Latest news with #RememberWhen:MyLifeWithAlzheimer's
Daily Mirror
9 hours ago
- Health
- Daily Mirror
Fiona Phillips shares early Alzheimer's symptoms that she dismissed as menopause
Presenter, Fiona Phillips, has bravely spoken out about being diagnosed with Alzheimer's, which she initially thought was menopause after suffering from 'brain fog' Fiona Phillips admits she had no idea she was suffering from Alzheimer's before her diagnosis three years ago. The former Good Morning Britain star, 64, who shares two children with ex-This Morning boss, Martin Frizell, initially put her symptoms, including brain fog, anxiety and a lack of interest in her marriage down to menopause. However, three years ago she was tragically told that she had the neurodegenerative disease, which both her parents suffered with. Opening up about her early symptoms, Fiona said she had frequent anxiety attacks, "which became almost hourly". She also suffered from brain fog, a lack of confidence when driving and confusion, over the "simplest thing like opening a bank account". She writes in an extract of her book, Adapted from Remember When: My Life With Alzheimer's, which is published in the Mail:"For me it was the sense of brain fog and a sense of anxiety that I could rarely shake off. "The simplest thing, like going to the bank to ask about my account, would send me into a total panic, and there were mood swings too, which meant even I was finding my behaviour unpredictable." Meanwhile, Fiona's marriage was coming under increasing strain. Blaming Alzheimer's for "at least part of it", she said: "I'm sure the disease was at least partly responsible, but at the time neither of us could see it. I just became more and more disconnected from Martin and the boys. "'You've totally zoned out of our family and our marriage,' he [Martin] would say to me." Putting her symptoms down to menopause after a leading expert appeared on This Morning, Fiona was taken in for tests. Martin said: "Dr Newson was lovely. She had a long chat with Fiona and took blood tests. She also put her on a course of hormone replacement therapy. If it was the menopause, then within a couple of months the brain fog and anxiety symptoms should start to ease. But when Fiona's condition failed to improve after a few months of the HRT treatment, the doctor read through Fiona's notes again and then, says Martin, "said the words I'd been hoping for so long never to hear" - that it may be something more than the menopause. After a series of tests, including simple subtraction and being asked to draw intersecting rectangles, Fiona had an MRI, which was inconclusive. But, after she had a lumbar puncture she was told she had early-onset Alzheimer's. Revealing that she and Martin went to the pub for a much-needed drink after the devastating news, Fiona writes stoically: "That afternoon in the pub it had seemed extraordinary that we could continue to live life 'as normally as possible', but that's exactly what we did from that moment on."
Daily Record
a day ago
- Entertainment
- Daily Record
Fiona Phillips describes Alzheimer's battle as chasing a £5 note in the wind
The former GMTV presenter has opened up about the challenges she faces on a daily basis with the condition. Fiona Phillips has likened the struggles of Alzheimer's to "like trying to chase a £5 note that's fallen out of your purse on a gusty day" in a heartfelt piece. The broadcaster, who received her diagnosis at 61 in 2023, explained that each time "she thinks she had caught the £5 note, it whips away again" in a moving account of her experience. The mum-of-two revealed she had "no awareness" of her tendency to repeat herself and would sometimes lose track of what she was doing or where she was going shortly after receiving the news. Now 64, the television personality is managing life with Alzheimer's, with much of her support coming from spouse Martin Frizell, who stepped down from his position as This Morning's editor last year, noting he anticipated his "family priorities to [soon] change". Fiona, alongside Martin's assistance, has penned a memoir titled Remember When: My Life With Alzheimer's, due for release this month, with excerpts appearing in today's press. In these revealing sections, Fiona, who fronted GMTV for 15 years, shared: "Everywhere I look there are memories. I know they are there. And yet so many of them feel out of my reach now. "It's like I stretch out to touch them, but then just as I'm about to grasp it, the memory skips away from me. And I can't catch up with it. Like trying to chase a £5 note that's fallen out of your purse on a gusty day. Each time I think I've caught it, it whips away again," reports the Mirror. "I couldn't be writing this at all without my husband Martin and my closest friends, who are