Near on my last nerve

[Guest guest]

Hi Everyone!

I feel as if I am going crazy. My mother has had several good days

but this afternoon she is back on the driving issue. She remembers

going to take the test but she doesn't remember driving. She failed

it twice. She has cried for about an hour and now I am crying. I

tried ignoring her but that didn't work. I tried explaining why she

can't drive. She says if I wouldn't tell everyone she couldn't drive

that she could. I told her that it was the decision of the state

patrol, her doctors and all four of her daughters. She says we have

no rights to make decision for her. She is going to get a job and go

home. Because she can't remember what happened it's not true.

Sorry, I had to vent some.

Jackie

[Guest guest]

>She has cried for about an hour and now I am crying. I tried

>ignoring her but that didn't work. I tried explaining why she

>can't drive. She says if I wouldn't tell everyone she couldn't

>drive that she could.

Jackie this is so hard for you and your family to deal with. The

lady I take care of is sure that she can walk and doesn't understand

why we get excited when she stand up. The problem is a few times

when we thought she was sleeping she has managed to get herself up,

once from her chair and once from her bed, and into her wheelchair

(Lord knows how long it took her or what strength she had to draw on

to do this). We have tried to let her do it on her own when we are

there but she has ended up on the floor, so we don't let her try if

we are with her, and we no longer leave her without checking on her

every 5 minutes or using a baby monitor. She does have a personal

pager that she has used for years when she needs help but has

forgotten how to use it most of the time now.

It is hard to reason with someone that is convinced that we are the

crazy ones. I too have spent several hours trying to calm her down

when she is this insistant and have not found any answers except that

I keep telling myself that this too will pass and it always

does...until the next time. What makes if real hard right now is she

is loosing her ability to speak and most of the time now we can't

understand what she wants. This was getting real hard for me to deal

with and then my husband was having hallucinations and I finally went

on an antidepressent, it has really helped me to be able to keep my

balance in dealing with them both. Are you or have you thought about

this for yourself. An added bonus is that since I am calmer she

doesn't get as excited. Sometimes even the strogest of us need a

little help to get us over the bumps. Take care of you, God Bless,

Barb

[Guest guest]

Hi Barb!

Thanks for your response to my post. Yes, I have been on an anti-depressant but

that hasn't helped in this situation. I am just having a hard time learning to

deal with her spells. I wish I knew whether she had alzheimers or LBD but I

probably never will. Our neurologist is doing the best he can but I should have

carried her to him years ago. Her medical doctor kept her on anti-depressant

for over a year thinking that it would reverse the dementia. Hind sight is

20/20. It's odd how she remembers bits and pieces of things. She remembers

going to the doctor but doesn't remember having any of the test done.

I am feeling better. When my sister came, mama was very quiet and didn't say a

word about driving. I think I must bring out the worst in her.

Thanks,

Jackie

Re: Near on my last nerve

>She has cried for about an hour and now I am crying. I tried

>ignoring her but that didn't work. I tried explaining why she

>can't drive. She says if I wouldn't tell everyone she couldn't

>drive that she could.

Jackie this is so hard for you and your family to deal with. The

lady I take care of is sure that she can walk and doesn't understand

why we get excited when she stand up. The problem is a few times

when we thought she was sleeping she has managed to get herself up,

once from her chair and once from her bed, and into her wheelchair

(Lord knows how long it took her or what strength she had to draw on

to do this). We have tried to let her do it on her own when we are

there but she has ended up on the floor, so we don't let her try if

we are with her, and we no longer leave her without checking on her

every 5 minutes or using a baby monitor. She does have a personal

pager that she has used for years when she needs help but has

forgotten how to use it most of the time now.

