Guest guest Posted June 13, 2006 Report Share Posted June 13, 2006 , I should have pulled my act together before I wrote that whining letter. But, for a bit with all that itching, doing a real dance from it, I wasn't very funny. I do worry sometimes, and that is something I have to put on the back burner. It won't help me or him. Thank you for your loving encouragement. Quite a boost for this old 73 year old woman! Tomorrow, I am going to smile, I can just feel it in my bones, Love a bunch, a big bunch too, Imogene In a message dated 6/13/2006 8:58:00 AM Central Daylight Time, stim@... writes: Imogene, So sorry to hear about Don's regression. You sound very proactive and seem to know what to expect and how you will deal with it. Don is so lucky to have you by his side with such warmth, love and humour. , Oakville > > Don getting worse. > > He is confused more all the time, and tends to misunderstand and is ready to > get antsy real quick. I can quell it fast, with a loving very short reply, > and a lot of affection. If there is much answering at all, in the way of > explanations, he gets more confused and more agitated. He fell in the kitchen > Sunday, and bruised himself up quite a bit. Got tangled up on his own feet. > > I am having to spend much more time taking care of him. He doesn't even want > to go into the grocery store alone anymore. He doesn't feel confident. I > have seen many changes in just the last two weeks. I have been so busy with my > book (for my dying sister, AD late stage 6) that I haven't taken notes of his > changes. but remember enough to tell the Doctor tomorrow. In the future I > will be diligent about notes. I have kept an eye and ear out for him. I do most > of my writing when he is asleep. > > We both thought it was a good idea to have baby monitors all over the house, > just for each other, but the ones we saw at Wal-Mart were terrible. Sound > was of very poor quality. I don't understand why that is necessary, when I have > a head set with a wonderful tone. No, it wasn't expensive, either. > > We will shop around. I won't buy without knowing how it sounds first. In > time he will be too confused to know how to ring the portable doorbell that we > installed, so that he could call about his heart. > > I watch him trying to find the mute button on the TV control and he > struggles to find it. So, that is why I know it won't be long that the baby monitors > will be needed. At least one in each end of the house. > > Love a bunch, > > > Imogene > Caregiver for my True Texas Gentleman husband of 35 years. He has LBD with > Parkinsonism, and Frontal Lobe Disease with Apathy, and possibly AD > > > [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted June 13, 2006 Report Share Posted June 13, 2006 Marie- I think I can go, but can't give a 100per cent definite answer at this time. I may have to take my cousin for chemo. I will let you know as soon as I know something. Sure hope I can make it. XOXOXO Gerry Re: Re: Changes , I should have pulled my act together before I wrote that whining letter. But, for a bit with all that itching, doing a real dance from it, I wasn't very funny. I do worry sometimes, and that is something I have to put on the back burner. It won't help me or him. Thank you for your loving encouragement. Quite a boost for this old 73 year old woman! Tomorrow, I am going to smile, I can just feel it in my bones, Love a bunch, a big bunch too, Imogene In a message dated 6/13/2006 8:58:00 AM Central Daylight Time, stim@... writes: Imogene, So sorry to hear about Don's regression. You sound very proactive and seem to know what to expect and how you will deal with it. Don is so lucky to have you by his side with such warmth, love and humour. , Oakville > > Don getting worse. > > He is confused more all the time, and tends to misunderstand and is ready to > get antsy real quick. I can quell it fast, with a loving very short reply, > and a lot of affection. If there is much answering at all, in the way of > explanations, he gets more confused and more agitated. He fell in the kitchen > Sunday, and bruised himself up quite a bit. Got tangled up on his own feet. > > I am having to spend much more time taking care of him. He doesn't even want > to go into the grocery store alone anymore. He doesn't feel confident. I > have seen many changes in just the last two weeks. I have been so busy with my > book (for my dying sister, AD late stage 6) that I haven't taken notes of his > changes. but remember enough to tell the Doctor tomorrow. In the future I > will be diligent about notes. I have kept an eye and ear out for him. I do most > of my writing when he is asleep. > > We both thought it was a good idea to have baby monitors all over the house, > just for each other, but the ones we saw at Wal-Mart were