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A poem
To When You Used to Know Me Living in this painful present, My days are overcast. Watching you disappear, Grieving the loss of all that’s passed. I can’t bring back our yesterdays Or share my memory. I can’t take your hand and lead you back to when you used to know me. When I lay you down beside me And think about…
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Moving out of state and need to chg Medicare Plans
We are moving to NC from CA and must select a new medicare plan. We currently have a MC advantage plan but have heard switching to original medicare at this point, since we are able to switch with the move, might be the right choice. I believe there is no health qualifications to switch during this time. DH has VD with a…
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Anniversary
My DW and I are married 48 years today. Sadly, I know that it will pass with little recognition. Yesterday, when I mentioned it, she said it can’t be because she’s not that old. I sat here this morning with my coffee and read the poem posted by Groovy’s Girl. It made me cry today. Such a terrible disease.
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Explaining the Concept of Time
First, thank you to all who generously contribute to this space. I’ve been benefiting from your wisdom for some time even though I’d found it hard to bring myself to post. I was wondering if anyone had any suggestions on how to deal with the confusion regarding time. My DH is in the moderate to severe stage. I calculate…
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Overwhelming Grief
i don't know what to do with my overwhelming grief. Today Sunday perfect sunny weather my DH our little Schnoodle and me, coffee in mugs, new wheel chair (that DH wouldn't use) in the car, down to the Marina walkway to wave off three 40’ yachts our friends going out for a day trip to the local island. Then a short walk…
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is it time for hospice
My DH has VD and Alz. .he just got out of the hospital from a 4 day stay. he had a heart attack and a gi bleed. He refuses all surgeries. There are are blockages from carotids to his femoral arteries, including a abdominal anyarisum that has been worked on once. he has such a long hx cant even go into it. My question is it…
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Cochlear Implant
My DH who is 77 has mid stage Alzheimers , tinnitus and severe hearing loss. He qualifies for a cochlear Implant. I was hoping someone has gone through the experience of their loved one getting one. I am concerned about how my DH will handle getting used to it and ability to do so. Any help much appreciated.
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Neuropathic pain
My DH has severe bilateral knee pain that nothing is helping. His orthopedist thinks it may be referred from his back and ordered an epidural steroid injection. That gave him just a few hours of relief. I wondered if anyone has any insight into adding gabapentin (Neurontin) or duloxetine (Cymbalta) to see if that would…
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Just need to vent
My DH can’t accept that he has Alzheimer’s. Everyday things are getting harder for him and when I try to help or think of things to make ie easier for him and it doesn’t work I get yelled at and so does God. He refuses medication to help him so I feel like I am at a loss. Thank you for letting me vent.
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Just need to talk to my friends (218)
Happy May Day!! Hard to believe the year is one- third gone already. Hopefully May will will be less stormy but with more rain. We're still in a drought in most of Oklahoma. Carl, I looked at pictures of your new car. I think it's pretty and looks roomy.. Hope you enjoy it.
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Safe Return Medallion
Has anyone ordered one of these? I understand there is one for the "patient" and one for the caregiver. I read about it in a book and I can't find a place to order one.
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Respite stay
Asking your thoughts on respite care. Where we live there are MC facilities that offer 30 day respite stays for the caregiver to get a break. I’m sure they would like to keep the PWD permanently so they offer this. I would love to have a break like this and also curious to see how my DW does but afraid the move there and…
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Keep hope alive!
Lets start with the premise that in the future, this will be gone or under control. Lets work backward. How to we get there with current technology. My premise is neuroplasticity where the brain develops new pathways to think and remember. Next premise is slowing down or eliminating plaque accumulation. Huperzine A is…
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Vascular Dementia
I would like to hear from anyone who is dealing with a spouse or LO who has this dx. My husband has been diagnosed with cerebral amyloid angiopathy—which seems to be the cause of this vascular dementia. We have been married since 1994. He is 79. This dx has turned him into basically a different person. He is 6'10" and has…
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Should we travel?
