Guest guest Posted January 3, 2006 Report Share Posted January 3, 2006 jean, dad had hallucinations in the beginning and towards the end he never said anthing about them he kept some things to himslef so i dont know how relevant the hallucinations really are, but maybe they are pleasant hallucinations like animals and children that she is not afraid of and smiles at. my dad knew me until the end, he knew donnie as well but had a hard time with his name as we have only been together since 2000 i am glad she is in good spirits, that is important, my prayers are sent your way sharon m -- Stages of LBD Hi All, As I was up last night, hacking my head off from this blasted cold virus I have, I began to think about my Dad and his " stages " of LBD. The following is just a personal opinion and observation. Some of you may have seen or are seeing some of these things in your own LO's life. (Keep in mind that I have a pre-teen and an infant as my models here.) The stages of LBD are like a spectrum of life. Think of birth at one end and adulthood at the other end. We all begin at the end labeled birth, continue on through infanthood (not a word, I know), toddlerhood, childhood, teenagerhood (I know, again this is not a word but stick with me here), and adulthood. When a person with LBD begins to show symptoms they are in the adulthood part of the spectrum albeit the young adulthood part of the spectrum. As the disease progresses they digress into the teenagerhood, childhood, toddlerhood and then into infanthood. Let me see if I can show this clearer.... LBD LO on the young adulthood side of the spectrum: sometimes makes clear decision, other times is not able to make clear decisions, gets confused but wants their own way as they think in their minds they are right. Denial is the word I would use here. LBD LO then moves to teenagerhood: EVEN more unclear decisions, shows or acts out sexually as a teenager might when their hormones are racing (not all LBD patients experience this but some will), relives more and more memories of this time period or the time period of a young adult. May begin to watch LOTS of TV, especially on channels that have reruns of 50's and 60s shows. Unable to keep a clean anything - room, clothes, etc... LBD LO then moves to childhood: This stage was very clear with my Dad. There came a time when I could pinpoint my Dad's mental/intellectual age. It was the same as my daughter's at that time (she was 7 year old). I can't tell you how many times my daughter tried to " teach " her Paw (what she called my Dad) what she learned in school that day and Dad really thought it was the first time he had ever seen or heard of such a thing. He enjoyed puzzles, drawing and coloring at this stage as well as Tinker Toys and watching children's videos. LBD then moves to Toddlerhood, only backwards: The toddler is learning how to get around by walking and learning to feed themselves. Dad went through the cane, then a walker, then to a wheelchair, then to not being able to walk at all and being bedridden. Toddlers are just learning how to get around and walk. Dad was also able to feed himself, then he had to have his big things cut up, then he had to have special rubber grips on his utensils so he could grip them, then he couldn't feed himself at all. Just like a toddler, only backwards - we parents teach our children how to eat with special utensils, then cutting up their big things, then on to them being able to feed themselves. Another aspect are the accidents when needing to go to the bathroom. Toddlers have to learn to use the potty, our LOs forget how to use the potty. Like I said toddlerhood - only backwards. LBD then moves to Infanthood: This is the stage where your LO is bedridden, unable to feed him or herself, must be in diapers 24/7, unable to do anything by themself. Must be cared for 24/7. I have an article from probably 30 years ago that talks about how death is like birth, only backwards. If you think about it - that is really true, especially to those of use who have had to go through the death and dying process firsthand with our loved ones. To see them well, robust and alive before this disease then to see them sick, in need of us constantly to dying Again, this information is just my opinion but it helps me to understand this disease just a tiny bit more. na in North Carolina --------------------------------- Yahoo! DSL Something to write home about. Just $16.99/mo. or less Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted January 5, 2006 Report Share Posted January 5, 2006 Sharon, thank you for responding. Mom is a trouper. She tries so hard to smile and be in good spirits even tho she is in constant pain. The NH she is in says she gets more visitors than any other person there. She has good and bad days, of course. It's just so hard to see her like this. Sharon wrote: jean, dad had hallucinations in the beginning and towards the end he never said anthing about them he kept some things to himslef so i dont know how relevant the hallucinations really are, but maybe they are pleasant hallucinations like animals and children that she is not afraid of and smiles at. my dad knew me until the end, he knew donnie as well but had a hard time with his name as we have only been together since 2000 i am glad she is in good spirits, that is important, my prayers are sent your way sharon m -- Stages of LBD Hi All, As I was up last night, hacking my head off from this blasted cold virus I have, I began to think about my Dad and his " stages " of LBD. The following is just a personal opinion and observation. Some of you may have seen or are seeing some of these things in your own LO's life. (Keep in mind that I have a pre-teen and an infant as my models here.) The stages of LBD are like a spectrum of life. Think of birth at one end and adulthood at the other end. We all begin at the end labeled birth, continue on through infanthood (not a word, I know), toddlerhood, childhood, teenagerhood (I know, again this is not a word but stick with me here), and adulthood. When a person with LBD begins to show symptoms they are in the adulthood part of the spectrum albeit the young adulthood part of the spectrum. As the disease progresses they digress into the teenagerhood, childhood, toddlerhood and then into infanthood. Let me see if I can show this clearer.... LBD LO on the young adulthood side of the spectrum: sometimes makes clear decision, other times is not able to make clear decisions, gets confused but wants their own way as they think in their minds they are right. Denial is the word I would use here. LBD LO then moves to teenagerhood: EVEN more unclear decisions, shows or acts out sexually as a teenager might when their hormones are racing (not all LBD patients experience this but some will), relives more and more memories of this time period or the time period of a young adult. May begin to watch LOTS of TV, especially on channels that have reruns of 50's and 60s shows. Unable to keep a clean anything - room, clothes, etc... LBD LO then moves to childhood: This stage was very clear with my Dad. There came a time when I could pinpoint my Dad's mental/intellectual age. It was the same as my daughter's at that time (she was 7 year old). I can't tell you how many times my daughter tried to " teach " her Paw (what she called my Dad) what she learned in school that day and Dad really thought it was the first time he had ever seen or heard of such a thing. He enjoyed puzzles, drawing and coloring at this stage as well as Tinker Toys and watching children's videos. LBD then moves to Toddlerhood, only backwards: The toddler is learning how to get around by walking and learning to feed themselves. Dad went through the cane, then a walker, then to a wheelchair, then to not being able to walk at all and being bedridden. Toddlers are just learning how to get around and walk. Dad was also able to feed himself, then he had to have his big things cut up, then he had to have special rubber grips on his utensils so he could grip them, then he couldn't feed himself at all. Just like a toddler, only backwards - we parents teach our children how to eat with special utensils, then cutting up their big things, then on to them being able to feed themselves. Another aspect are the accidents when needing to go to the bathroom. Toddlers have to learn to use the potty, our LOs forget how to use the potty. Like I said toddlerhood - only backwards. LBD then moves to Infanthood: This is the stage where your LO is bedridden, unable to feed him or herself, must be in diapers 24/7, unable to do anything by themself. Must be cared for 24/7. I have an article from probably 30 years ago that talks about how death is like birth, only backwards. If you think about it - that is really true, especially to those of use who have had to go through the death and dying process firsthand with our loved ones. To see them well, robust and alive before this disease then to see them sick, in need of us constantly to dying Again, this information is just my opinion but it helps me to understand this disease just a tiny bit more. na in North Carolina --------------------------------- Yahoo! DSL Something to write home about. Just $16.99/mo. or less Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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