terrible. Sound > was of very poor quality. I don't understand why that is necessary, when I have > a head set with a wonderful tone. No, it wasn't expensive, either. > > We will shop around. I won't buy without knowing how it sounds first. In > time he will be too confused to know how to ring the portable doorbell that we > installed, so that he could call about his heart. > > I watch him trying to find the mute button on the TV control and he > struggles to find it. So, that is why I know it won't be long that the baby monitors > will be needed. At least one in each end of the house. > > Love a bunch, > > > Imogene > Caregiver for my True Texas Gentleman husband of 35 years. He has LBD with > Parkinsonism, and Frontal Lobe Disease with Apathy, and possibly AD > > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted June 13, 2006 Report Share Posted June 13, 2006 Part of the reason that it seems I have reached that time, was me. No rest from my own health, and getting up itching, and with a rash something awful. I took a pill for it, and that just made me feel more tired. I am not normally that tired. It depressed me, and I was beginning to worry. The Doctor is giving him a new medication, because of his falling, and still seeing cats and squirrels everyday, and people at night. The medication is a little stronger than Aricept. The prescription is in his pocket, and he is taking a nap, so I can't name the medication right now. The Doctor told me Don has a long time yet, before I need to be concerned too much. He said just enjoy and live each day to the full. He said this is the time you have together and to enjoy it. Get out and do things like we used to do. Duh? Funny thing is I had just told him the same thing. But, we can't. Don doesn't need help right now. Not even at night. I just need to shift myself to his schedule, and be there because emotionally he needs me. I have so many projects and things to do that I can stay happy all the time. Now after years of learning how to be self teaching, and exploring knowledge, and to live alone, I have to change. I grew up in a very large family, had a large family, then had to learn to stay indoors all the time, I was an out door girl. Being alone was a drastic change. At that time my kids didn't live close, so I was alone! I was in the country, and friends didn't live close. Don worked 14 hours a day, and I was home alone. I had to quit working because I was too sick to do anything. From Allergies, and Asthma with pneumonia. I put puzzles together, read a lot, wrote, played music, and painted until the doctor found out I had oils in the house. I had to get rid of about a thousand dollars worth of paint and brushes. That made me sicker that the other illness I do believe. It really hurt. So anyway, I learned to become absorbed in work and projects that I liked. The last couple of years I have been writing a book, and I can't write when he is awake. He wants me with him. He has no real hobbies, but needs someone to set up things to do. That is where I have to shift gears and slow down my interest to fit his life style. We learn new things all the time, don't we? And sure do have to be flexible. Fortunately I am flexible. I had to be to move from snow white beaches of Florida to the cold of Ohio, then to Texas, Have six kids in six and a half years, and hold down jobs. I was one heck of an organizer, and moved with the flow. Now once again I have to be flexible, and I am glad I am able to do that. I just needed to recognize that my flexibility was needed once again. I need to mold myself in order to be more help to him. He is a sweetheart, and I love him dearly, I just needed to realize he can't entertain himself anymore, like I can. My new job is just ahead of me. I will quit some of the old, and take on the new. I sure do appreciate all your love. I can handle things for a while yet. I do have kids coming over all the time to clean and mow the grass. They try real hard to be there for us. We have been looking into things to do later down the road. The doctor said to get out and play, now. I wish. I really wish. We have kicked up a storm from Fl. to CA, and all over Texas with our playing. So many things to do, now it's very quiet, but that is how he wants it, and it has to be for our health. Imogene Caregiver for my True Texas Gentleman husband of 35 years. He has LBD with Parkinsonism, and Frontal Lobe Disease with Apathy, and possibly AD In a message dated 6/13/2006 9:19:05 AM Central Daylight Time, stim@... writes: Imogene, You have referred to health issues with yourself before but never as explicitly as today. In a previous message I mentioned your proactive stance and awareness of what needs to be done. I can tell you are aware of your own needs here and simply need to move