It is hard to reason with someone that is convinced that we are the

crazy ones. I too have spent several hours trying to calm her down

when she is this insistant and have not found any answers except that

I keep telling myself that this too will pass and it always

does...until the next time. What makes if real hard right now is she

is loosing her ability to speak and most of the time now we can't

understand what she wants. This was getting real hard for me to deal

with and then my husband was having hallucinations and I finally went

on an antidepressent, it has really helped me to be able to keep my

balance in dealing with them both. Are you or have you thought about

this for yourself. An added bonus is that since I am calmer she

doesn't get as excited. Sometimes even the strogest of us need a

little help to get us over the bumps. Take care of you, God Bless,

Barb

[Guest guest]

>When my sister came, mama was very quiet and didn't say a word about

>driving. I think I must bring out the worst in her.

Jackie funny you should say this, my clients husband told me that he

thought he was bringing out the worst in his wife for the hour that

he has her to himself in the afternoon. This last week we switched,

he now does the hour in the morning that I was doing and I do his

afternoon hour, he says she doesn't get near as agitated with me as

she was with him during that time.

Does your mother go in and out of her dementia? If she does can you

relate it to when she is taking her meds, i.e. does it start before

or after meds. or is it at certain times of the day? There is

something called sundowners where some people with demntia get more

agitated later in the day. Hang in there and count to 10 or 100

or...Barb

[Guest guest]

Jackie, thanks for the courage to stop your mother from driving. My mom's

license expired about 2 yrs ago because she didn't keep her appointment for

new glasses so couldn't go to motor veichles. Then she let too much time

laspe and when she finally went she forgot to bring the glasses with her.

She has not driven for nearly two years, now that she has been diagnosed

with LBD 10 months ago and her neck is stuck in a downward position she

looks forward to when she will be better and can drive her car again. She

says Dad will by me a new car that one is getting too old. Vent

anytime...Shirley

>

>Reply-To: LBDcaregivers

>To: LBDcaregivers

>Subject: Near on my last nerve

>Date: Mon, 23 Sep 2002 21:55:21 -0000

>

>Hi Everyone!

>

>I feel as if I am going crazy. My mother has had several good days

>but this afternoon she is back on the driving issue. She remembers

>going to take the test but she doesn't remember driving. She failed

>it twice. She has cried for about an hour and now I am crying. I

>tried ignoring her but that didn't work. I tried explaining why she

>can't drive. She says if I wouldn't tell everyone she couldn't drive

>that she could. I told her that it was the decision of the state

>patrol, her doctors and all four of her daughters. She says we have

>no rights to make decision for her. She is going to get a job and go

>home. Because she can't remember what happened it's not true.

>

>Sorry, I had to vent some.

>

>Jackie

>

_________________________________________________________________

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[Guest guest]

Thanks Barb! She does pretty good in the morning time but by 3-4 in the

afternoon is when she gets worse. She has her bad times in the mornings also

but mostly in the afternoon.

Thanks!

Jackie

Re: Near on my last nerve

>When my sister came, mama was very quiet and didn't say a word about

>driving. I think I must bring out the worst in her.

Jackie funny you should say this, my clients husband told me that he

thought he was bringing out the worst in his wife for the hour that

he has her to himself in the afternoon. This last week we switched,

he now does the hour in the morning that I was doing and I do his

afternoon hour, he says she doesn't get near as agitated with me as

she was with him during that time.

Does your mother go in and out of her dementia? If she does can you

relate it to when she is taking her meds, i.e. does it start before

or after meds. or is it at certain times of the day? There is

something called sundowners where some people with demntia get more

agitated later in the day. Hang in there and count to 10 or 100

or...Barb

[Guest guest]

Jackie

My heart goes out to you and consider yourself hugged. My dad did the

same, with me, in the very beginning stages. Luckily my brother was the

one to find the notes written by dad stating his anger toward me. Steve

(brother) set dad straight that I was the one and only one that dad

should not be mad at. I am sure that their minds are in such chaos that

possibly when they are able to pull up a thought, they go with it.

