Tag: Alzheimers

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Perspective is Everything

(Originally posted in Facebook on April 4, 2019)

Last night was interesting – and funny – because I was feeling better and able to look at everything with a sense of humor. Thank goodness!

Before I got home from work, M evidently decided that the fitted sheet and comforter from the linen closet he had used the previous night weren’t going to work for a second night. They had been taken off the bed and he was in the process of washing the sheets and comforter the dogs had messed up. Fine. I don’t care. So when it was time for bed and I went to the bathroom to wash my face, he was in the process of putting the original (but now clean) fitted sheet on the bed.

When I came out of the bathroom, the fitted sheet was on the bed – but that was all. The original (and now clean) comforter was in the laundry basket. The sheet and comforter that had been used for one night were at the end of my bed. And M was down the hall in the bathroom that he uses, taking a shower. I also noticed that, at some point, his bedside clock had been unplugged and needed to have the time reset.

When M got out of the shower and came back into the bedroom in his underwear, instead of putting on his pajama pants or finishing up his bed, he immediately walked over to his bedside clock and asked me how to reset it. I told him I would help with that – but first, let’s get his pj’s on. Then finish up his bed. And put away the sheets and comforter from the previous night. In other words – let’s finish one thing before we move on to the next.

This morning, when he came into the kitchen and I was cooking his breakfast, he realized he had not made his lunch the night before, as he normally does. He looked around for his lunchbox, but couldn’t find it – it was still in his car from the day before. We have a good checklist for the mornings – to make sure he has everything he needs and has done everything he needs to do before he goes to work. I think it’s time to put together a checklist for the evenings to make sure everything is in its place before we go to bed.

What is that saying? Failure to plan is planning to fail . . . or something like that. We need to get this plan going.

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Sheets and Debit Cards

(Originally posted in Facebook on April 3, 2019)

Yesterday, I had a really interesting opportunity. Every month, there is a prayer luncheon for working women at the local Salvation Army office. It’s always a fun time of fellowship with a good message for the month. Yesterday, I was asked to share what M and I have been going through with his diagnosis.

All of the women in the group were so lovely and so supportive! Those who have dealt with family members with the same dementia diagnosis all said “You’re going to have to be EXTREMELY patient.” I think we’ve talked about me and the fact that I have no patience. That really is my number one struggle.

Last night, M said that he had stopped at the gas station on the way home and the gas credit card hadn’t worked. He couldn’t explain why it hadn’t worked for him, just that he was unable to get gas using it. He did remember that I didn’t want him to use his debit card at the gas pump (yay!) and came home without getting gas. I rode back to the gas station with him, watched him use the gas credit card and it worked just fine. I don’t know what the problem was earlier, unless it was asking for his zip code and he was inputting his debit card four-digit code instead.

Then, when it was time for bed, he said that the dogs had gotten mud on his bed and he was going to change his sheets. I got a new set of sheets out for him and a clean comforter, while he put the dirty sheets and comforter in the wash. When he made the bed, he only put the bottom (fitted) sheet and the comforter on the bed. When I said something about not having put on the top sheet, he said “What difference does it make?”

And it doesn’t matter. It’s not important. If he wants to sleep with just the comforter, it’s fine. But I was tired, I had worked all day, I guess I’m still not feeling 100% and that just ran all over me. I snatched up that top sheet and marched it back down the hall to the linen closet. And the whole way there, I could hear the women from lunch saying “you’re going to have to be extremely patient” and I wanted to have a fit!! Sometimes I think it’s a wonder I haven’t just exploded into a million tiny pieces.

Then I take a deep breath and remind myself that it really doesn’t matter. Sheets and debit cards aren’t the important things. I’m going to get there!!

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Admit it – You Have the Flu

(Originally posted in Facebook on April 2, 2019)

Truly – I thought it was just a cold. I really, really did. I guess it was Saturday afternoon, when I was running a fever and completely miserable, that I finally accepted the fact that I had the flu. Ugh. I’ve spent the last four days moving from bed to sofa and back again. I don’t know when I’ve been more miserable.

It was interesting watching M during all this. At one point, he decided he needed more peach-flavored water he likes to drink, so he was going to drive to the store and get some. Never mind that we needed all sorts of groceries. He was only going to pick up water for himself. I suggested putting a list together – like some soup and tissues for me – and he got most everything on the list.

My mom dropped off a container of chicken soup and M met her at the door to take it from her. Then he brought it downstairs and handed it to me – a big plastic container of chicken soup. No spoon, no bowl, no crackers. Just soup. I didn’t laugh – I thanked him and took it back upstairs to the kitchen.

On the bright side, I’ve lost 3 lbs. over the last six days of having this cold/flu. Of course, my diet has consisted of soup, saltines and cough drops. I don’t recommend it.

