Future Fear

[vamom1]

My dad passed away at 60 from what I thought was Alzheimers.  I always had my doubts since my dad lost his motor skills (ability to walk/talk/write), had paranoia, and also would not sleep at all.  Though his short and long term memory were in tact.  I would see him about every 3 months and he always recognized me, my kids, my husband, etc.  He also never forgot my mom - his caregiver.  He would tell stories both current and from the past.  He did not repeat things.  

Now that I am questioning my mom, she uses Alzheimers, Lewy Body, Dementia, Alcohol Dementia to describe dad's condition.  My dad was a very heavy daily drinker/tobacco user from age 14-40.  He was sober from 40 to death but continued with tobacco and a coffee addiction.  

I am trying to figure out if I am at risk for Alzheimers but no one seems to be explaining things to me.  I just called my mom again to ask and she used all the terms loosely.  I explained that all these are very different diagnosis and I would like to know which one.  She told me that she cant remember but she thinks the neurologist said Alzheimers.  If that is the case, he would be the first case in our family line.  No one on my Grandpa or Grandma's side had anything related to dementia.  My Grandparents siblings never had any form of dementia even in later years.  My dad is this one rare case.

Is it possible my dad damaged his brain from alcohol?  even though he had about 15 years of sober living before the illness? I am so scared about my future.  I cannot eat or breathe.  Therapist told me to live each day and not worry.  BUT HOW CAN I?  in tears...

[heartfluttersflyawayplz]

hi, i would say your Dad did not have it, never seen anyone with it that still knew there love ones by name in the end

my mom had it and yes she had lewy body and it did stop her from walking the last 11 months of her life, her legs become very stiff and they just would not work any more , with that you become very stiff, can't hardly move them they are so stiff was your Dad like that.

[rumpled]

If your dad remembered everyone at the end, I know I am not a doctor, odds are he did not have any form of dementia.

I have dealt with my own family with some forms and my husbands parents with dementia, and they were all very impaired at the end. They degraded in different ways, but degraded mentally in a very obvious way. Most die of pneumonia or other things as they cannot really eat or drink and bodily functions decline.

Loss of motor skills can be something else. That disorder I cannot even guess.

Can you damage your brain from alcohol - oh yes. My mom did. She was very impaired from her alcohol usage and it caused a lot of issues with blood vessels. She lost a lot of usage in her legs, and she had strokes and lost vision. Her personality declined and changed - she used to favor me and then started to not like me.  I don't know about the sobriety - my mom never reached that, but alcohol does a lot of damage. But if your dad was sober I would guess he had another disorder going on.

As for you, you cannot worry about what may or may not happen. Even if something does, well, you have to learn to deal with it. I have a long and complex health history and it is not fun, but I deal with it by trying to help others.