Guest guest Posted April 26, 2006 Report Posted April 26, 2006 Hi Imogene, Thanks for the information about how to find out more about MSA. I still haven't had time to do a search on it, but I will today. I do know that it's a rare degenerative disease; only about 50,000 in the States have it. I'm not sure if it affects memory. It still boggles my mind how my FIL was able to complete some of the tasks that tested memory, but he had no idea what month, day, or year it was. All I can figure is that each task tested a different command center in the brain. I'm guessing that long-term memory is where his problem lies. Do you or anyone else know what we can expect from the four hours of neuropsychological testing? He'll go in on July 8th for that. I really hate that he has to wait that long, but I think the neurologist wants to see what changes, if any, reducing his Sinemet CR during the day brings. Thanks again, April > > > April, I looked up MSA on Google.com, using medical disease MSA, and it had > quite a bit to say about MSA. > > My husband didn't do well at all on the numbers of counting backwards by 7, > and you may not know that he had worked with figures on a daily basis in an > office, doing estimating on big multimillion dollar jobs. That was before the > days of computers doing it for them. He was great with any complicated math. > Yet, my poor man couldn't do the count backwards by seven thing at all. He > failed several of the test. > > April, I hope things go well for your FIL, and the he doesn't have something > that can't be helped. Which is anything we talk about on this List, I guess. > Oh mercy! > > Imogene > Caregiver for my True Texas Gentleman husband of 35 years. He has AD and > possibly LBD, is Taking Aricept. > > > > > > > In a message dated 4/25/2006 2:14:36 PM Central Daylight Time, > aswest1021@... writes: > > Hello Everyone, > > I just got home from the appointment my FIL had today with a > neurologist at Emory for a second opinion. He put my FIL through a > battery of tests to watch how he tracks his eyes from L to R and up > and down. He did fairly well with that. He also had him subtract a > series of numbers by 7 each time and he did well with that, too. > The shocker came when my FIL was asked what month it was and he said > May. He, then, was asked what year it was and he said it was 1974. > I was completely stunned. He also didn't know the day of the week, > but could tell the city and state he was in. He tested my FIL's > mobility by having him walk with and without his walker. > Surprisinly enough, he did relatively well. Of course, not long > after we left the doctor's office, he got really bad. We went to a > restaurant and three different men had to help him get seated and > stand back up again. When we got back to my house, he fell > backwards and fell into the garbage can, but didn't get hurt, > thankfully. > > Anyhow, due to my FIL's memory problems and the fact that he has an > active tremor, the doctor said he doesn't have " typical PD " . In > fact, at this juncture, he's leaning towards Diffuse Lewy Body or > Multiple Systems Atrophy (because he's having problems with urinary > incontinence and constipation). So, he's ordered that my FIL > undergo 4 hours of neuropsychological testing in 6 weeks and he's > also ordered an MRI. He said those things should help him come to a > definitive diagnosis. He's going to wean my FIL off the Sinemet CR > during the day over a period of the next three weeks. He said his > philosophy with meds sometimes is that less is more. Does anyone > here know anything about MSA? What is the prognosis, in comparison > to LBD? Any info. would be much appreciated. > > I'll keep you posted, > April > > P.S. My FIL is currently falling anywhere from 8 to 16 times a > day. My poor MIL is worn completely out. Just being with my FIL > for 6 hours today wore me out. I don't know how she does it. > > > > > > Welcome to LBDcaregivers. > > > Quote
Guest guest Posted April 26, 2006 Report Posted April 26, 2006 The neuropsych testing is long and very exhausting for the patient. It usually includes an MMPI for personality and psych disorders. It will test for strength in limbs and cognitive skills and speed. It is a battery of tests. My neuropsych tests were 11 hours over two days. It is grueling for the patient. The testors even make mention of not doing well on tests at the end of the time due to exhaustion. Dirk aswest1021 wrote: Hi Imogene, Thanks for the information about how to find out more about MSA. I still haven't had time to do a search on it, but I will today. I do know that it's a rare degenerative disease; only about 50,000 in the States have it. I'm not sure if it affects memory. It still boggles my mind how my FIL was able to complete some of the tasks that tested memory, but he had no idea what month, day, or year it was. All I can figure is