MISPLACING Your Car Keys. Leaving the stove on. Forgetting the name of a parent at your Kid’s School. Memory lapses like these are Common, especially when we’re tired or have a lot on our minds. But in some case, forgetfulness, participation if it becomes more frequent or severe, can be a sign of something serious. For 48-Yaar-Old Rebecca Luna, IT WAS. After a series of cognitive tests and scans, she was to told by a neurologist that she has Early-onet (Also Known as Young-Conset) Alzheimer’sWhich Affects People Under Age 65, With Many of The Say Have 40s and 50s. She shared her diagnosis in a viral tiktok post LAST MONTH AND HAS DEEDED TO DOCUMENT HER JOURNEY. (She Also Started a gofundme to cover her medical expresses and help support her family.) In this interview with Yahoo Life, Luna Shares Her First Symptoms, what iTi’a to live with Early-onet Alzheimer’s, The Good Advice and How She’s Managing Life.
Two Years Ago, I was in a Pretty Stressful Period of My Life. I did Kind of Live in a Fast-Paced, Multitasking Sort of Way. I’m in recovery and i’m a single parent working full-time. I have adhd as well. SO I was stresssed, Needless to say, and so any of the (memory lapses) that were happening at that time, I chalked up to perimenopause.
I’ve been in my jab for a few years. Be I opened the computer (one morning) and look at it, i didn’t know what to do. I didn’t know where to start. Normally, you would start your job and you’d be like, “Oh, i’ve get to this, this, this.” I had no idea. There was just… notthingness.
Two Things Happened (Next) That Were Obiviously (Signs that) Something was going on. I was boiling an Egg. I left it on the stove, and then i walked downtown, which is a half-hour Walk. Got Downtown, realized i left the stove on. I Ran Home, and My House was Covered in Smoke. SO, it literally almost caught my house on fire.
(Another time) i was in the gym. I finished my workout and went out to my car. I’m Never someone who loes their keys. I get in my car. I’m looking for my keys. I’m looking through my bag. I can’t find it. I’m Looking under the seats. I’m like, “this is weird.” And then I was to the back seat and look on the top of the Car Becauses Sometimes i’ll have a coffee and put it on top of my car. It wasn’t there. I LOOKED UNDER THE CAR. Not there. I was like, “ok, this is ridiculous.”
I did a whole swoop again – inside, outside, in the back seat – and then i just paused for a minute. And thatn i heard the car. The Car was on, and the keys were in the ignition. My Car was on that whole time. I HAD Completely Blacked out the process of getting in, putting the key in and touring the ignition on.
Getting Diagnosed and Being in Denial
I’ve struggled with mental health and had a psychiatrist at the time. She did some cognitive tests, and i was failing say. About nine months ago, of the neurologist for the first time. He did the two-hour (cognitive test). I failed that one. Then he look at my mris, looked at other things noted by the psychiatrist, and he just walked in with Pamphlets of Early-Conset Alzheimer’s. There was no diagnosis at that time. This was his suspended. (Testing stiher, including her Medial Temporal Atrophy (MTA) Score, which is a diagnostic tool for dementia, LED to a diagnosis of Early-onet Alzheimer’s.)
I have two children. My Older Daughter, She’s A Planner. SO, HER FIRST REFONSE was like, “Ok, well, will i need to buy a house that can can accommodate you and i’m going to take you?” Andn My Younger Daughter, IT’S almost like it is not new to her she’s watched with this this time. But she just told me recently that she’s in Denial.
My mom didn’t belive me eather, and so about two months ago, i sent her one of the (doctor’s) clinical notes where he’s put alzheimer’s on it. And she lost itn thatn Becusee i think she wasn’t believing it unil she saw it on a piece of Paper.
IT’s so weird. I make fun of it all the time Becauses that just generaly who i am. I like to keep things Kind of Light and Funny. It ‘important for me to make fun of myself, to keep the moral for the People AROUND, but I Also Need It Because It Is Serious. I can all take this and just go on an isolation/depression bender, and i will not want to do that.
Going viral on social media
I was looking eaveywhere for resources. My partner and I felt really Alone Becusee our family was in densial, and so we didn’t feel like we were talking to anyone. There are only a few people (with young-onet alzheimer’s) on (tiktok), and i just thought, “i’m going to put a video out there.” And it has 2 million views, which is insane.
I think all of the suggestions (from Viewers Commenting on the video) have been so amazing. They’re amazing for Early-onet Alzheimer’s, but i honestly think the suggestions are great for Everyday Living, Really. I mean, to minimize the things in your home, whic i just did the other day – that was really helpful. (One Commenter Suggested Making A Playlist of Favorite Songs to Stay Connected to YourSelf.) I am 100% Going to Due.
Someone was saying to journal what i’m doing during the day Because what’s one of my new things is i shower and then hours late i have need to have a shower. I Forget, so i’m trying to plan a shower, but of the already had one. So People Are Saying, “Write Down What You’ve Already Done During the Day” as you’re doing say, what is brilliant Because when i’ve showerered, I can just look and see that i did.
Another one that on the top of my to-do list is to get a family member to join in a bank account for me. That was a suggestion from a tiktoker.
I care so Much About Other People Feeling Held and Heard and SEEN and Supported, but seeing this community, thats made it more important, and i just say to know that. The Response Has Been So Incredible.
If you are a love one (of someone with alzheimer’s), my suggestion is to say where they’re at. What i’ve found really helpful with my partner is not to be questioned but reminded, and to just belive. And give say a hug. Tell you say you love. Becusee Really, if i’m Being Completely Honest, what i need is a hug from my family.
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