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Congratulating ourselves
Last night was horrific for my DW. She had diarrhea and managed to spread it on herself and bed. The Depends held 95% which is a miracle of modern science, as they used to say. The congratulations are to myself for helping her in the most respectful way possible. I stripped her bed and put everything in the washer. Then, I…
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Starting Again
Isn’t that what we caregivers do? Start over again and again and again. Last week DH told our neighbors how he enjoyed going to the Day Program where he believes he is a volunteer. Due to Covid it has been shut down since December. But tomorrow it is starting up again. Whoopee! I told DH the great news. DH responded with…
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exhausted/depressed to the point of almost non functional
Hi all, I just shake my head on how life has played out. I am not well myself, and caring for my husband who is in bed and somewhat incontinent. Doesn't know how to shower, wash hands after bathroom stuff, etc. I have to direct for everything or do it.. and we know it's going to get worse. Then I have pets... one of which…
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MIL and food obsession
My MIL has a food obsession. My wife, son, and I live with her. My son stays with her every day as my wife and I work and MIL cannot be left alone. We have put up baby gates and locks on the cabinets and fridge because MIL has parkinsons and has issues with falling. The locks were put on the fridge because we would find…
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Just need to talk to my friends (164)
Hi, I've been having a hard time getting onto the thread - maybe because it's so long so I'll start 164. Good for you Iris for speaking up. Sometimes that's all it takes. Maybe the manager wasn't aware of the problem. Just think - you could have saved no telling how many people from falling in the bathtub and being…
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My Wife is Back Home After 4 Months in AL while I Recover from Surgery; Constipation
I had a Laminectomy at 5 levels of lower spine; surgery went great and cured my nerve pain in my legs but the site got infected. I was on a wound vac for 2 months. While all of this was going on I placed my Wife in Respite Care at a very good facility about 30 minutes from home. My Wife came home Monday (1/31/22) after 4…
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Just feeling alone
My son called me yesterday in a depressive crisis of sorts-trying to do grad school during Covid has been tough. He’s a long way away and there’s so little I can do over the phone. But caregiving here also keeps me from being able to help him much other than talk, and not having my partner to share it with makes it doubly…
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Impact of Surgery?
My DH had back surgery last May and was under anesthesia for 5+ hours - had memory issues related to his Dementia before that but since then, he's so much worse. I had no idea. After surgery when he came home, he was hallucinating, seeing things/people, reaching into the air, etc., and was very difficult to manage. Kids…
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History hangs over Queen Elizabeth as she marks 70 years on throne
That poor woman must have really had to go!
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Respite help
I need to get away from you DW for an hour or two. Where do I find help? Richieweeds80
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Long covid and Alzheimers
It's a pretty heavy slog but interesting Small Study Finds Alzheimer's-like Changes in Some COVID Patients' Brains News February 3, 2022 A study from researchers at Columbia University Vagelos College of Physicians and Surgeons reports that the brains of a small sample of patients who died of COVID display some of the same…
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Memantine
Went to SaveOn to fill memantine for my husband. Using his prescription insurance three months was $120. I paid it then went home and looked up GoodRx. Three months was $21. Went back to the pharmacy with the Good Rx coupon and they refunded me $91. Donepezil will have a similar savings. I will definitely take in coupons…
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The importance of acting
This is mostly for people new to the game. It is really important to put on a good face for your LOs because they will pick up any little signs of anger or negativity in your body language. If they do, your job becomes much harder. So if they're giving you a hard time, do your best to make jokes or otherwise lighten the…
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He speaks to the mirror
I know I' ve seen a post on this recently, but I can't find it. Today the caregiver sent me a video of my partner talking to the mirror and showing to his image the photo album I made for her, introducing family members. Since a few days, he has a lot of changes in his behavior. He is very angry and has aggressive…
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Rispiridone and the blues
My husband’s doctor prescribed rispiridone to control his wandering. It has helped somewhat, he is less combative and aggressive. However, he really is confused about night and day. He goes to bed around 4:30 pm and stays asleep until about 8 pm. He comes down and turns up the heat to 85 degrees. I am gasping from the heat…
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Hallucinations/Delusions
I have been reading posts a lot in the past year or so, but haven't posted much. I'm afraid I am going to be posting questions more often. My DH was diagnosed with MCI in 2014, then unspecified dementia in 2018, and Alz in April of 2021, he turned 66 in December. He seems to be declining quickly. Two days ago he called me…
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Risperidone vs Jekyll and Hyde.