that each task tested a different command center in the brain. I'm guessing that long-term memory is where his problem lies. Do you or anyone else know what we can expect from the four hours of neuropsychological testing? He'll go in on July 8th for that. I really hate that he has to wait that long, but I think the neurologist wants to see what changes, if any, reducing his Sinemet CR during the day brings. Thanks again, April > > > April, I looked up MSA on Google.com, using medical disease MSA, and it had > quite a bit to say about MSA. > > My husband didn't do well at all on the numbers of counting backwards by 7, > and you may not know that he had worked with figures on a daily basis in an > office, doing estimating on big multimillion dollar jobs. That was before the > days of computers doing it for them. He was great with any complicated math. > Yet, my poor man couldn't do the count backwards by seven thing at all. He > failed several of the test. > > April, I hope things go well for your FIL, and the he doesn't have something > that can't be helped. Which is anything we talk about on this List, I guess. > Oh mercy! > > Imogene > Caregiver for my True Texas Gentleman husband of 35 years. He has AD and > possibly LBD, is Taking Aricept. > > > > > > > In a message dated 4/25/2006 2:14:36 PM Central Daylight Time, > aswest1021@... writes: > > Hello Everyone, > > I just got home from the appointment my FIL had today with a > neurologist at Emory for a second opinion. He put my FIL through a > battery of tests to watch how he tracks his eyes from L to R and up > and down. He did fairly well with that. He also had him subtract a > series of numbers by 7 each time and he did well with that, too. > The shocker came when my FIL was asked what month it was and he said > May. He, then, was asked what year it was and he said it was 1974. > I was completely stunned. He also didn't know the day of the week, > but could tell the city and state he was in. He tested my FIL's > mobility by having him walk with and without his walker. > Surprisinly enough, he did relatively well. Of course, not long > after we left the doctor's office, he got really bad. We went to a > restaurant and three different men had to help him get seated and > stand back up again. When we got back to my house, he fell > backwards and fell into the garbage can, but didn't get hurt, > thankfully. > > Anyhow, due to my FIL's memory problems and the fact that he has an > active tremor, the doctor said he doesn't have " typical PD " . In > fact, at this juncture, he's leaning towards Diffuse Lewy Body or > Multiple Systems Atrophy (because he's having problems with urinary > incontinence and constipation). So, he's ordered that my FIL > undergo 4 hours of neuropsychological testing in 6 weeks and he's > also ordered an MRI. He said those things should help him come to a > definitive diagnosis. He's going to wean my FIL off the Sinemet CR > during the day over a period of the next three weeks. He said his > philosophy with meds sometimes is that less is more. Does anyone > here know anything about MSA? What is the prognosis, in comparison > to LBD? Any info. would be much appreciated. > > I'll keep you posted, > April > > P.S. My FIL is currently falling anywhere from 8 to 16 times a > day. My poor MIL is worn completely out. Just being with my FIL > for 6 hours today wore me out. I don't know how she does it. > > > > > > Welcome to LBDcaregivers. > > > Quote
Guest guest Posted April 26, 2006 Report Posted April 26, 2006 My dad had this test done. It lasted a little over the 4 hour mark. My brother met dad and I at the appointment yet we were not able to go into the testing with dad. He did seem exhausted after the test. It was early on in dad's disease. Sandie Des Moines, IA -- Re: Re: LBD and MSA/Imogene The neuropsych testing is long and very exhausting for the patient. It usually includes an MMPI for personality and psych disorders. It will test for strength in limbs and cognitive skills and speed. It is a battery of tests. My neuropsych tests were 11 hours over two days. It is grueling for the patient. The testors even make mention of not doing well on tests at the end of the time due to exhaustion. Dirk aswest1021 wrote: Hi Imogene, Thanks for the information about how to find out more about MSA. I still haven't had time to do a search on it, but I will today. I do know that it's a rare degenerative disease; only about 50,000 in the States have it. I'm not sure if it affects memory. It still boggles my mind how my FIL was able to complete some of the tasks that tested memory, but he had no idea what month, day, or year it was. All I can figure is that each task tested a different command center in the brain. I'm guessing that long-term memory is where his problem lies. Do you or anyone else know what we can expect from the four hours of neuropsychological