the whole time I was there.

I couldn't quite pinpoint the struggles he was feeling, but do know that

it was particularly tough to see him that way. I gracefully bowed out

and told him I would see him again soon. After many tears on the way

out of the nursing home, then a wonderful extended drive in the

sunshine, I must admit I feel better. Again, I am sorry, and please

accept my apologies.

Sandie

Des Moines, IA

[Guest guest]

My husband's neurologist took the MMSE seriously. He had me performing it at

home every other day to see how quickly Spence was deteriorating. It was sad,

but instructive, to see how he changed from week to week and sometimes even day

to day. And also how he drew the clock was very instructive to the neurologist -

some ways point to AZ, some to PD, etc.

S.

Mai-Liis wrote: They may just be 'numbers' to you, but

where my husband's testing is concerned, I cannot

be that cavalier. These scores are used by Stanford research (just one among

many prestigious

research facilities) to track decline. Research results may be too late to

benefit your

father....or my husband...., but at least it's a measure of how the medical

community evaluates

the patient. That you....or anyone....doesn't put value on it is beside the

point.

But I am curious as to how you came to your conclusion when you say you feel

ignorant

about the MMSE?

Is it just me, or has this group deteriorated to just a " feeling " group? What

happened to the

FACTS we used to share? Call me hardnosed, but I came to this site more than a

year ago

in order to LEARN about the disease....not to join a chat group. Sorry to step

on toes...

but I am near leaving and thought it best to speak my truth.

Mai-Liis

I seem to feel ignorant

when it comes to reading about the MMSE and scores relating to them. I

don't remember dads neurologist telling me numbers or scores. Not that

it didn't happen, or maybe the neuro. just didn't pass on any scores.

Anyway, I agree with the fact that they are just numbers.

[Guest guest]

With all due respect Mai-Liis, you are one of the few among us who

has a scientific background.

I have no scientific background whatsoever. I just learned a long

time ago that absolutely no one is as interested about my LO....be

that my son or my husband....as I am. Therefore, it's nescessary

for me to become expert in their illnesses. But the closest I come

to a scientific background is that my former mother-in-law and

brother-in-law were M.D.'s.

Mai-Liis

[Guest guest]

Thank you for this information, . Did your husband's scores decline year

to year? Was he diagnosed

with LBD? Regarding the clock face, do you remember the particulars?

Since you have some experience with the MMSE, can you think of an explanation

why the score might

stay the same in spite of real obvious decline in decision making ability,

judgment, etc.?

Thanks! Mai-Liis

[Guest guest]

Our neurologist uses the MMSE to chart progress or decline and for research but

the score varies for us too. My husband has the cavalier attitude about this -

he said, 'you know that is really nice but she keeps asking me all

those silly questions.' -lula

[Guest guest]

In a message dated 4/22/02 8:24:34 PM Central Daylight Time,

MaiLiis@... writes:

> Did your husband's scores decline year to year

Several years ago, after a really bad spell, we went for the semi-annual

assessment. Bob's MMSE was one point higher than it had been 6 months

earlier. In utter frustration I told the neurologist I must sound like a

fool after telling how bad the recent decline had been, then Bob recovering

some only a day or two earlier. The doctor said he thought he'd probably

caught him on a bad day at the previous visit and a good one at the current

visit.

Cheryl

[Guest guest]

Our neurologist uses the MMSE to chart progress or decline and for research

but the score varies for us too. My husband has the cavalier attitude about

this - he said, 'you know that is really nice but she keeps asking me

all those silly questions.' -lula

Oh, how funny.....although I think they do sound kind of silly. Do your

husbands scores

decline on a yearly basis? Thanks, Mai-Liis

[Guest guest]

Oh my goodness, Lula. And I thought WE were on a rollercoaster!! Our

apparently has to do with " other " things. Cheryl

[Guest guest]

--Mai-Liis,

In Oct 2000 his MMSE was 10, it increased through the summer into the fall 2001

to 17. In January 2002 it was back to 9 but my husband was having problems with

other things - had a tooth filled and his ingrown toe fixed, these type of

events tend to cause more than usual confusion. So we'll see if it comes back

up now that spring is here

> Oh, how funny.....although I think they do sound kind of silly. Do your

husbands scores

> decline on a yearly basis? Thanks, Mai-Liis

>

[Guest guest]

In a message dated 4/24/02 9:43:24 AM Central Daylight Time,

sanclown@... writes:

> Any suggestions for medications for LBD depression?

>

Sandie, Remeron, aka Mertazipine, is an antidepressant that can also help the

patient sleep. Eve F's husband has been using it successfully for sleep for

several years. My husband has just started it and we don't see any benefit

yet - too early. It can cause strange dreams. I'm not sure if Seroquel is

for depression or something else. Others here that are using it can give you

better insight.

Cheryl

[Guest guest]

Sandie,

I have see mom cry when she doesn't get enough sleep.

The other thing I read the other day is consider depression if there is

lots of crying. Don't know where I read it.

Donna

A balanced diet is a cookie in each hand. Courtsey of The-Mouth.com

[Guest guest]

Donna

Thanks for the insight. Any suggestions for medications for LBD

depression?

Sandie

[Guest guest]

Sandie,

I know there are some, but I haven't got that info at fingertip. I'll

see if someone else answers that or go look into some of the stuff I

have saved. I know I have it somewhere. I have tried to use as little

drugs as possible as the nh wants to drug her out. A little goes a long

way with mom and she spits out drugs unless they tell her it's her

thyroid meds.

Donna

A balanced diet is a cookie in each hand. Courtsey of The-Mouth.com

[Guest guest]

My husband was taking Seroquel for his hallucinations. It did seem to help him

sleep also. He took Zoloft for depression.

SS

LewyLady@... wrote: In a message dated 4/24/02 9:43:24 AM Central Daylight

Time,

sanclown@... writes:

> Any suggestions for medications for LBD depression?

>

Sandie, Remeron, aka Mertazipine, is an antidepressant that can also help the

patient sleep. Eve F's husband has been using it successfully for sleep for

several years. My husband has just started it and we don't see any benefit

yet - too early. It can cause strange dreams. I'm not sure if Seroquel is

for depression or something else. Others here that are using it can give you

better insight.

Cheryl

[Guest guest]

Cheryl

Thank you for the meds. information. Dad does take Zyprexa, also.

Sandie

[Guest guest]

Sandie, my husband is doing well on Paxil. Has helped the depression as well as

the volatility.

I think without it we might be divorced. Seroquel is an antipsychotic, and he

takes this for

hallucinations, delusions, and sleep difficulties. This is also working well.

Mai-Liis

[Guest guest]

Mai-Liis

Thank you for passing on information concerning the Paxil.

Sandie

Des Moines, IA

[Guest guest]

Mai Liis

How long has he been on Paxil and how much?

Donna

A balanced diet is a cookie in each hand. Courtsey of The-Mouth.com

[Guest guest]

He's been on 20 mg. of Paxil since the beginning of March of last year. I am

surprised

that such a low dosage had such a dramatic effect on a 210# man, but it did and

still does.

But with him, volatility was the main problem....depression secondarily. Paxil

works on

the anxiety/hysterical aspect.....at least in his case.

Mai-Liis

Mai Liis

How long has he been on Paxil and how much?

Donna

A balanced diet is a cookie in each hand. Courtsey of The-Mouth.com