Re: Rapid decline...Abby

[Guest guest]

Oh Abby, my heart goes out to you.

So far my mom has not ever not recognize any of us but just her

confusion kills me so this has to be so hard for you.

This disease is so unfair to our LO's and us. I have tears in my eyes

now and i could just scream!

It killed us to have my mom in a NH but she does realize now she

needs 24/7 help. My sister or i are there every night with her.

Maybe you could talk to your dad about being worried about your mom

and that you would like to get her to have some help in the home.

My mom is always telling us that we need to go home and get some sleep

because we are always there with her. He may not like the idea now

but in time hopefully he gets use to it. I wish i could help you more.

It's so hard to have these bad days. I'll say a prayer for you.

Hugs-

Sharon

> Hello:

>

> I just talked to my mom. Apparently, my dad had a really bad night

> last night. He didn't recognize her and was rather difficult.

>

> Yesterday, I pointedly asked my dad if he felt a bit more confused

> (he had told my mom the night before that he was feeling confused

and

> he had been so good cognitively up until about a week ago). I

wanted

> to know before we started him on the Sinemet (as it is, we start

him

> today on 1 tablet). He repeatedly told me he was only confused

when

> he was " dozy " and that he was functioning fine and proceeded to

give

> me several situations when he had been in better control of the

> situation than my mom was. The thing is, that was true before but

I

> have noted a change in him. Yet, because we're working so hard not

> to upset him, I only mentioned this to his doctor briefly and, when

> he objected to what I said, I didn't push the issue.

>

> Now, I'm afraid to begin the Sinemet for fear of what this will do

to

> him cognitively. I think we'll begin today with one capsule and

then

> monitor its effects. Should he manifest symptoms of dementia,

we'll

> have to stop or re-evaluate if that is the right medication for him.

>

> I hate that this illness means we have to sacrifice either our LO's

> mental or physical capabilities. Haven't they all lost enough

> without having to consistently lose more to this damn illness????

>

> Another problem is my father refuses to get outside assistance. He

> doesn't want to go to a nh (and, when he was functioning well, I

> agreed that he didn't need to be in a Alzeheimer's ward which is

> where his papers say he should be placed) and he doesn't want any

> help coming to help him at night. We long to make him happy and

not

> go against his wishes but how much longer can we allow him to have

> this much control? The last thing I need is a sick mother too

> especially since I must return to work in 4 weeks....

>

> Sorry for the long rant. Oddly enough, when I got the bad news you

> were the first people I thought to turn to. You've all become my

> best friends throughout this ordeal and for that I thank you.

>

> Abby