The Nonpersistence of Memory
I saw my doctor today. I think I love her more every time I see her.
She's happy with the A1c. (Myself, not so much, watching the number creep up a couple of tenths a time ) We adjusted the cholesterol treatment. We didn't discuss blood pressure, so that must've been ok.
It seems like every time I see her, I have a Big Question to talk about. Today, I wanted to talk about a problem I'm having with my memory. The problem is quite specific in how it manifests. I've experienced it for several years.
Not that it has occurred to me to connect that problem with the fact that my father had Alzheimer's Disease. I also haven't connected it with the current belief that type 2 is a risk factor for Alzheimer's.
OK, maybe I have made those connections. You might say that I'm a little concerned.
Make that 'terrified'.
I described for my doctor, in as great a detail as I could, what I experience and what I don't. I also described how this is likely at least partially a depressive symptom and the conversation I'd had with a psychiatrist about this a number of years ago.
My doctor asked good questions and listened carefully to my answers. She then said that was is happening did not sound to her like dementia and that the depression and anxiety seemed a better explanation.
Has this conversation lessened my concern? I don't know yet. But I no longer have to worry that I'm going down a textbook path or wonder if I should be talking to a doctor.
And I'm no longer alone with this.
(My title, even more obscure than most of mine, refers to this painting.)
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October 22nd, 2012 - 18:42
I have type-1 diabetes and I really understand a. the feeling that something else could be wrong, b. feeling reservations about talking about it and c. feeling relieved when you finally get the chance to talk about with someone and they tell you “its not as serious as you think’. Thanks for sharing. It’s always nice to be reminded that within the ‘struggle’ we call diabetes, you never a truly alone..