testing? He'll go in on July 8th for that. I really hate that he has to wait that long, but I think the neurologist wants to see what changes, if any, reducing his Sinemet CR during the day brings. Thanks again, April > > > April, I looked up MSA on Google.com, using medical disease MSA, and it had > quite a bit to say about MSA. > > My husband didn't do well at all on the numbers of counting backwards by 7, > and you may not know that he had worked with figures on a daily basis in an > office, doing estimating on big multimillion dollar jobs. That was before the > days of computers doing it for them. He was great with any complicated math. > Yet, my poor man couldn't do the count backwards by seven thing at all. He > failed several of the test. > > April, I hope things go well for your FIL, and the he doesn't have something > that can't be helped. Which is anything we talk about on this List, I guess. > Oh mercy! > > Imogene > Caregiver for my True Texas Gentleman husband of 35 years. He has AD and > possibly LBD, is Taking Aricept. > > > > > > > In a message dated 4/25/2006 2:14:36 PM Central Daylight Time, > aswest1021@... writes: > > Hello Everyone, > > I just got home from the appointment my FIL had today with a > neurologist at Emory for a second opinion. He put my FIL through a > battery of tests to watch how he tracks his eyes from L to R and up > and down. He did fairly well with that. He also had him subtract a > series of numbers by 7 each time and he did well with that, too. > The shocker came when my FIL was asked what month it was and he said > May. He, then, was asked what year it was and he said it was 1974. > I was completely stunned. He also didn't know the day of the week, > but could tell the city and state he was in. He tested my FIL's > mobility by having him walk with and without his walker. > Surprisinly enough, he did relatively well. Of course, not long > after we left the doctor's office, he got really bad. We went to a > restaurant and three different men had to help him get seated and > stand back up again. When we got back to my house, he fell > backwards and fell into the garbage can, but didn't get hurt, > thankfully. > > Anyhow, due to my FIL's memory problems and the fact that he has an > active tremor, the doctor said he doesn't have " typical PD " . In > fact, at this juncture, he's leaning towards Diffuse Lewy Body or > Multiple Systems Atrophy (because he's having problems with urinary > incontinence and constipation). So, he's ordered that my FIL > undergo 4 hours of neuropsychological testing in 6 weeks and he's > also ordered an MRI. He said those things should help him come to a > definitive diagnosis. He's going to wean my FIL off the Sinemet CR > during the day over a period of the next three weeks. He said his > philosophy with meds sometimes is that less is more. Does anyone > here know anything about MSA? What is the prognosis, in comparison > to LBD? Any info. would be much appreciated. > > I'll keep you posted, > April > > P.S. My FIL is currently falling anywhere from 8 to 16 times a > day. My poor MIL is worn completely out. Just being with my FIL > for 6 hours today wore me out. I don't know how she does it. > > > > > > Welcome to LBDcaregivers. > > > Quote
Guest guest Posted April 26, 2006 Report Posted April 26, 2006 Thank you, Dirk. Our new Doctor said the test he will give will take from 1 1/2 to 2 hours. My husband has already had an MRI, and this Docor may get the records from my husband's prevous Neurologist. The short test that my husband took showed without a doubt that he had a problem, along with the notes I had given to the doctor on his activities at home. He was diagnosed with AD. Yet, he has had Hallucinations from what we thought was early on. He may have been sicker than I realized a long time ago. That is usually the case with our LOs. When I tried to nail down if he had LBD the doctor was quite rude on the phone, wouldn't say, and slammed the phone down. He didn't know, obviously. MY husband could hear him, and heard the phone. (ears like a rabbit.) Hence the new Doctor. We didn't like the first doctor from the first visit on. I am anticipating a clear cut diagnosis. Imogene Caregiver for my True Texas Gentleman husband of 35 years. He has AD and possibly LBD, is Taking Aricept. In a message dated 4/26/2006 9:34:41 AM Central Daylight Time, balivehappy@... writes: The neuropsych testing is long and very exhausting for the patient. It usually includes an MMPI for personality and psych disorders. It will test for strength in limbs and cognitive skills and speed. It is a battery of tests. My neuropsych tests were 11 hours over two days. It is grueling for the patient. The testors even make mention of not doing well on tests at the end of the time due to exhaustion. Dirk aswest1021 wrote: Hi Imogene, Thanks for the information about how