on them. You need help caring for Don. Can you get someone in to be with him during the night at least? Someone who would perhaps wash and rinse your laundry as needed at the same time? It would be a start. I hope your appointment this morning comes up with some answers for you because, dear lady, it sounds like you have reached that time in Lewyville. , Oakville > > > > I'm not so sure, , about doing a wonderful job. It hasn't really > begun yet. > > It was terrible trying to take over all the city driving, under his > directions, of course! > What does concern me is my having to get up to care for him during the > night? I was asking someone from another list, what she did for an Ad patient, and > she uses a motion detector. > > For many years I have gotten up with him, because of his heart, stayed up > until it settled down, only to get up again and drive him to the hospital. This > went on for years, many, many times. > > But, my own health is worse, I don't get much sleep as it is, Maybe four or > five hours. I don't believe I can handle getting up to tend to him the way I > had to do with his heart, or years before with my six babies, while in my > 20's. > > Right now, he just had a #2 accident in the kitchen, and has smelled the > whole house. He is in the bath. I recall having to care for his mother like > that, and give her the bath. Now though, I am really shook up over whether I can > handle it anymore. He doesn't seem sick, but I can see it coming. > > About getting up by a motion detector, he gets up several times a night, and > is quiet about it. What happens to me to have my own rest needs, and be > disturbed by his getting up needs by a motion detector? I can't go that, I am > sure. > > As you may recall I have pneumonia, and am short of breath all the time. I > have low Thyroid (which is medicated), Essential tremor, Peripheral > Neuropathy, Arrhythmias, > Arthritis so painful I get very little sleep, even with all the medication I > take. Allergies are another deterrent to good sleep, as well as Multiple > Chemical Sensitivity. > > I washed my bed clothes, and rinsed them twice as usual, and I got up far > too soon with rash, and sever itching all over my body, that touched the > sheets. I was frantic with it itching. I had to take a pill, and will have to drive > to the doctor, so I will be extra careful. It is only one mile to his > office. I will have to rinse the sheets a third time. It is essential that they are > unrolled, (if that happens) for the second rinse, and I failed to do that. > > Now, I am getting worried, and that is a no, no, for a care giver. What to > do? Well, we are seeing his Geriatric/Phychiatrist this morning, and I am sure > we will be talking more than before. > > Thanks for hearing me out. Worry wart here had to talk. > Love a bunch > > > Imogene > Caregiver for my True Texas Gentleman husband of 35 years. He has LBD with > Parkinsonism, and Frontal Lobe Disease with Apathy, and possibly AD > > > > In a message dated 6/13/2006 6:12:36 AM Central Daylight Time, > octoryrose@... writes: > > I'm sorry that Don seems to be getting worse. You're doing a wonderful > job though - and you can be proud of yourself for that! > > > > > > > > > > > [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted June 13, 2006 Report Share Posted June 13, 2006 OOPS! Pardon me, I emailed this group by mistake rather than my friend Marie. Thanks, Gerry Re: Re: Changes , I should have pulled my act together before I wrote that whining letter. But, for a bit with all that itching, doing a real dance from it, I wasn't very funny. I do worry sometimes, and that is something I have to put on the back burner. It won't help me or him. Thank you for your loving encouragement. Quite a boost for this old 73 year old woman! Tomorrow, I am going to smile, I can just feel it in my bones, Love a bunch, a big bunch too, Imogene In a message dated 6/13/2006 8:58:00 AM Central Daylight Time, stim@... writes: Imogene, So sorry to hear about Don's regression. You sound very proactive and seem to know what to expect and how you will deal with it. Don is so lucky to have you by his side with such warmth, love and humour. , Oakville > > Don getting worse. > > He is confused more all the time, and tends to misunderstand and is ready to > get antsy real quick. I can quell it fast, with a loving very short reply, > and a lot of affection. If there is much answering at all, in the way of > explanations, he gets more confused and more agitated. He fell in the kitchen > Sunday, and bruised himself up quite a bit. Got tangled up on his own feet. > > I am having to spend much more time taking care of him. He doesn't even want > to go into the grocery store alone anymore. He doesn't feel confident. I > have seen many changes in just the