Ageism and Early-Onset Alzheimer's at 42
My name is Bobbie Joe, and I was diagnosed with early-onset Alzheimer's at 42. I was told by my then Neurologist that I had 7 to 10 years to live and to go home and get my affairs in order and get ready to Die! That night I went home and cried myself to sleep! I’ve been dealing with other health issues my entire life. I had a stroke at 32, so I wasn’t uneducated in the medical world. I’d been around the block, so to speak, lol. Although, nothing would prepare me for what was to come.
So much more than an Alzheimer's
Also, at around 32, I was diagnosed with Ankylosing Spondylitis. I was taking pain medication for 12 years before one of my doctors decided to take me off of those medications cold turkey, which caused me to withdraw from them. I became extremely sick, lost over 100 lbs in 3 months, and my magnesium and potassium levels became nonexistent.
I also had sudden cardiac arrest for 18 minutes and was in a coma for 4 days which caused a traumatic brain injury. This happened a year after I was diagnosed with early-onset Alzheimer’s and 12 years after my stroke. All of this by the age of 43. This is extremely important because ageism is a huge issue for too many of us living and thriving with Alzheimer's or dementia and who have been told by our Doctors and Neurologist to go home and die!
So much more than memory loss
People look at many of us and only see us on the outside but what they don’t see is what’s happening on the inside! Alzheimer's and dementia are so much more than memory issues! Many of us are dealing with speech issues, walking problems, eyesight problems, balance problems neurological problems that range from person to person! Many of us are struggling with depression and anxiety issues, especially because family and friends either don’t believe we have the damn disease or they are in denial about it themselves!🤦🏽♀️
Working with our healthcare teams
Most of us are also having issues with our Neurologists because most doctors think they know everything and don’t take the time to listen anymore! How are you supposed to learn about our disease if You aren’t living with it?! That’s why it’s so important for people to listen to us, the people living with this cruel disease, and for us to share our stories and truths!
It’s important for you to understand that any neurological issues will affect our Alzheimer’s and dementia symptoms, such as having a stroke or dying for 18 minutes and having traumatic brain injuries in conjunction with Alzheimer's and dementia! People also need to understand people around the world are being diagnosed with Alzheimer’s and dementia younger and younger every year, and just because we look okay on the outside doesn’t mean we are okay on the inside!
Living and thriving
I’m Bobbie Joe. I'm 47 and dying of Alzheimer’s; however, I’m living and thriving, thankfully, because I changed my doctor and educated myself about the facts! Doctors, nurses, police, and all first responders need to know this, so the constant discrimination stops.
This is my story.
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