to find out more about MSA. I still haven't had time to do a search on it, but I will today. I do know that it's a rare degenerative disease; only about 50,000 in the States have it. I'm not sure if it affects memory. It still boggles my mind how my FIL was able to complete some of the tasks that tested memory, but he had no idea what month, day, or year it was. All I can figure is that each task tested a different command center in the brain. I'm guessing that long-term memory is where his problem lies. Do you or anyone else know what we can expect from the four hours of neuropsychological testing? He'll go in on July 8th for that. I really hate that he has to wait that long, but I think the neurologist wants to see what changes, if any, reducing his Sinemet CR during the day brings. Thanks again, April > > > April, I looked up MSA on Google.com, using medical disease MSA, and it had > quite a bit to say about MSA. > > My husband didn't do well at all on the numbers of counting backwards by 7, > and you may not know that he had worked with figures on a daily basis in an > office, doing estimating on big multimillion dollar jobs. That was before the > days of computers doing it for them. He was great with any complicated math. > Yet, my poor man couldn't do the count backwards by seven thing at all. He > failed several of the test. > > April, I hope things go well for your FIL, and the he doesn't have something > that can't be helped. Which is anything we talk about on this List, I guess. > Oh mercy! > > Imogene > Caregiver for my True Texas Gentleman husband of 35 years. He has AD and > possibly LBD, is Taking Aricept. > > > > > > > In a message dated 4/25/2006 2:14:36 PM Central Daylight Time, > aswest1021@... writes: > > Hello Everyone, > > I just got home from the appointment my FIL had today with a > neurologist at Emory for a second opinion. He put my FIL through a > battery of tests to watch how he tracks his eyes from L to R and up > and down. He did fairly well with that. He also had him subtract a > series of numbers by 7 each time and he did well with that, too. > The shocker came when my FIL was asked what month it was and he said > May. He, then, was asked what year it was and he said it was 1974. > I was completely stunned. He also didn't know the day of the week, > but could tell the city and state he was in. He tested my FIL's > mobility by having him walk with and without his walker. > Surprisinly enough, he did relatively well. Of course, not long > after we left the doctor's office, he got really bad. We went to a > restaurant and three different men had to help him get seated and > stand back up again. When we got back to my house, he fell > backwards and fell into the garbage can, but didn't get hurt, > thankfully. > > Anyhow, due to my FIL's memory problems and the fact that he has an > active tremor, the doctor said he doesn't have " typical PD " . In > fact, at this juncture, he's leaning towards Diffuse Lewy Body or > Multiple Systems Atrophy (because he's having problems with urinary > incontinence and constipation). So, he's ordered that my FIL > undergo 4 hours of neuropsychological testing in 6 weeks and he's > also ordered an MRI. He said those things should help him come to a > definitive diagnosis. He's going to wean my FIL off the Sinemet CR > during the day over a period of the next three weeks. He said his > philosophy with meds sometimes is that less is more. Does anyone > here know anything about MSA? What is the prognosis, in comparison > to LBD? Any info. would be much appreciated. > > I'll keep you posted, > April > > P.S. My FIL is currently falling anywhere from 8 to 16 times a > day. My poor MIL is worn completely out. Just being with my FIL > for 6 hours today wore me out. I don't know how she does it. > > > > > > Welcome to LBDcaregivers. > > > Yahoo! Groups Links > > > > > > > > > > > > [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] > Welcome to LBDcaregivers. Quote
Guest guest Posted April 26, 2006 Report Posted April 26, 2006 Sandy, Thanks for the hint. The psychiatrist may want to know privately if he is having any problems at home with me. (grin) Not hardly. My husband leans on me so hard that I have to gently move him off once in awhile. We are very, very close. We'll see. Thanks for the hint, I'll be ready, and not angry if I'm kept out. But, we always go to every doctor together. MY husband goes with me, and I with him. That is just the way we are. Imogene In a message dated 4/26/2006 9:44:09 AM Central Daylight Time, sanclown@... writes: My dad had this test done. It lasted a little over the 4 hour mark. My brother met dad and I at the appointment yet we were not able to go into the testing with dad. He did seem exhausted after the test. It was early on in dad's disease. Sandie Des Moines, IA Quote
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