Cognitive Assessment 10/1/13

It's been awhile since I've been on to update and fill in some of the holes leading to my dad's diagnosis with FTD.  After the appointment with the neuropsychologist, it was recommended we set up a cognitive/mental assessment at the VA.  This appointment took place on 10/1/13.  As always, it was nerve-racking getting him there.  Would he be home when we came to pick him up?  Would XX find out and talk him out of it?  Would he be unwilling to go?  Luckily when I showed up, he was agreeable as always, but just wanted to eat breakfast and have his coffee.  I hurried him out as quickly as I could, but we got stuck in the construction going downtown and got there a little late.  Also, as usual, he didn't ask questions about why he was there.  

 

I remember being nervous the whole time about whether he would agree to continue with the appointment.  Would he get frustrated and want to leave, or would they get frustrated with him for not cooperating?  My sister came to take over the 2nd shift and he kept coming out for smoke breaks and to talk to us.  He'd go out for a smoke, come back and tell us about it, and then say he was going to go back out for a smoke again.  It was so hard to get him back in that room.  I thought he'd never finish.  The test was supposed to take a couple hours.  It ended up taking 5.  I can't believe everyone cooperated that long and got it done.  It was a huge relief and we hoped it would get us one step closer to the answers we were searching for.

 

We weren't allowed in the room with him while he was testing, so we don't know too much about what went on.  Although it was evident that each person he had met with saw the odd behavior we were trying to describe.  We were told to call back later in the week for an update on how he did and what it might mean.

I got a call later that week to fill in some holes.  He asked a lot of questions about alcohol and his drinking habits, depression, etc.  I had a sinking feeling that all of this would lead to nothing.  We would never get an answer.  It wasn't alcohol, it wasn't depression, this wasn't out dad.