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Always Hopeful

(Originally posted in Facebook on March 29, 2019)

M and I had a follow-up appointment with his neurologist yesterday – the first since his attempted lumbar puncture (spinal tap) that was unsuccessful on February 20, 2019. I was happy to see that the doctor didn’t even try to talk him into attempting the procedure again. I think he knew there was NO WAY M was up to that again. It was just too painful and stressful that one time.

He did go ahead and prescribe Aricept as the first step in treatment – such as there is available – for M. We got the prescription last night and started with a 5 mg. dosage. We’ll move up to 10 mg. next month if he tolerates this well.

I also learned of an integrative medical practice about 30 miles from here that advocates Dr. Dale Bredesen’s (“The End of Alzheimer’s”) testing and protocol. This work encourages following the Keto diet, which is what I’ve been TRYING to get M to stick to – without much success. I’m calling today to see if we can get an appointment. All the other practices that I’ve found to help with this protocol have been 2 – 3 hours away and have a 6 month waiting list.

Speaking of getting M to stick to the Keto diet – last night I came home from work and really didn’t feel well . . . I think I’m coming down with a cold. So I put my pajamas on and was in bed before 6:30 pm. I fell asleep right away, so I must have needed the rest! This morning, I opened the cabinet to throw away some trash, and there was an empty ice cream carton. Sigh. I guess I know what M was doing while I was asleep.

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Reality

(Originally posted in Facebook on March 28, 2019)

Here’s what I’ve noticed when I talk to our sons about their dad and his symptoms. I don’t think it’s that they don’t believe me or the doctors, but I do think they aren’t living with their dad all day/every day, so they aren’t seeing him and his actions and reactions the same way I am.

When we were in CA, I really noticed it with our younger son (A) and realized he was telling me the same things our older son (K) had been saying. Whenever M said or did something that I wanted the boys to note or notice as a sign or symptom of what is going on, A would say:

“Well, I do things like that.”

“He’s always done that.”

“You do that, too.”

I’m not going to argue them to the bone and force them to see things my way – there’s no point in that. One day, something will happen, just like it did for me over Christmas 2017, and there won’t be any way for them to explain it away.

And when that day comes, I don’t want to say “I told you so” or “it’s about time.” I want to remember to be grateful for their support and feel blessed that they’ve had this time in . . . is it denial? The land of “things aren’t that bad”? Mom doesn’t know what she’s talking about? That last one’s probably the most accurate!

I know they love their dad and they don’t want to believe this is happening to him. They have to know – I don’t want to believe it either.

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Amazing Trip

(Originally posted to Facebook on March 27, 2019)

Whew!

After days of sitting in airports, running for flights, hiking, walking, eating (lots of eating!!), riding, touring, shopping, talking, exploring and never getting used to LA traffic – we are home!

We had a WONDERFUL trip to California to see our younger son and it all turned out very well. We each got to do some of the touristy things we wanted to do while we were there, so we had a good time.

I finally had an opportunity to talk to our son about M and his diagnosis face-to-face. He took the news better than I had expected, but he had been living at the house until May 2018, so he had seen what was going on until that time.

I did stress to him that this diagnosis is not to change his career plans AT ALL. I don’t want him to decide that he needs to come home and “take care” of us. The best thing he can do to take care of his father and me is to continue on the career path he is on right now and get all the education and training he can. Take advantage of every opportunity that comes his way to learn and to grow in his field – THAT is what will be most helpful to us.

M did very well on our trip. There were moments – as there always are – but on the whole it was a good trip. There were a couple of hiccups on our return trip and those seemed to throw him for a loop, but he did pretty well.

We had to get up at 3:30 am Pacific Time, to catch our flight out yesterday and didn’t get home and settled until after 7:30 pm Eastern Time – which made for a LONG day. M decided that he wasn’t going to go to work today because he was tired. Of course, he wouldn’t get paid for this day off because he has used all his paid time off, so we had to have a conversation about that. I understand being tired – I’m tired, too. But I suggested he get a good night’s sleep and get on in to work today. He went in – I just hope he stays all day.

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Recurring Dreams

(Originally posted in Facebook on March 20, 2019)

We’re sitting at the airport, waiting for the first flight of this journey. I understand the “why” behind it, but air travel has become such an exercise in humiliation. After my full body scan, I got to have both arms and shoulders examined “up close and personally” by a TSA agent – which was fun for both of us. Sigh. This is when I’m looking for the Jetsons and my flying car.

Last night was a trial – that’s all I can call it. Trying to get packed and keep things light and breezy was almost more than I could do. At one point, M started a panicked search for his shaving kit, which took him all through the house. He finally found it in the kitchen.

Now, that does make sense, because when we’re going on car trips – say, to the beach – the packing of the car is launched from the kitchen. But we’re flying for this trip, so I told M to bring the kit upstairs so we could pack it.

Well, THAT didn’t make him happy. Then I pointed out he had a full size tube of toothpaste in there, which would probably get tossed. As you can imagine, things just got more and more tense.

