ApoE4.Info

Like many other Americans, I don’t have a lot of money. My insurance is Medicaid which most doctors and nutritionists don’t accept. Even finding a typical specialist is an exercise in futility. Doctors seem to hate us.

I can tell that my memory isn’t what it used to be. I feel dull where I used to be sharp. My financial position is a casualty of this decline. I went to doctor Bredesen’s website with hope, but my heart sank when I saw that just the testing is almost $1,400 and after that, I would have access to a list of doctors, probably none of whom would take Medicaid. It’s like paying to get the bad news but not being able to afford to do anything about it.

Can anyone here offer solutions to the millions of Americans in my shoes?

We've had at least a couple threads discussing this:

Simple changes support thread

and

Frustrated over finances

If you look through the Primer you will note that there are many things you can work on without incurring medical cost.

In the List of basic strategies many can be done without incurring cost. For example Lowering insulin resistance - #1. A way to do this is to fast. Toronto Nephrologist Jason Fung worked on this approach because many of his patients had low resources. He wrote a book describing how to implement various forms of fasting, which is available at many public libraries. He also addresses much of this in his blog. and in various presentations available on YouTube.

For exercise, there is a reference, You Are Your Own Gym: The Bible of Bodyweight Exercises. It is also available in many libraries. He shows how to do many exercises without the benefit of a gym.

I would focus on what you can do.

Jtmon wrote:Like many other Americans, I don’t have a lot of money. My insurance is Medicaid which most doctors and nutritionists don’t accept. Even finding a typical specialist is an exercise in futility. Doctors seem to hate us.

Can anyone here offer solutions to the millions of Americans in my shoes?

.

Greeting Jtmon and welcome to the APOE4.info site. You are understandably caught between a rock and a hard place as are so many others... but there are many components of the protocol that you can implement on your own. If any place can get you off to a good start without the financial resources being available, this is the place. You will locate a link to our “Primer” under the menu heading “Welcodme”. The Primer contains a wealth of information, most of which you can implement on your own. You can also purchase or borrow from a library, Dr. Bredesen’s book... The End of Alzheimer’s Disease. We are here to support you and answer any questions you may have. Wishing you the very best!

- Eat once a day

- Eat the highest quality diet you can. Lots of vegetables, quality seafood/olive oil and avoid empty calories. Spend your money on food, not doctors.

- Exercise. Aerobic exercise is best.

Jtmon wrote:Like many other Americans, I don’t have a lot of money. My insurance is Medicaid which most doctors and nutritionists don’t accept. Even finding a typical specialist is an exercise in futility. Doctors seem to hate us.

Hi Jtmon, and welcome to the Apoe4 group. Like you and many Americans I find the state of our national health care system appalling. The health care cost are expensive, often to the point where some have to forego necessary care.
On a positive note, you have found this community which was started and is supported by very dedicated and caring individuals. There is a wealth of information here and if you can take the time to dig around I think it may be of help. Both TheresaB and Tincup listed a few threads in their comments. Also, the search function, using the magnifying glass on the top right side of the tool bar is good for topics of interest specifically for you. We all need to start where we are and taking small steps can often be the most beneficial and not always costly. Perhaps addressing an issue such as sleep, stress reduction, exercise or healthier eating habits could be a place to begin. OurWiki link will have more in-depth discussions on these topics. ( please forgive me if you are already incorporating these ).

Keep us updated, don't hesitate to ask more questions, we all learn from each other. And if you would like to share more look at the Our Stories section of the website.

My best, Davida

I would like to echo aphorist's post above.

Exercise, exercise, exercise!
Fast and eat whole foods plant based
Sleep well
Avoid stress, if you can

My own doctor is not a Bredesen practitioner.

Davida wrote:

Jtmon wrote:Like many other Americans, I don’t have a lot of money. My insurance is Medicaid which most doctors and nutritionists don’t accept. Even finding a typical specialist is an exercise in futility. Doctors seem to hate us.

Hi Jtmon, and welcome to the Apoe4 group. Like you and many Americans I find the state of our national health care system appalling. The health care cost are expensive, often to the point where some have to forego necessary care.
On a positive note, you have found this community which was started and is supported by very dedicated and caring individuals. There is a wealth of information here and if you can take the time to dig around I think it may be of help. Both TheresaB and Tincup listed a few threads in their comments. Also, the search function, using the magnifying glass on the top right side of the tool bar is good for topics of interest specifically for you. We all need to start where we are and taking small steps can often be the most beneficial and not always costly. Perhaps addressing an issue such as sleep, stress reduction, exercise or healthier eating habits could be a place to begin. OurWiki link will have more in-depth discussions on these topics. ( please forgive me if you are already incorporating these ).

Keep us updated, don't hesitate to ask more questions, we all learn from each other. And if you would like to share more look at the Our Stories section of the website.

My best, Davida

I've spent a lifetime battling mental illness. I've been on various forms of medication for the past 40 years. I wasn't diagnosed with ADHD until I was 50 and that, allegedly, has had a huge impact on my mental health throughout my life.

I find this whole thing really, really scary. I wonder how much anxiety impacts brain health? How can you be "stress free" when you're worried about losing your mind?