🎵 “Signs” – What You May See Before the Diagnosis (Tesla)

jessica97150
Feb 13, 2025
3 min read

Updated: Apr 11

💬 Disclaimer

I’m not a doctor or a lawyer—just a spouse living this in real time and sharing what I’ve learned along the way. This is my personal experience, along with insights I’ve gathered from others in similar situations.

Nothing in this post should be taken as medical or legal advice. Every situation is different, and you should always consult qualified professionals before making decisions about diagnosis, treatment, finances, or legal matters.

Some of the steps and suggestions I share are based on what worked for us, but they may not be right for you. By reading and using this information, you acknowledge that you are responsible for your own decisions and outcomes.

My goal here is simple—help you think, prepare, and ask better questions—so you can protect your loved one and your family the best way possible.

Just putting this out here…

I love music.

All music.

All genres.

And I relate a lot of life events to songs.

So as I write, you’ll see songs woven in.

They may not be your taste…

👉 And guess what? That’s okay.

I’m confident in who I am.

And that I am NOT everyone’s cup of tea.

👉 But I’m the girl who gets stuff done and I want to help someone else not have to go through all that I had to go through, and help you know you are not alone.

🧠 The Beginning of the Journey

If you’re here…

You’re probably seeing signs.

And you’re asking:

👉 “Is this something?”

👉 “Am I overreacting?”

👉 “What do I do next?”

I’m going to walk you through:

What I saw
What I did
And what I would do differently

👤 Before the Diagnosis

Before any admission that something was wrong…

My husband was:

Healthy
Fit
Looked 45 at 58
Annual doctor visit type

No:

High blood pressure
High cholesterol
Diabetes

Labs:

Blood sugar: 88
A1C: 4.5

👉 Everything looked perfect on paper.

🏥 The First Medical Clue (That Wasn’t It)

Spring 2022—we went to his primary doctor.

Full blood panel showed:

👉 TSH was off → diagnosed hypothyroid

hey prescribed:

Thyroid medication (Synthroid 25mcg)
Anxiety medication (Xanax as needed)

And to be fair:

👉 The thyroid medication helped

👉 It cleared some morning fog

But…

👉 It did NOT fix:

Confusion
Word loss
Behavioral changes

⚠️ When I Knew Something Was Still Wrong

About 2 months later:

Increased irritability
More irrational behavior
Continued cognitive issues

So I pushed.

👉 We went back.

🧠 First Cognitive Test

Primary care did:

👉 MMSE (Mini Mental State Exam)

He did not score well.

👉 That got us referred to neurology

⏳ Reality Check (Florida Wait Times)

Neurology appointment?

👉 6–8 months wait.

So here’s my advice:

Check your insurance network
See if you need a referral
Read reviews
Ask friends
Use local groups

👉 Don’t just take the first available—be intentional

🚨 Early Signs of Alzheimer’s (What to Watch For)

These are the common ones—but remember:

👉 Not everyone shows all of them

👉 And not everyone shows them the same way

🧠 Memory Loss

Forgetting recent conversations
Repeating questions
Asking same question different way (they did not comprehend your response)

🏠 Difficulty with Familiar Tasks

Things they’ve done for years suddenly become hard

🗣 Language Problems

Trouble finding words
Using incorrect or made-up words

🧭 Disorientation

Losing track of time
Confusion about place

💸 Poor Judgment

Financial mistakes
Risky or unusual decisions

🚪 Withdrawal

Avoiding social situations
Losing interest in hobbies

😡 Mood & Personality Changes

Anxiety
Depression
Irritability
Sudden personality shifts

👁 Spatial Issues

Trouble judging distance
Difficulty with depth or contrast

⚠️ If You See These…

👉 Go to a doctor

But more importantly:

👉 ADVOCATE

You know your person.

If something feels off:

👉 Don’t accept surface-level answers👉 Don’t stop if it doesn’t make sense

Push for more.

💡 What I Would Do Differently

This is important.

Looking back…

I would have paused for a moment.

Not to ignore it—

👉 But to protect our future

💰 Financial Protection (Do this early if you can)

Before a diagnosis:

Life insurance
Long-term care insurance
Financial planning

Because after diagnosis?

👉 You will likely NOT get approved

👉 Options become very limited

👉 Even insurance (like auto) can be impacted

Final Thought

The signs are subtle at first.

They don’t scream:

👉 “This is Alzheimer’s”

They whisper:

👉 “Something isn’t right…”

Listen to that.

🎵 And This Song Says It Best…

“And the sign said…”

Sometimes the signs are there.

👉 You just have to trust yourself enough to see them

💛 My Advice

Pay attention
Take action
Protect your family early

And most importantly:

👉 Trust your gut

If you want next, I can:

"Signs" by Tesla