-
DH has lost 16 pounds since starting hospice 24 days ago
A year ago, DH weighed 198 pounds. DH now weighs 168 pounds. DH started hospice on 1/17/2022. DH has less of an appetite than he used to. He is much less active. He spends most of the day in a recliner. He only walks about 10 steps (or less) each day. When he was admitted to hospice, several of his meds were discontinued,…
-
Advice on installing lock on front door
My DH has mid-stage VD and is at the stage when I need to install a lock on the front door. I could use advice on what to expect in his reaction to this and how to handle that. He has become obsessed with checking the mailbox multiple times during the day and sometimes in the middle of the night. Thanks for any help you…
-
Age Discrimination by doctors
My father is 97 years old and has middle stage dementia. This evening he was taken to hospital emergency room and treated for a inguinal hernia which he had never had before. The doctor performed a procedure to return the protrusion to its proper place. Only meds given were a saline IV. Along with this all sorts of blood…
-
The hardest part is the emotion
My husband was diagnosed with MCI in 2017 and has been very functional with daily activities, although some days are better than others. Last night he wanted to know about long distance phone calls. He doesn't remember that we can now make calls within the U.S. as part of our cell plan. When I explained that to him he was…
-
Got a wonderful gift this morning
Yesterday one of Fern's lady friends visited her at the MC facility and reported she was cheerful and talkative. Then this morning I checked the facility's Facebook page and find this wonderful photo of Fern being helped by a fellow resident. Brought tears of joy to my eyes. Right now I am baking fresh muffins to share…
-
Changes in Vision
My DH has LBD. He is experiencing trouble with his vision. He had cataract surgery in 2017. He wears glasses for reading and glasses for distance. He tells me he is having trouble with, what I’ll call, his mid-range vision. For example; he can’t identify the cat sitting on a chair four or five feet from him unless she…
-
Update on stage 8
It's been two months since DH passed. I am a believer in God, I am in awe about how things work out. About three weeks after my DH passed, my brother who is currently caring for our 92 yo father, came down with Covid. He had never been vaccinated, although our father has been vaccinated, as well as myself. My brother's…
-
weight loss since starting aricept
DH was prescribed Aricept in November after results of memory tests had shown declines. Since then he has lost close to 10 pounds, but his appetite has not waned. He has not experienced any nausea, vomiting or diarrhea. He eats 3 good meals a day and has several snacks such as bananas with yogurt, honey and walnuts; graham…
-
Some good info?
I haven't really looked at much here, but it looks like it might have a lot of good info, including on dealing with…
-
Tip for Dry Direct incontinence undies
Just a heads-up. We've been using Dry Direct for a while, but all of a sudden they weren't working as well as before. In fact they were not working well at all. So I was going to try other options, and went to parentgiving.com to order a couple of samples. But for some reason it wouldn't allow me to put them in my cart. So…
-
Maybe I have finally figured this disease out
I have been trying to figure out Alzheimer's disease for nearly twenty years. It comes down to this very simple observation: "The inflammatory mediator peroxynitrite, when generated in excess, may damage cells by oxidizing and nitrating cellular components. Defense against this reactive species may be at the level of…
-
Swallowing problems?
For about the last week or so, often when my wife is eating a meal, she will begin choking as if she has food stuck in her throat. I'm not sure if this is the start of swallowing problems or not. Is this how they typically start? Is it time for a swallowing test? If so, how is that done, and is it traumatic for the PWD?…
-
Awful baby rash
Hi there, My DH is wearing depends all of the time now. I try to keep him dry and clean, but he has developed a terrible rash and some bleeding. I’ve contacted the doctor and they told me about desitin and other medicines. Does anyone have suggestions how to get this problem resolved since either in the morning, his…
-
supplements
Hi all, I don't know if this is an OK subject, if not, I guess it would be pulled? Anyway, I wanted to know what kind of supplements people who use them have their loved one on. I work with a Holistic doc so I don't just do "anything" that seems OK, but I also did learn some interesting things in a FB group a while ago,…
-
Notes from the Hershey highway
When I chronicled my husband’s travels on the Hershey Highway, one of you suggested the use of Vick’s Vapo Rub under my nose. Worked like a charm. He loved me cleaning him up, I wasn’t gagging and he laughed out loud. The Rispiridone has made him gentler and he laughs more. My back went out the other day and he offered to…
-
Do not buy in to blackmail
Today was a reminder of something that comes up quite a bit. It was a nice day outside, and after I got my gal fed, bathroom break, snacks, water, etc., I told her I was going to do some farm work in the yard. The immediate response, was: "Well, I'm not staying here. I don't live here. I'm going home". This used to work on…
-
Hallucinations/Delusions (2)
Well, here goes. My first post. Reading your posts has really helped me, but I am still stuck with a problem that seems to cover several different topics. My DW of 65 years struggles with delusions. I usually can use diversions to refocus, but more and more she see me as part of the problem. Says she can't trust or believe…
-
Placement going better than I could have imagined
I placed my wife Fern in memory care 10 days ago and during the first three phone calls she sounded at least content if not happy. There have been no complaints, and no awkward questions about how long she will have to stay there. I just had phone call #4 with Fern and she sounded more cheerful than ever!! It was so…
-
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…
-
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…
-
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…
-
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…
-
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…
-
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…
-
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…
-
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…
-
History hangs over Queen Elizabeth as she marks 70 years on throne
That poor woman must have really had to go!
-
Respite help
I need to get away from you DW for an hour or two. Where do I find help? Richieweeds80
-
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…
-
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…