I was at the end of my rope and called my husband’s primary physician for help. My husband has taken to waking me up at 7:45 am saying it is time to get up. The problem is that I am a night owl and treasure my peace at night, so not willing to forgo that time. The doctor put him on .25 risperidone twice a day. When it…
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Court RCourt rules Medicare Beneficiaries Can Appeal Switch to Hospital Observation Status
This could save you some big bucks if they go to a nursing home. https://www.elderlawanswers.com/court-rules-medicare-beneficiaries-can-appeal-switch-to-hospital-observation-status-18678?
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Outsiders
The Well Wishers are at it again. They want to help me. I need to ‘work’. We should ‘get help’. she will ‘be fine’. They don’t see that it all means nothing anymore. Not any of it. She is right here beside me now. She is warm and safe and sleeping. The day has ended, the meals eaten, the messes wiped away. Today's smiles…
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When He Falls: Assist or Not?
My DH falls (awaiting diagnosis—NPH? FTD?) He has at least MCI. Together we agreed to let him get himself up after a fall if he can. This made sense because I need to know if he can get himself up if he falls (sometimes I work in the yard, sometimes I take the dog for a walk or run an errand). We’ve watched…
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Catastrophically disabled butterfly wings
Curious how your quest for the priority group 4 classification is going. I spoke with Jim's doctor and social worker about this. Neither has heard of this classification. Today I spoke with Dr again who told me he is uncomfortable doing the testing required as He has not been trained in that. I told him I didn't want him…
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Music(1)
Every so often I'll take lines out of songs we all knew, and just use them in conversation. Something along the lines of "Close to you (I will always be)" or "I will always love you". I made a cake, and just finished icing it when I saw her coming in the kitchen because she always wants to be near me. I told her I just…
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Slightly revised (and completed) poem
First I want to thank everyone for their kind replies to the other thread. Writing is not who I am. I am a builder, a fixer, and put my arms around physical work. But a writer? No way! Anyhow here it is: A true story: She was sixteen In front of her house She stood waiting For what would probably be Her first time dating…
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To all the unspoken ones.
I know I am new still to this forum. So I just want to say to those who are on the sides just reading all the posts. I am glad that this forum is here and it's so open. I recently found out that two old friends from church have started on this journey. We are all in this together. I joined in 2018 and off and on read posts…
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Cataract surgery(2)
My dw was diagnosed with a cataract in one eye almost a year ago to the date. I just got the reminder it's time for a checkup. My dw doesn't want surgery especially involving her eyes. Lo and behold She started talking about what she needs to get her eye fixed, not knowing it's been one year. She gets crying when we talked…
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He didn't know me
This morning was a huge blow to me. It started out fine with a cup of coffee and watching the morning news. Then out of the blue came the questions I never saw coming like; Do you have family in town? Do you know my brother? Do you know his wife? Do you know my mother? How long have you lived here? Do you have dogs? And on…
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Started day care today
I took my dh to day care today for the first time. I'd been telling him he needed somewhere to go where he could be around people, and that I had "a friend" that might need some help. When we pulled into the parking lot and he saw the sign for Senior Services, he said, "I do not like this. One little bit." So I dropped him…
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update on omicron/covid
This is the best Ive got at this moment this is a nasty disease The omicron variant is "living up to " the predictions. Many more cases but a lower fatality rate and heavily concentrated among the non vaccinated adults. The success of vaccination in preventing death has been overwhelming. It is not Milder it just has a…
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Oh the vulgarity!
I am not a prude. My own language is occasionally laced with my favorite four-letter words. However, as my husband’s mind declines, his curses, references to brutal violence, and repetition of these grotesque images is more than I can take at times. I was talking about friends whose political beliefs differ from ours. DH…
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ABC123(1)
I don't think you've posted much about your parents lately, and they're always on my mind. Hopefully they are both hanging in there.