My DH has been diagnosed with MCI although I suspect that he is further along in the process. He has always been close to his sister who lives several states away; and her husband passed away recently after a difficult battle with ALS. His sister is hosting a "celebration of life" open house at her home in a few weeks in…
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Is this Possible
My DH who has dementia and I estimate is in the beginning to mid stage 5. Just for the heck of it I asked him yesterday to draw a clock and put the hands at 3:00. He did it perfectly in less than a minute. This has really thrown me for a loop. Is this possible, has anyone had experience with this?
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OCD
Is OCD a symptom of dementia? My DH can spot a crumb on the floor 20 feet away and have to pick it up. We walk several miles every morning and he has to pick up every single little thing in the street and put it in a bag for trash – – yes, that includes leaves. He will vacuum up seeds that have fallen from a plant and…
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EOAD
Are any of you folks dealing with a LO that has been diagnosed with EOAD? My DW was diagnosed October 2023 after a good year or more of jumping through the hoops with the medical/insurance industry. We finally had to go outside of our insurance to get the final diagnoses. In 2023 she was probably stage 4 but is now…
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Gamma Wave (Genus) Therapy
developed by MIT, now in clinical trials. supposed to activate brains immune cells to clear waste including amyloids. home devices (both light and sound) available although not fda approved. has anyone tried them?
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Telling children
husband newly diagnosed with MCI and subsequent MRI found atrophy in areas of brain associated with Alzheimer’s. I’m wondering when I should tell our adult children? Husband still functions independently and I think they will be surprised.
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huperzine a
supposed to increase acetylcholine in brain which is a chemical messenger impacting memory and neuroplasticity. ive read that when taken you should allow a day or two off periodically so that acetylcholine doesnt get too high. has anyone taken it? dosage (200 mg, other?),frequency? effectiveness?
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Memory Care Facility
Anyone in Massachusetts have their LO in a memory care facility and have to pay with their own finances being they do not qualify for Medicaid. I have checked into one near me and there is no way I could afford it without going bankrupt in a very short period time. Any information will be appreciated….thank you.
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ADL and respite care
Does anyone have any suggestions for in home companionship and care with ADLs for my husband.
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Alzheimers drug horror story from the NYT
https://www.nytimes.com/2024/10/23/health/alzheimers-drug-brain-bleeding.html?ogrp=ctr&unlocked_article_code=1.UU4._7lR.3WFk8efLcVB9&smid=url-share I hope this link works but this is a gift article which I can reprint its all here in a number of sections It is the worst ethical violation I have seen in my entire career…
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OT and Cognitive Therapy for Alz Dem
What types of things do you do in OT? My DH goes to OT and so far we have created an activity board to help him remember what he did during the day, and we are working on a Memory Book for him. What other things have you done? I want to make his iphone easier for him to use. Any other ideas that are helpful? Thanks!
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Another new development…
The past 3-4 weeks DH has been coming into the kitchen every 10 minutes while I am making dinner looking to see if dinner is ready. It is really putting pressure on me to get dinner ready immediately! Tell him I will let him know when it’s ready but doesn’t do any good . Anyone deal with this and how do you handle it? Any…
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SLEEP DIVORCE
My husband was diagnosed with EOAD at age 64. 3 years prior he underwent a major surgery and as a result of that and me going through menopause we decided to sleep in separate rooms. He was so restless during the night that I was not able to get any sleep. I still work full time. It made such a difference in our day to day…
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DW needs more nap time
my DW gets thru the day ok if she takes a couple naps for an hour or so each. If she takes only one she is a ness by bedtime. Can’t follow directions to undress and put on pj’S, go to bathroom, etc and gets angry (really at herself, I know). I try to coax her to nap but she is getting more resistant. Any ideas to help?
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When/how to get kids involved
I know this depends on family dynamics, but when should you tell the kids about your concerns of your DH having dementia and what you are going through? They see him quite regularly and have to notice things. However they never bring anything up.
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Emotional aggression
My husband 81yo has it been formally diagnosed with dementia, although the kids and I suspect it. He forgets things from a discussion 10 minutes ago. He was an engineer and very smart - now it's me telling him how to do things correctly. He'll get upset that I'm telling him the practical way, so I've begun to just let him…