We eventually got things back on an even keel, after a few tears on my part and some hugs.

One of my few recurring dreams involves a huge wave of water looming over me. It’s just off the beach and it’s so big that it’s all I can see, no matter what else I’m looking at on the shore. It never takes me down or drowns me, but it’s always there. 
This photo is from the Clark Little Gallery Instagram page. Follow them!

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Stick to the Plan

(Originally posted in Facebook on March 19, 2019)

Routine. As boring and dull as it sounds, for someone dealing with the challenges M is facing, routines are a very good thing. He depends on his routines and I forget that. I can take changes in stride and it isn’t that easy for him.

We’re leaving tomorrow to visit our younger son in Los Angeles. We’re both excited and looking forward to this visit – we haven’t seen him since Thanksgiving. But traveling is going to be a change from our daily routine and I am beginning to see how this is throwing M for a loop.

Last night, when I got home, I suggested that we start gathering our clothes together for the trip. I wanted to make sure we didn’t need to get any laundry done before we left and to try to avoid those “I forgot to pack underwear” trips to WalMart that I’m famous for when we land.

M was great, getting his outfits together, but then he turned to me and asked, “Are we leaving tomorrow?” I assured him we were still leaving Wednesday, that I was simply trying to get an early start on our packing.

Later in the evening, he asked what time we needed to leave for the airport. As we talked about what time the flight was leaving and how early we should get there, he said that I would need to call his boss, Ashley, on Wednesday morning and let her know what time he would be leaving work.

What?

We went back and forth a couple of times with:
“What are you talking about?”
“What are YOU talking about?”
Before I finally stopped and asked “Don’t you have Wednesday off work? You told me you had asked for this time off.”

He thought about it for a few seconds, then his face cleared and he said, “Oh yeah. That’s right. Never mind.” And that was the end of it. He assured me that he DID ask for the time off to go on this trip and that there was nothing to worry about.

There’s a part of me that wants to believe him. And a part of me that wants to check behind him and make sure he’s taken care of this with his boss. I honestly feel as though I’m between a rock and a very hard place – and I’m not enjoying this AT ALL!

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That’s Not How This Works

(Originally posted in Facebook on March 18, 2019)

There are a couple of ways in which I am very envious of my husband. He has never had to be on a diet in his life. Never. I, on the other hand, feel as though I have spent my entire adult life on one diet plan or another.

So now, when we’re at a point in his life where we’re trying to manage his diet – not just to affect his weight, but to impact his health – he doesn’t have the experience I have had to get him through this process. Let me explain . . .

My understanding is, with the keto diet, you have to eat a high protein, low carb diet to force your body into ketosis (using fat rather than carbs for fuel) and it takes about three days for this to happen. If you cheat and increase your carb intake, by eating sugar or bread, then your body comes out of ketosis and you have to start the process over again.

I’ve tried to explain this to M, but he still thinks it’s okay to cheat, as long as he’s “mostly” eating a keto diet. But that’s not how this works – that’s not how any of this works. He was telling me Saturday that he had accidentally put $10 in a soft drink machine at work, rather than $1, so now he had a credit in the machine. He couldn’t understand why I was focusing on the fact that he was buying a soft drink . . . and the fact that he now had a credit to get 9 more.

We’re traveling, later this week, to see our younger son in California. Last night, M asked me when we were leaving and I told him Wednesday. Later, he asked when we were coming back, and I said Monday. He said, “Not this week.” I told him no – Monday of this week was the next day (when we were talking,) so we would be coming back Monday of next week. A friend suggested I get a big calendar and mark all the upcoming dates and events on it and I need to do that. Maybe it will help.

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Say What?

(Originally posted in Facebook on March 15, 2019)

I think we’re ending this week on a pretty positive note – even if it’s raining. AGAIN!

Yesterday, I needed to stop on the way home and buy gas, so I decided to be proactive (managing expectations!) and I called M as I pulled into the gas station and let him know what I was doing. That went well. I got home a few minutes before 6, but he knew what was going on and everything was fine.

He and I spent most of the evening in the yard, planting flowers and cleaning up yard debris from over the winter. He’s always taken a lot of pride in keeping our yard neat and looking good, but it seems to have gotten ahead of him this year. It could be all the rain we’ve had or it could be that he hasn’t paid attention to it. We’ll see.

The only issue that I’ve noticed is that he almost ALWAYS asks me to repeat anything I say to him. I’m not sure if he REALLY doesn’t hear what I’ve said or if he’s stalling for time to think about it, but I’ll say something and invariably his first response is, “huh?” I have a pretty loud voice, and no one else is asking me to repeat what I’m saying, so I don’t think I’m talking quietly. He swears and declares he gets a hearing check at work and that he passes it every year with flying colors . . . I’ve never believed THAT, but he says it’s true. He’ll see the neurologist again later this month – I think I’ll add this to the list of things to discuss.