Please know your mom means no harm or blame toward you. I would think

she is just grasping for some type of meaning in her life and some type

of normalcy. You hang in there and know you are making all the right

decisions. Hang tough at this time. This situation too will pass just

give it time.

Have included you in prayers last night, and will continue to keep you

in my prayers.

Sandie

Des Moines, IA

[Guest guest]

Barb

I appreciate that you shared you are on an anti-depressant. I am also,

and have been taking it for a year or so. I take 50 mg of Zoloft which

seems to allow me to cope. Just kinda takes the edge off life's hardest

moments.

Good job Barb for recognizing you need to take care of YOU!

:-))

Sandie

Des Moines, IA

[Guest guest]

Barb

I appreciate that you shared you are on an anti-depressant. I am also,

and have been taking it for a year or so. I take 50 mg of Zoloft which

seems to allow me to cope. Just kinda takes the edge off life's hardest

moments.

Good job Barb for recognizing you need to take care of YOU!

:-))

Sandie

Des Moines, IA

[Guest guest]

Jackie,

" Explaining " to a dementia patient for me was asking for trouble.

Redirecting works much better. For instance when she talks about

wanting to drive, ask where she would drive if she could and get into

another conversation. She will be diverted much quicker than trying to

convince her of anything . And especially if you can get her to talk

about anything else she knows such as other relatives or her favorite

shopping places or what things she would buy. This will save your

sanity and hers.

Mom never wanted to admit she couldn't now do what she use to do. It

reminded her too much of her age and infirmities.

Donna

To learn more about LBD Disease, please visit the Lewy Body Disease

Association site at:

http://www.lewybodydisease.org

[Guest guest]

Jackie,

As an after thought, I really had to learn to talk to myself and tell

me to stop expecting Mom to be reasonable. I started to expect me to

answer the same question lots of times. It was easy anyway. I didn't

have to work so hard. They look like real people so they must be like

others was unreasonable on my part.

Good luck. And remember, you don't have to make sense. My daughter was

a master at it. I learned a lot from her. She would gently laugh with

Mom and Mom would even laugh with her about some things.

Donna

To learn more about LBD Disease, please visit the Lewy Body Disease

Association site at:

http://www.lewybodydisease.org

[Guest guest]

Jackie,

As an after thought, I really had to learn to talk to myself and tell

me to stop expecting Mom to be reasonable. I started to expect me to

answer the same question lots of times. It was easy anyway. I didn't

have to work so hard. They look like real people so they must be like

others was unreasonable on my part.

Good luck. And remember, you don't have to make sense. My daughter was

a master at it. I learned a lot from her. She would gently laugh with

Mom and Mom would even laugh with her about some things.

Donna

To learn more about LBD Disease, please visit the Lewy Body Disease

Association site at:

http://www.lewybodydisease.org

[Guest guest]

Thank you so much Sandie for your heart felt concern. Especially at a time like

this when you are dealing with the loss of your dad. I know when my dad died

after having cancer for 20 years, it was so hard to accept. No matter how

prepared you are and knowing he's in a better place, it is still difficult to

handle. We went through this with her father but she doesn't remember any of

that. She only remembers when she was young. I think she still believes that.

She spoke with her brother a few days ago and said she was mad at his wife for

not telling her they were married. They have been married for over 52 years

with two grown children. Yes, you are right about her not really blaming me but

sometimes it can really get to me. I am going to have to try harder to ignore

her or change the subject harder. Instead of trying to comfort her when she

gets to crying is to let her cry and get it out of her system.

Again thanks for caring and May God bless you!

Love,

Jackie

Re: Near on my last nerve

Jackie

My heart goes out to you and consider yourself hugged. My dad did the

same, with me, in the very beginning stages. Luckily my brother was the

one to find the notes written by dad stating his anger toward me. Steve

(brother) set dad straight that I was the one and only one that dad

should not be mad at. I am sure that their minds are in such chaos that

possibly when they are able to pull up a thought, they go with it.

