For as long as she can remember, Katherine would not allow herself to consider retirement as an option for her future. Why? She simply didn’t believe that her health would allow it.
“My dad spent the final years of his life at Trouvaille Memory Care Suites battling Alzheimer’s Disease. I was already having some very distinct cognitive problems myself that were really concerning to me. It wasn’t just that I knew I could have a genetic tendency for it, I was experiencing worsening problems.”
Losing Her Mind
Katherine shared a few examples of the types of problems she was experiencing, and they are heart breaking.
“One day I took a shower, and when I got out, within minutes, I had no recollection of it. I was convinced I hadn’t even showered… but as I got into the shower, it was wet in there. The towel was wet. Everything indicated I had showered, but even though it was only minutes prior, I couldn’t remember it.”
Many people who experience cognitive decline, or have a loved one who does, recognize that these lapses in memory can be quite dangerous, too.
“I’ve lived in a condo building for over 17 years. One day, I got in the elevator. I live on the 11th floor, but noticed that I had pushed the button for a random floor, for no apparent reason. Even though I had that moment of lucidness, I just knew that based on what was going on with me, I’d get off on that random floor. I only had to remember for a few seconds NOT to get off on that floor…. but I forgot and I got off on that floor. It was so upsetting to me. I couldn’t maintain focus for even a few minutes. I was disoriented every day.”
Katherine’s disorientation started to have a deeper impact on her relationships, too.
“I felt myself withdrawing socially and professionally. I would avoid people coming to me with questions, make myself appear busier than I actually was, and divert them to someone else. I couldn’t count on whether I would be able to process information to give them an answer for even the most elementary aspects of my job. I couldn’t grasp words, even simple ones.”
The alarm was sounding loudly for Katherine. She knew she needed help.
Getting Started
Katherine researched dementia for years because of her concerns, but everything she found said there is nothing you can do about it. Luckily, Katherine discovered and attended one of Valeo’s presentations in which we share the great news that there is plenty you can do to prevent or even reverse cognitive decline.
The functional medicine approach to cognitive decline looks a lot different than the current conventional care model on many levels.
“When my dad was getting diagnosed
with Alzheimer’s Disease, all that was really done was the Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA), in which he had to do tasks such as drawing a clock, repeating back a series of words, etc. I thought ‘really? This is all we have?’ There was no lab work of any kind.”
This is vastly different than Katherine’s experience at Valeo when she was digging into her own cognitive decline.
“I was surprised that at Valeo, I was able to order blood work (which to me, is much more scientific) and test my genetics. I also loved that I was encouraged to read Dr. Bredeson’s “The End of Alzheimer’s” which helped me understand the multiple layers that contribute to Alzheimer’s Disease. It explains how these layers make it complex and difficult to get Western medicine practitioners on board, since there’s not a single solution. ‘Treatment’ requires a multi-faceted approach.”
When Katherine got her lab results back, she was “flabbergasted, excited, and encouraged” with the things she could do to address her memory issues, which, at the time, included supplements, a ketogenic diet, and addressing a few lifestyle practices.
Continuing to Improve
A little while after Katherine started her journey to better cognitive health, Valeo welcomed Dr. Kassie Kaas on board. Dr. Kassie has advanced training in functional neurology, cognitive decline, and other forms of neurodegeneration, and brings a higher level of cognitive care to Valeo.
“Now with Dr. Kassie, we’ve added some additional elements that really support gut health and hormones [which are both connected to cognition] and it is doing WONDERS! I have improved physical strength, mood and libido, less bloating, and better digestion and bowel movements. And all of these are results of relatively simple changes!”
“Even though my blood work did also show a few other things we want to address, Dr. Kassie wants to take the approach of addressing the big-hitting things first, allow myself to adjust to those, and then we will move onto some of those other things later. This way we can understand what each approach is doing to move the needle and then we will check back in so we can analyze.”
Feeling Heard and Finding Hope
Physical and cognitive health are not the only major differences Katherine has noticed since starting care at Valeo. She now feels heard and has hope.
“Something that stands out about Dr. Kassie is how well she listens to me! My friends, doctors, and coworkers would dismiss or brush off my concerns or fears when it came to my cognitive health. It’s so alienating, frustrating, and frightening to not be heard. Dr. Kassie listens to every single thing that I say. She’s very patient and is able to validate why I am experiencing certain symptoms. Going through lab work, she’d show me the findings and what kind of symptoms they could cause and it was eye opening!”
Reflecting on the overall impact that Dr. Kassie and the other team members at Valeo have had on Katherine’s journey, she admits it has been life changing.
“Valeo has had an enormous impact on my hope. I had lived in this hopeless space, knowing that Alzheimer’s Disease was coming for me and I didn’t know how to plan for it financially or otherwise. I’m single and have nobody to take care of me which has been a big fear factor for me. I couldn’t allow myself to even consider retirement… it was nothing but a bleak outlook that I’d be dependent on the state and had no one else to rely on. There was no alternative that looked like hope.”
We are happy to share that after seeing the improvements that she’s made in her health, Katherine has not only gotten a promotion at work, but she is now actually able to allow herself to consider retirement!
“I have now taken the first step to talking to financial planner about if I were to be able to retire, what that would look like. I feel like I am at the point where I might get to retire… and I never thought I would get to that tipping point!”
If you or a loved one is beginning to experience cognitive decline and are feeling like there’s no hope, we encourage you to give us a call at 952-949-0676.