last two weeks. I have been so busy with my > book (for my dying sister, AD late stage 6) that I haven't taken notes of his > changes. but remember enough to tell the Doctor tomorrow. In the future I > will be diligent about notes. I have kept an eye and ear out for him. I do most > of my writing when he is asleep. > > We both thought it was a good idea to have baby monitors all over the house, > just for each other, but the ones we saw at Wal-Mart were terrible. Sound > was of very poor quality. I don't understand why that is necessary, when I have > a head set with a wonderful tone. No, it wasn't expensive, either. > > We will shop around. I won't buy without knowing how it sounds first. In > time he will be too confused to know how to ring the portable doorbell that we > installed, so that he could call about his heart. > > I watch him trying to find the mute button on the TV control and he > struggles to find it. So, that is why I know it won't be long that the baby monitors > will be needed. At least one in each end of the house. > > Love a bunch, > > > Imogene > Caregiver for my True Texas Gentleman husband of 35 years. He has LBD with > Parkinsonism, and Frontal Lobe Disease with Apathy, and possibly AD > > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted June 13, 2006 Report Share Posted June 13, 2006 Dear Ingenue, I have felt the way you do many time's my husband spent a lot of year's in the hospital with 3 back operation's mostly on many drug's for pain and got addicted and was mean when he was home then in had open heart surgery in 1996, and now LBD, SO WE HAVE A RIGHT TO FEEL THE WAY WE DO , Dont forget that we can only do our best , He is now in a nursing home and he wont even speak to me , but I am getting on my feet again , so you take care of yourself if you dont you will be sick ...... GOD BLESS YOU MY DEAR ... Eileen -- Re: Re: Changes Marie- I think I can go, but can't give a 100per cent definite answer at this time. I may have to take my cousin for chemo. I will let you know as soon as I know something. Sure hope I can make it. XOXOXO Gerry Re: Re: Changes , I should have pulled my act together before I wrote that whining letter. But, for a bit with all that itching, doing a real dance from it, I wasn't very funny. I do worry sometimes, and that is something I have to put on the back burner. It won't help me or him. Thank you for your loving encouragement. Quite a boost for this old 73 year old woman! Tomorrow, I am going to smile, I can just feel it in my bones, Love a bunch, a big bunch too, Imogene In a message dated 6/13/2006 8:58:00 AM Central Daylight Time, stim@... writes: Imogene, So sorry to hear about Don's regression. You sound very proactive and seem to know what to expect and how you will deal with it. Don is so lucky to have you by his side with such warmth, love and humour. , Oakville > > Don getting worse. > > He is confused more all the time, and tends to misunderstand and is ready to > get antsy real quick. I can quell it fast, with a loving very short reply, > and a lot of affection. If there is much answering at all, in the way of > explanations, he gets more confused and more agitated. He fell in the kitchen > Sunday, and bruised himself up quite a bit. Got tangled up on his own feet. > > I am having to spend much more time taking care of him. He doesn't even want > to go into the grocery store alone anymore. He doesn't feel confident. I > have seen many changes in just the last two weeks. I have been so busy with my > book (for my dying sister, AD late stage 6) that I haven't taken notes of his > changes. but remember enough to tell the Doctor tomorrow. In the future I > will be diligent about notes. I have kept an eye and ear out for him. I do most > of my writing when he is asleep. > > We both thought it was a good idea to have baby monitors all over the house, > just for each other, but the ones we saw at Wal-Mart were terrible. Sound > was of very poor quality. I don't understand why that is necessary, when I have > a head set with a wonderful tone. No, it wasn't expensive, either. > > We will shop around. I won't buy without knowing how it sounds first. In > time he will be too confused to know how to ring the portable doorbell that we > installed, so that he could call about his heart. > > I watch him trying to find the mute button on the TV control and he > struggles to find it. So, that is why I know it won't be long that the baby monitors > will be needed. At least one in each end of the house. > > Love a bunch, > > > Imogene > Caregiver for my True Texas Gentleman husband of 35 years. He has LBD with > Parkinsonism, and Frontal Lobe Disease with Apathy, and possibly AD > > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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