Please know your mom means no harm or blame toward you. I would think

she is just grasping for some type of meaning in her life and some type

of normalcy. You hang in there and know you are making all the right

decisions. Hang tough at this time. This situation too will pass just

give it time.

Have included you in prayers last night, and will continue to keep you

in my prayers.

Sandie

Des Moines, IA

[Guest guest]

I had come off my anti-depressant. I was on Zoloft but I started having black

outs. I would drive from Tifton to Moultrie (35 miles) and would not even

remember driving through two small towns. I can't take Paxil and am a little

scared to try any thing else.

Jackie

Re: Re: Near on my last nerve

Barb

I appreciate that you shared you are on an anti-depressant. I am also,

and have been taking it for a year or so. I take 50 mg of Zoloft which

seems to allow me to cope. Just kinda takes the edge off life's hardest

moments.

Good job Barb for recognizing you need to take care of YOU!

:-))

Sandie

Des Moines, IA

[Guest guest]

Thanks Donna for your reply. I have tried that approach but my mom isn't very

easily swayed but I have to try harder for my sake. I think this is part of the

disease that effects the reasoning and thinking part. Love, Jackie

Re: Re: Near on my last nerve

Jackie,

" Explaining " to a dementia patient for me was asking for trouble.

Redirecting works much better. For instance when she talks about

wanting to drive, ask where she would drive if she could and get into

another conversation. She will be diverted much quicker than trying to

convince her of anything . And especially if you can get her to talk

about anything else she knows such as other relatives or her favorite

shopping places or what things she would buy. This will save your

sanity and hers.

Mom never wanted to admit she couldn't now do what she use to do. It

reminded her too much of her age and infirmities.

Donna

To learn more about LBD Disease, please visit the Lewy Body Disease

Association site at:

http://www.lewybodydisease.org

[Guest guest]

Jackie

And a special " thanks " right back at ya! You are doing a wonderful job

and it is very obvious that you care...that is the first step in

care-giving.

Sandie

[Guest guest]

Hello Jackie. I am sorry to hear about your tough spot. No doubt that

these bad " spells " are difficult. You are doing the right thing by not

letting her drive. As we all know, doing the right thing is so hard

sometimes. My MIL wanted to go " home " so bad, and it hurt to have to tell

her no. With my MIL, I had to just tell her that it wasn't her fault, and

that she didn't do anything wrong. I told her there was a part of her brain

that was " ill " , and she needs to live where people are there to help her

when she may need the help. All I could do was reassure her that it wasn't

her fault. After some time on her new " cocktail " , she stopped talking about

that issue all together.

Hang in there Jackie. These bad spells come and go. You will learn to roll

with them, but that doesn't make it much easier on the heart I am afraid.

Good luck and take care,

Near on my last nerve

Hi Everyone!

I feel as if I am going crazy. My mother has had several good days

but this afternoon she is back on the driving issue. She remembers

going to take the test but she doesn't remember driving. She failed

it twice. She has cried for about an hour and now I am crying. I

tried ignoring her but that didn't work. I tried explaining why she

can't drive. She says if I wouldn't tell everyone she couldn't drive

that she could. I told her that it was the decision of the state

patrol, her doctors and all four of her daughters. She says we have

no rights to make decision for her. She is going to get a job and go

home. Because she can't remember what happened it's not true.

Sorry, I had to vent some.

Jackie

[Guest guest]

Thanks for your concern. It really helps to know you aren't alone.

Jackie

Near on my last nerve

Hi Everyone!

I feel as if I am going crazy. My mother has had several good days

but this afternoon she is back on the driving issue. She remembers

going to take the test but she doesn't remember driving. She failed

it twice. She has cried for about an hour and now I am crying. I

tried ignoring her but that didn't work. I tried explaining why she

can't drive. She says if I wouldn't tell everyone she couldn't drive

that she could. I told her that it was the decision of the state

patrol, her doctors and all four of her daughters. She says we have

no rights to make decision for her. She is going to get a job and go

home. Because she can't remember what happened it's not true.

