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Episode 974 MCI Diagnosis
October 22, 2024 & February 19, 2026
I have entitled this episode MCI Diagnosis
An MCI Diagnosis is something with which most young people never have to concern themselves. Unless it is with their parents, grandparents or an elderly friend. MCI v almost always appears in the retirement years.
Sixteen months ago my primary care doctor told me I had developed Mild Cognitive Impairment(MCI). In lay terms that means I am losing my mind. It could happen slowly over the next few years or it could happen more quickly. That seems like a life changer. I concluded that I may get lucky before the condition worsens and one of my aneurysms could pop and solve the condition with death. I have slept very little ever since. Of course Brenda & Suzanne(my daughter) have been very supportive.
There seems to be very little to nothing that one can do about the MCI condition. And the prognosis seems to be sketchy. How long will it take until it is full blown? Will it continue to be as it is with slow changes? Will it race a head and then develop into Alzheimer or dementia? Will I need extensive care? Do I want to burden Brenda and Suzanne with such? Of course I don’t. Maybe I should make a specific plan for exiting early at the time of my choosing?
I called my sister Janice who is in a care center and had a career as a nurse to see what she could tell me about MCI. She said, “You’re getting older. Join me.” Not a lot of help but she does take care of herself except when she falls or has some other medical issue that requires assistance. Her mind has been sketchy for years – maybe six or more.
I am exhausted from anxiety and a lack of sleep. I will try to write regularly about this condition as long as I can. Just to create one last project: keep my mind alive. At least that is my intent – I hope I don’t forget it.
Four days have passed since I wrote the above. Sleep is still illusive. I have resorted to some CBD for assistance. It works for me. Of course I have gone online a bit for information but I have found very little. Maybe I have just found very little that seems positive. It leads me to believe they know very little about MCI.
Perhaps some of my listeners have had more experience with this than I. I would appreciate any information concerning this condition that you might have. Perhaps I have only a few weeks or months of clear thinking left or perhaps it may be a period of years. I am not really looking for sympathy. Just trying to deal with this phase of retirement – the last phase.
Sixteen months have passed since I wrote the above. I have written and published nearly 70 more podcast episodes since then. I have just returned from having a comprehensive psychological assessment done by a professional. It came as a great relief.
This thorough exam indicated that I did not show any signs of Mild Cognitive Impairment. Quite the contrary. I scored high in some areas and above average in others. I am scheduled to go in one year from now for a followup.
I hesitated to post anything about this earlier. I just could not get my head around all it entailed. But I now think my experience may help others who find themselves or someone they love in similar circumstances. The statement from my primary doctor about such a condition delivered a massive blow to my mind set and life. I never realized just how much daily anxiety and stress it placed. My doctor’s evaluation was based on a very cursory test. And yet it came across as a normal medical opinion. And I do not generally question my doctor.
Being told your mental facilities are failing creates constant anxiety. Under normal circumstances we all forget things occasionally and move on with our day. But after being told you have MCI, each time one forgets it is instantly attributed to a deteriorating mind. That puts extreme pressure on every minute. Since the more comprehensive evaluation I hope that this story would encourage a second opinion by a licensed psychologist as your first step.
This is Retirement Talk. If you have questions, comments or suggestions contact del@retirementtalk.org
A resource from a listener: Best Free Online Degrees for Seniors guide is designed to assist seniors who aspire to enhance their intellect or consider starting a new career path. It features an overview of the top online degrees for seniors, emphasizing their numerous advantages, and a broad range of subjects to choose from. A friend's website: Terra Firma Designs: Fine Furniture, Stained Glass and woodworking workshops. Copyright 2010 RetirementTalk.org |
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