helping me articulate more clearly the thoughts I once had that are now harder for me to reach." Fiona, a Mirror columnist, shared: "Nowadays, I can find talking about my life agonisingly difficult. Sometimes I get halfway through a sentence and I can't remember where I was heading with it or the word I was looking for. It feels awful. "Gradually, Martin and I thought maybe I should start telling more people. Martin felt that if more people knew what was happening to me then they wouldn't judge me if I did ever start behaving unusually – not that I thought I did. "It was hardly like I was going down the street half-clothed, yelling at people. "But he and the doctors, who I was constantly backwards and forwards to see, would say that I kept repeating myself and that sometimes I forgot what I was doing or where I was going. "The strange thing was I had no awareness of that." In 2023, the Mirror reported how the celebrity, hailing from Canterbury, Kent, was participating in trials for an innovative new medication that researchers believe could decelerate or potentially reverse the condition for countless individuals in future years. Martin, who has been married to Fiona for 28 years, expressed a harrowing sentiment in the extracts, saying: "Being brutally honest, I wish Fiona had contracted cancer instead. "It's a shocking thing to say, but at least then she might have had a chance of a cure, and certainly would have had a treatment pathway and an array of support and care packages. "But that's not there for Alzheimer's. Just like there are no funny or inspiring TikTok videos or fashion shoots with smiling, healthy, in-remission survivors. "After someone is diagnosed with Alzheimer's, they are pretty much left to their own devices. There is nothing more that can be done and you are left to cope alone." Join the Daily Record WhatsApp community! Get the latest news sent straight to your messages by joining our WhatsApp community today. You'll receive daily updates on breaking news as well as the top headlines across Scotland. No one will be able to see who is signed up and no one can send messages except the Daily Record team. All you have to do is click here if you're on mobile, select 'Join Community' and you're in! If you're on a desktop, simply scan the QR code above with your phone and click 'Join Community'. We also treat our community members to special offers, promotions, and adverts from us and our partners. If you don't like our community, you can check out any time you like. To leave our community click on the name at the top of your screen and choose 'exit group'.
Wales Online
a day ago
- Entertainment
- Wales Online
Fiona Phillips shares heartbreaking Alzheimer's struggle as husband 'wished' for cancer instead
Fiona Phillips shares heartbreaking Alzheimer's struggle as husband 'wished' for cancer instead 'Sometimes I get halfway through a sentence and I can't remember where I was heading with it or the word I was looking for' Fiona has opened up about her diagnosis of Alzheimer's disease (Image: 2017 Getty Images ) Fiona Phillips has opened up about her struggles with Alzheimer's, comparing the disease to "trying to chase a £5 note that's fallen out of your purse on a gusty day". In a candid new article, the TV presenter shared an emotional reflection on her experience, saying each time "she thinks she had caught the £5 note, it whips away again". The mother-of-two, who received her diagnosis at 61 in 2023, expressed how she was initially oblivious to her repetitive conversations and would often forget her actions or destinations shortly after being diagnosed. Now at 64, the television presenter is navigating life with Alzheimer's, with the support of her husband Martin Frizell. Martin, the former editor of This Morning, has been taking on much of her care after leaving his position last year in anticipation of shifting family responsibilities. Aided by Martin, Fiona has penned a memoir titled Remember When: My Life With Alzheimer's, set for release later this month, with adapted excerpts currently circulating in the press. In these selected extracts, Fiona, known for her 15-year stint on GMTV, said: "Everywhere I look there are memories. I know they are there. And yet so many of them feel out of my reach now. Fiona, who has been married to Martin Frizell since 1997, said she had "no awareness" she was forgetting things (Image: 2024 Getty Images ) "It's like I stretch out to touch them, but then just as I'm about to grasp it, the memory skips away from me. And I can't catch up with it. Like trying to chase a £5 note that's fallen out of your purse on a gusty day. Each time I think I've caught it, it whips away again. Article continues below "I couldn't be writing this at all without my husband Martin and my closest