Sorry, I had to vent some.

Jackie

[Guest guest]

> Thanks for your concern. It really helps to know you aren't

alone.

>

> Jackie

> Near on my last nerve

>

>

> Hi Everyone!

>

> I feel as if I am going crazy. My mother has had several good

days

> but this afternoon she is back on the driving issue. She

remembers

> going to take the test but she doesn't remember driving. She

failed

> it twice. She has cried for about an hour and now I am crying.

I

> tried ignoring her but that didn't work. I tried explaining why

she

> can't drive. She says if I wouldn't tell everyone she couldn't

drive

> that she could. I told her that it was the decision of the state

> patrol, her doctors and all four of her daughters. She says we

have

> no rights to make decision for her. She is going to get a job

and go

> home. Because she can't remember what happened it's not true.

>

> Sorry, I had to vent some.

>

> Jackie

>

> Jackie, to hear your story and so many stories of others it is so

remarkable the similarities. It's as if everyone who is going thru

this hellacious disease is actually telling my stories. Like today,

we both cried all morning. She was crying becasue " they " were going

to put her thru a ritual so she could become a " member " . She cried

cause she can't do anything right. That everything she does is

wrong. She cried cause she couldn't decide what to wear and that

made her late for breakfast....she cried cause she can't work her TV

remote anymore....etc etc. Usually she is having delusions that

someone has been in her room and grabbed her and wouldn't let go, or

that " they " were all talking about what they were going to do to her

to " put her under " so they could get her necklace and sell it. For 2

weeks she thought she had killed someone and that she was going to

have to go to jail, etc etc etc. She did pretty good yesterday. But

usually she may have a couple of good days in a row, and then you can

expect that the next day is going to be a nightmare. I too this

morning thought " I CANNOT take this anymore.......and by that I mean

more than anything trying to work and be with her every spare

moment. She's at an Assisted Living Home, but I spend at least 5-7

hrs a day with her. I work a split shift at work and am with my Mom

in between...I work from 5:30am till9:am.....so I am with her from

9:am till almost 2:pm then from when I get off at 5:pm go back to see

her from then till I get her to bed about 8:pm. She spends every

weekend with me. And we get out EVERYDAY, me always trying to come up

with somewhere we can go: such as to the bank, or to K-Mart, or out

to eat, or to the Dollar Store, etc. And I don't mind all that....I'm

just at the point of quitting my job or taking a leave of absence so

she can live with me for however as long as she can. I'm trying to

decide at what point she needs more than assisted living. I really

think soooo much of her delusions stems from the fact she lives with

35 other people and they are a " catalyst " for her delusions. When

she stays with me she doesn't have the " scary " delusions. She's

still real confused at times, but the fear factor is gone. I am on

my split shift now, and she and I went out for lunch after her bad

morning, and she is sitting on my couch asleep, but just talking up a

storm. Anyway, I too just wanted to vent, but it would take forever

and a day to really try to explain......but it's pretty much the same

as for everyone dealing with a LO with this disease. But right now I

need some serious help with a doctor who understands LBD. That too

in itself is another whole story. Today is just one of those days

for me too that I want to SCREAM " God, somebody HELP me!!!! "

Thanks for listening.....Janet

>

>

[Guest guest]

Janet! The best thing about this loop is that we are not alone. Even though I

don't know you or anyone else, I am begining to feel like we are all part of a

big family. It's nice knowing that you can vent here and you aren't considered

crazy. Also, It's okay to SCREAMMMMM! every now and then. It helps to get it

out.

Thanks for sharing.

Jackie

Near on my last nerve

>

>

> Hi Everyone!

>

> I feel as if I am going crazy. My mother has had several good

days

> but this afternoon she is back on the driving issue. She

remembers

> going to take the test but she doesn't remember driving. She

failed

> it twice. She has cried for about an hour and now I am crying.

