Is This Gaslighting or is it REALLY "Just Anxiety"?
If you say FOREST when you meant to say BALCONY, is it really just anxiety?
I went to my doctor recently to tell him about memory and language problems I’ve been having lately.
I told him how I keep mixing up words or saying the wrong words. For example, I wanted to say, “I’m taking Archie (my dog) out to the balcony,” but the actual word that came out of my mouth was FOREST.
Kind of funny, but also worrying.
I also told him…
I forgot my sister-in-law’s name and had to ask my husband (that was embarrassing)
I got confused trying to organize my pill organizer
Asked a neighbor how her “people” were. I meant DOGS.
Couldn’t think of the word “croissant” and had to ask my husband 5 times (within a short time) what I had for lunch. CROISSANT. And don’t judge me for my food choices, please!
I’m always mixing up words. For example, I want to say the word “nap” but the word that comes out is “snap” (a combination of sleep and nap).
Guess what the doctor asked me. No really, GUESS.
He asked if my anxiety had gotten worse recently. And then he told me I couldn’t possibly have young-onset dementia because he could TELL BY LOOKING AT ME.
That can’t possibly be true. Sure, maybe he could tell if I showed up in late-stage dementia with my toothbrush stuck in my hair.
I was instantly deflated and disappointed in him
I knew right then that he didn’t believe me. Or, maybe he believed me, but was ready to attribute everything I said from that moment on to “nothing but anxiety”.
I am anxious. Pretty sure I was literally born with an anxiety disorder. I’ve been an anxious mess since I was very young, but only diagnosed and treated in my late 20’s.
I’m 57 now
My father had an anxiety disorder, but he also had dementia. I don’t think he had an early onset, but I honestly can’t say for sure. He wasn’t “diagnosed” at an early age. But he definitely had dementia by the time he hit 70.
I’m getting a CT Scan
I did convince my doctor to at least refer me for a CT scan. That should at least give us a baseline, right?
A Nurse Practitioner Administered The MoCA Test
The MoCA test is supposed to help identify mild cognitive impairment. A normal score is 26/30.
I got 24. Then the nurse went to talk to my doctor about the results. When she got back, she told me I “actually got 26/30”. Somehow, she’d MISSED a few points.
???????????
He also referred me to a psychiatrist
I’m not sure if the psychiatrist is going to assess my cognition or try to push more pills on me. I’m already on a lot of pills. I don’t think that’s the problem.
I’ve spoken to some people who have early onset, and they say that the psychiatrist can do more complete cognitive testing.
So what’s wrong with me?
Did I get out of bed, put my hearing aids in, brush my hair, and then go to put my hearing aids in AGAIN because I hadn’t had my coffee yet, or is it a sign of something brewing?
HEY, I just realized what a great pun that was. At least I’m still funny.
What do you think?
Is this just normal ageing? I know we all forget things. Words escape us, but they come to us later. We might occasionally put the peanut butter in the fridge or forget where we left our slippers, but is it “normal” to say FOREST instead of BALCONY?
Any thoughts or insights you might have would be greatly appreciated!!
Please leave me a comment, especially if you know someone else who had early onset with symptoms like these, or tell me it’s just anxiety.
Thanks for reading! I’d appreciate any insights you may have on the topic.