friends, who are helping me articulate more clearly the thoughts I once had that are now harder for me to reach." As reported by the Mirror, Fiona shared her experience, noting: "Nowadays, I can find talking about my life agonisingly difficult. Sometimes I get halfway through a sentence and I can't remember where I was heading with it or the word I was looking for. It feels awful. "Gradually, Martin and I thought maybe I should start telling more people. Martin felt that if more people knew what was happening to me then they wouldn't judge me if I did ever start behaving unusually – not that I thought I did. It was hardly like I was going down the street half-clothed, yelling at people. "But he and the doctors, who I was constantly backwards and forwards to see, would say that I kept repeating myself and that sometimes I forgot what I was doing or where I was going. The strange thing was I had no awareness of that." In 2023, the Mirror detailed how the Canterbury-born star has been participating in clinical trials for an innovative new medication that researchers believe has the potential to slow or even halt the effects of the disease for millions in the future. Nevertheless, for Fiona, the help has arrived all too late, so much so that her husband Martin confessed: "Being brutally honest, I wish Fiona had contracted cancer instead. It's a shocking thing to say, but at least then she might have had a chance of a cure, and certainly would have had a treatment pathway and an array of support and care packages." He continued, pointing out the disparity in support: "But that's not there for Alzheimer's. Just like there are no funny or inspiring TikTok videos or fashion shoots with smiling, healthy, in-remission survivors." The sense of abandonment post-diagnosis is evident as he noted: "After someone is diagnosed with Alzheimer's, they are pretty much left to their own devices. There is nothing more that can be done and you are left to cope alone." Article continues below Fiona's memoir, Remember When: My Life With Alzheimer's (Macmillan, £22), is scheduled for release on July 17.
Daily Record
a day ago
- Health
- Daily Record
Fiona Phillips' husband says he wishes wife had cancer instead of Alzheimer's
Martin Frizell has become Fiona's primary carer since the former GMTV presenter's early-onset Alzheimer's diagnosis Martin Frizell, husband of TV presenter Fiona Phillips, has expressed his wish that his wife had been diagnosed with cancer rather than Alzheimer's disease, as there might have been a possibility for a cure. Married to the journalist and broadcaster since 1998, Martin highlighted the lack of support and care packages available for those living with Alzheimer's. He has taken on the role of primary carer for Fiona, whose diagnosis in her early 60s in 2023 has significantly impacted her cognitive abilities. The mum-of-two shared how she became unaware of her forgetfulness and tendency to repeat herself. Martin, who resigned from his position as editor of This Morning last year, said "family priorities to [soon] change". He acknowledged the need to maintain his health for Fiona's sake, as any illness on his part could lead to their entire support system collapsing. However, he believes that if Fiona had been diagnosed with cancer, a treatment plan would have been in place, offering hope. In an excerpt adapted from Fiona's forthcoming book, Remember When: My Life With Alzheimer's, Martin pens: "Being brutally honest, I wish Fiona had contracted cancer instead. "It's a shocking thing to say, but at least then she might have had a chance of a cure, and certainly would have had a treatment pathway and an array of support and care packages. "But that's not there for Alzheimer's. Just like there are no funny or inspiring TikTok videos or fashion shoots with smiling, healthy, in-remission survivors," reports the Mirror. Martin continued to express his concerns, stating: "After someone is diagnosed with Alzheimer's, they are pretty much left to their own devices. There is nothing more that can be done and you are left to cope alone." Fiona, who has two sons with Martin, echoed this sentiment in her writing: "I gently push the door open, but then, in that very moment, I sense the person I love has disappeared again. They're gone. The memory has gone. "And I'm all alone. And that's how it is for me now, living with Alzheimer's." Fiona has a family history of Alzheimer's, with both her parents having suffered from the condition. However, tests have shown that she does not carry the gene, which means her sons are not at risk of inheriting it. Despite this reassurance, Martin's concerns remain, as he reveals in the candid extract: "As time has passed, I have come to understand that if I were to fall ill or worse, the whole house of