I

> tried ignoring her but that didn't work. I tried explaining why

she

> can't drive. She says if I wouldn't tell everyone she couldn't

drive

> that she could. I told her that it was the decision of the state

> patrol, her doctors and all four of her daughters. She says we

have

> no rights to make decision for her. She is going to get a job

and go

> home. Because she can't remember what happened it's not true.

>

> Sorry, I had to vent some.

>

> Jackie

>

> Jackie, to hear your story and so many stories of others it is so

remarkable the similarities. It's as if everyone who is going thru

this hellacious disease is actually telling my stories. Like today,

we both cried all morning. She was crying becasue " they " were going

to put her thru a ritual so she could become a " member " . She cried

cause she can't do anything right. That everything she does is

wrong. She cried cause she couldn't decide what to wear and that

made her late for breakfast....she cried cause she can't work her TV

remote anymore....etc etc. Usually she is having delusions that

someone has been in her room and grabbed her and wouldn't let go, or

that " they " were all talking about what they were going to do to her

to " put her under " so they could get her necklace and sell it. For 2

weeks she thought she had killed someone and that she was going to

have to go to jail, etc etc etc. She did pretty good yesterday. But

usually she may have a couple of good days in a row, and then you can

expect that the next day is going to be a nightmare. I too this

morning thought " I CANNOT take this anymore.......and by that I mean

more than anything trying to work and be with her every spare

moment. She's at an Assisted Living Home, but I spend at least 5-7

hrs a day with her. I work a split shift at work and am with my Mom

in between...I work from 5:30am till9:am.....so I am with her from

9:am till almost 2:pm then from when I get off at 5:pm go back to see

her from then till I get her to bed about 8:pm. She spends every

weekend with me. And we get out EVERYDAY, me always trying to come up

with somewhere we can go: such as to the bank, or to K-Mart, or out

to eat, or to the Dollar Store, etc. And I don't mind all that....I'm

just at the point of quitting my job or taking a leave of absence so

she can live with me for however as long as she can. I'm trying to

decide at what point she needs more than assisted living. I really

think soooo much of her delusions stems from the fact she lives with

35 other people and they are a " catalyst " for her delusions. When

she stays with me she doesn't have the " scary " delusions. She's

still real confused at times, but the fear factor is gone. I am on

my split shift now, and she and I went out for lunch after her bad

morning, and she is sitting on my couch asleep, but just talking up a

storm. Anyway, I too just wanted to vent, but it would take forever

and a day to really try to explain......but it's pretty much the same

as for everyone dealing with a LO with this disease. But right now I

need some serious help with a doctor who understands LBD. That too

in itself is another whole story. Today is just one of those days

for me too that I want to SCREAM " God, somebody HELP me!!!! "

Thanks for listening.....Janet

>

>

[Guest guest]

You will never be alone in this group!! Vent anytime!!!

Re: Near on my last nerve

> Thanks for your concern. It really helps to know you aren't

alone.

>

> Jackie

> Near on my last nerve

>

>

> Hi Everyone!

>

> I feel as if I am going crazy. My mother has had several good

days

> but this afternoon she is back on the driving issue. She

remembers

> going to take the test but she doesn't remember driving. She

failed

> it twice. She has cried for about an hour and now I am crying.

I

> tried ignoring her but that didn't work. I tried explaining why

she

> can't drive. She says if I wouldn't tell everyone she couldn't

drive

> that she could. I told her that it was the decision of the state

> patrol, her doctors and all four of her daughters. She says we

have

> no rights to make decision for her. She is going to get a job

and go

> home. Because she can't remember what happened it's not true.

>

> Sorry, I had to vent some.

