On Monday, we got the results of my April 12 pet scan. When last I blogged it was to tell you I had been diagnosed with FTD (Frontal Temporal Dementia). This scan changed that diagnosis. They had been searching my brain for Amyloids, and they found lots of them. This confirmed that I have Alzheimer's Disease.
My doctor was pleased with these results. To quote him: "I would rather have Alzheimer's than FTD. FTD is a short term death sentence. Early onset Alzheimer's means you have 10-15 years before the disease really gets going. So your life expectancy just improved greatly!"
My initial response was not happiness, but then I took some time to think about it, and I felt strangely relieved. For a couple of years we had been trying to figure out what was wrong with me, and (I'll be honest with you) our greatest fear was Alzheimer's. It killed President Reagan, and it is killing Glen Campbell. They each suffered long endings, which took great tolls on their familys and loved ones.
I realize that some day I will also go down that long and final road, and that the sad path will be very hard on my wife, daughter, and granddaughter.
So until that time comes, I plan to enjoy their company all that I can.
And while I still have my memory, I plan to write about as much of my life as I can recall. I only wish for you, my readers, that it had been more interesting! Maybe I can stretch the truth here and there. I'll tell you right up front that Bruce Springsteen never sang at any of my birthday parties. And that I never played major league baseball, or became an astronaut. Wow! Now I feel like all I have left is a closet full of nothing! So I'll have to do some digging in the vast recesses of my brain, carefully dodging those Amyloids.
Since I usually add some humor to my blog, I looked up some Alzheimer's jokes (yes, they do exist).
Question: What happens when a blonde gets Alzheimer's?
Answer: Her IQ goes up!
Three best things about having Alzheimer's:
1) You can hide your own Easter eggs.
2) You are always meeting new people.
3) You never have to watch reruns on television.
And with that, I leave the stage.
But I WILL return!!!