cards would collapse. "I have had to stay well for Fiona." Martin has taken on a multitude of responsibilities, including managing the household, caring for Fiona, and working a seven-day-a-week job. He admits to feeling drained, both physically and emotionally. He described the experience, writing: "Sorting the bank accounts, utility direct debits, hospital appointments, clothes, washing, parking permits, shopping, cooking, tidying the house – in fact, all the stuff I took for granted because Fiona dealt with it (as well as her own career) – became my responsibilities. "This was along with a seven-day-a-week job. It was knackering. "There were times I felt drained, physically and emotionally. "On top of the stress, the boys and I are enduring a kind of living grief – a slow goodbye to the woman we love." Join the Daily Record WhatsApp community! Get the latest news sent straight to your messages by joining our WhatsApp community today. You'll receive daily updates on breaking news as well as the top headlines across Scotland. No one will be able to see who is signed up and no one can send messages except the Daily Record team. All you have to do is click here if you're on mobile, select 'Join Community' and you're in! If you're on a desktop, simply scan the QR code above with your phone and click 'Join Community'. We also treat our community members to special offers, promotions, and adverts from us and our partners. If you don't like our community, you can check out any time you like. To leave our community click on the name at the top of your screen and choose 'exit group'.
Daily Mirror
2 days ago
- Health
- Daily Mirror
Fiona Phillips' husband would rather she had cancer than 'awful' Alzheimer's
Martin Frizell, who has been married to Fiona Phillips for 28 years, explained his thinking around his "brutally honest" opinion the TV presenter would have been better off diagnosed with cancer Fiona Phillips' husband says he wishes the TV presenter had been diagnosed with cancer instead of Alzheimer's disease - because she'd at least might have had chance at a cure. Martin Frizell, who married the journalist and broadcaster in 1998, said there is a lack of support and care packages for those with Alzheimer's. He himself has become Fiona's primary carer as, following her diagnosis in her early 60s in 2023, the disease has taken its toll on the journalist's mind. The mum of two told today how she became unaware she was forgetting things, or how she kept repeating herself. Martin, who quit his role as editor of This Morning last year, stating he expected his "family priorities to [soon] change", recognises he "has to stay well for Fiona" because, should he fall ill, "the whole house of cards would collapse". However, he says, had Fiona contracted a cancer, a treatment plan would have been available and there may be hope. In an extract adapted from Fiona's upcoming book, Remember When: My Life With Alzheimer's, Martin writes: "Being brutally honest, I wish Fiona had contracted cancer instead. It's a shocking thing to say, but at least then she might have had a chance of a cure, and certainly would have had a treatment pathway and an array of support and care packages. "But that's not there for Alzheimer's. Just like there are no funny or inspiring TikTok videos or fashion shoots with smiling, healthy, in-remission survivors." The former This Morning boss continued: "After someone is diagnosed with Alzheimer's, they are pretty much left to their own devices. There is nothing more that can be done and you are left to cope alone." It is an opinion reflected by Fiona, who has two sons with Martin. She writes, in the same passage: "I gently push the door open, but then, in that very moment, I sense the person I love has disappeared again. They're gone. The memory has gone. And I'm all alone. And that's how it is for me now, living with Alzheimer's." Both of Fiona's parents had Alzheimer's but tests have shown the broadcaster, who was on GMTV for 15 years, does not carry the gene so neither of her sons would. It is small comfort for Martin, who adds in the candid extract released today: "As time has passed, I have come to understand that if I were to fall ill or worse, the whole house of cards would collapse. I have had to stay well for Fiona. "Sorting the bank accounts, utility direct debits, hospital appointments, clothes, washing, parking permits, shopping, cooking, tidying the house – in fact, all the stuff I took for granted because Fiona dealt with it (as well as her own career) – became my responsibilities, along with a seven-day-a-week job. It was knackering. There were times I felt drained, physically and emotionally. On top of the stress, the boys and I are enduring a kind of living grief – a slow goodbye to the woman we love."