>

> Jackie

>

> Jackie, to hear your story and so many stories of others it is so

remarkable the similarities. It's as if everyone who is going thru

this hellacious disease is actually telling my stories. Like today,

we both cried all morning. She was crying becasue " they " were going

to put her thru a ritual so she could become a " member " . She cried

cause she can't do anything right. That everything she does is

wrong. She cried cause she couldn't decide what to wear and that

made her late for breakfast....she cried cause she can't work her TV

remote anymore....etc etc. Usually she is having delusions that

someone has been in her room and grabbed her and wouldn't let go, or

that " they " were all talking about what they were going to do to her

to " put her under " so they could get her necklace and sell it. For 2

weeks she thought she had killed someone and that she was going to

have to go to jail, etc etc etc. She did pretty good yesterday. But

usually she may have a couple of good days in a row, and then you can

expect that the next day is going to be a nightmare. I too this

morning thought " I CANNOT take this anymore.......and by that I mean

more than anything trying to work and be with her every spare

moment. She's at an Assisted Living Home, but I spend at least 5-7

hrs a day with her. I work a split shift at work and am with my Mom

in between...I work from 5:30am till9:am.....so I am with her from

9:am till almost 2:pm then from when I get off at 5:pm go back to see

her from then till I get her to bed about 8:pm. She spends every

weekend with me. And we get out EVERYDAY, me always trying to come up

with somewhere we can go: such as to the bank, or to K-Mart, or out

to eat, or to the Dollar Store, etc. And I don't mind all that....I'm

just at the point of quitting my job or taking a leave of absence so

she can live with me for however as long as she can. I'm trying to

decide at what point she needs more than assisted living. I really

think soooo much of her delusions stems from the fact she lives with

35 other people and they are a " catalyst " for her delusions. When

she stays with me she doesn't have the " scary " delusions. She's

still real confused at times, but the fear factor is gone. I am on

my split shift now, and she and I went out for lunch after her bad

morning, and she is sitting on my couch asleep, but just talking up a

storm. Anyway, I too just wanted to vent, but it would take forever

and a day to really try to explain......but it's pretty much the same

as for everyone dealing with a LO with this disease. But right now I

need some serious help with a doctor who understands LBD. That too

in itself is another whole story. Today is just one of those days

for me too that I want to SCREAM " God, somebody HELP me!!!! "

Thanks for listening.....Janet

>

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[Guest guest]

Hang onto your last nerve. This will pass. My mother went through a stage much

like this concerning the car. She wanted to move out to a farm house because

Dad had a woman, and was hitting her, and having " sex parties! " .....It was so

unlike her and so difficult to handle. My father was so embarrassed and hurt.

As the Lewy Body progresses they will get past this and the

hallucinations will change to crazier things that are easier to

handle. The latest is a headless baby that is crying. At least this

hallucination is so far from reality that it does not hurt as much as the

earlier stage. Mom has long forgotten the car and other problems and then out

of the blue will come a clear moment of conversation. Be thankful for the good

moments.

My next stage is what Sandie has just gone through. Thanks for being the

navigator and such a roll model to the

rest of us. I am sorry for your loss Sandie

Colleen -Missouri

Near on my last nerve

Hi Everyone!

I feel as if I am going crazy. My mother has had several good days

but this afternoon she is back on the driving issue. She remembers

going to take the test but she doesn't remember driving. She failed

it twice. She has cried for about an hour and now I am crying. I

tried ignoring her but that didn't work. I tried explaining why she

can't drive. She says if I wouldn't tell everyone she couldn't drive

that she could. I told her that it was the decision of the state

patrol, her doctors and all four of her daughters. She says we have

no rights to make decision for her. She is going to get a job and go

home. Because she can't remember what happened it's not true.

Sorry, I had to vent some.

Jackie

[Guest guest]

Awwww Colleen

This stage sure has a bittersweet ending. Still dealing here. You

too, will cope. Please keep us posted. As I head off to bed, I will

say an extra prayer for you tonight. Hugs to ya.

Oh, and thank you for your kind words...role model...wow, what a

compliment. Please let me know if I can help!

Sandie

Des Moines, IA