My first visit to my new neurologist

Today, I went to see a new neurologist for the first time. He seemed very nice and we talked about the records that he had gotten from my two previous neurologists. He asked me how long ago I thought that I have had problems with my memory. I told him that I thought that I could trace my memory problems back to the fall of 1999. I told him that my daughter graduated from high school in June 2000 and she needed me to find a baby picture for her. I just couldn’t remember to do that, so she missed the deadline to submit it. I remember that she was so mad at me and I felt really bad about it but I just couldn’t remember. I also told him that I remembered that my three children used to get frustrated with me because I kept repeating myself. I would ask them the same questions constantly and have no recollection of it.

We talked about the different medications that I’ve been on for my memory impairment. I was first prescribed Aricept, but I developed severe leg cramps, so I had to stop taking it. Then I was prescribed Galantamine, which is a generic of Razadyne. I am supposed to take two - four mg. pills twice daily. I told him that most days, I can only remember to take it in the morning. He asked if I had ever taken it as it was prescribed and I told him that I didn’t really know.

He drew a circle on a piece of paper and asked me to add the numbers to the clock. Then he asked me to show the time two thirty. I think that I did well on both of these tasks. He also checked all of my reflexes. He had me start with the number one hundred, then subtract seven and give him the answer. I said the answer was ninety-four, which was wrong. He asked me to try it again and I told him that the correct answer was ninety-three. He asked me to subtract seven from ninety-three and I told him that was really hard for me to do. I told him that I’ve always had trouble doing mental math and that I really needed a piece of paper so I could borrow.

The doctor verbally gave me a list of things that he wanted me to remember. The words were table, boy and fifty-five Broadway. Then he asked me several questions to distract me from concentrating on these words. A few minutes later, he asked me to recall these things and I was able to remember boy and Broadway, but I didn’t remember table and I thought the number was one hundred fifty-five.

We talked about all the testing that I had previously been through and he asked me if I ever had a Neuropsychological evaluation and I said no. He explained that he felt that it would give some insight as to what I’m dealing with.

He told me that that my insurance would probably pay for it. I agreed to have this testing done. He said that it would take a little time to get an appointment. He also said that he would like to see me again in eight weeks, but if I wasn’t able to get the Neuropsychological evaluation before that, that I needed to change the appointment for after the testing.

Towards the end of this appointment, I asked the doctor what he thought my correct diagnosis was and he said that he thought it was MCI. I was happy to hear this, but I will just wait until the Neuropsychological evaluation testing is done and the results are in.

My new neurologist was very surprised that Neuropsychological evaluation was never done before.

I used to drive an hour to see my previous neurologist. I never felt like he listened to me. He never seemed to validate my concerns. He would just say that I was doing well and he didn't need to see me unless I felt like things weren't going right. When I would make another appointment, I would go with all these typed concerns. He would still say that I was doing well. I was so frustrated! I hadn't seen him in almost four years, but he still refilled my prescription for Galantamine. This past January, I was finally able to get health care after being without it for three years.

My new neurologist doesn't put much value on a pet scan. He said something to the effect that it really wasn't standardized. I don't really know what that meant but I didn't ask him. I also know that whatever diagnosis is the correct one, I will continue to have a positive attitude.

I'm prepared for whatever diagnosis the neuropsychologist gives me. I just don't want to hear that there is nothing wrong with me. For me, that would be much worse. I don't really think that the doctor will tell me there is nothing wrong.

When I think about the possibility of receiving another diagnosis of MCI, I don't think that it will change anything for me. I will still continue to live my life as I have been doing. Even with MCI, it can still progress to dementia, so I'm very prepared for that. I know that I'm still living with a memory impairment and that will not change.