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Thank you All
Our group is new and small, but I just had to say this -
I have been absolutely blessed by each of you. When I look around the world and see so much hatred and cruelty, and then I see the love and devotion in yours posts, well it thrills my soul to be among such good and loving people. I hope each of you knows how very special you are.
Sunny
I have been absolutely blessed by each of you. When I look around the world and see so much hatred and cruelty, and then I see the love and devotion in yours posts, well it thrills my soul to be among such good and loving people. I hope each of you knows how very special you are.
Sunny
Remeron
Had a consult with the doctor today and my MIL was in full force. He walked in the room and she said, "When I woke up all the people were bald and I don't let bald people touch me" Of course, you have figured out the doctor was bald.
He is very kind and he just laughed. She clouded up like she was going to cry and he asked her what was wrong. She told him she was thinking about her sister who is deceased and started crying.
He recommended Remeron which is an antidepressant which stimulates the appetite and causes dry mouth which will make her want to drink more. It also helps her sleep as she is waking up around midnight and roaming. A ray of hope. He made no promises but we are hopeful.
She came to the nurses station when we were talking and told the nurse "I fell out of a tree, that is why I am crazy". The nurse gently kissed the top of her head and told her if she needed anything to know that she was there to comfort her and she was not alone. This seemed to make her feel better and she went on to the cafeteria for lunch. She was actually trying to eat when I left.
Anyone else had experience with Remeron?
He is very kind and he just laughed. She clouded up like she was going to cry and he asked her what was wrong. She told him she was thinking about her sister who is deceased and started crying.
He recommended Remeron which is an antidepressant which stimulates the appetite and causes dry mouth which will make her want to drink more. It also helps her sleep as she is waking up around midnight and roaming. A ray of hope. He made no promises but we are hopeful.
She came to the nurses station when we were talking and told the nurse "I fell out of a tree, that is why I am crazy". The nurse gently kissed the top of her head and told her if she needed anything to know that she was there to comfort her and she was not alone. This seemed to make her feel better and she went on to the cafeteria for lunch. She was actually trying to eat when I left.
Anyone else had experience with Remeron?
Observer
I feel like an observer in here as all of you are living with this, or have lived with it. I'm the distant observer of my mother's deterioration so I get the stories but don't have to live with it in real time. The stories are both comical and sad. In a way there is some guilt associated with that because I am not there to visit Mom regularly, although I know how difficult it must be.
To be honest with you all, I dread those trips to Florida, as infrequent as they have been. I have been down twice since my parents moved there in November of 2003. My first visit was about a year and a half before Dad decided that with his own physical ailments he could no longer care for her. My last visit was in October, almost a year and a half after she moved into assisted living. That visit was prompted by a crisis for her. I left there feeling that may have been the last time I would see her.
I know I have something to contribute here, but in comparison to those of you who live it everyday, I respect your strength and ability to care for someone who is no longer able to love you back, be that a parent or a spouse.
Mary
To be honest with you all, I dread those trips to Florida, as infrequent as they have been. I have been down twice since my parents moved there in November of 2003. My first visit was about a year and a half before Dad decided that with his own physical ailments he could no longer care for her. My last visit was in October, almost a year and a half after she moved into assisted living. That visit was prompted by a crisis for her. I left there feeling that may have been the last time I would see her.
I know I have something to contribute here, but in comparison to those of you who live it everyday, I respect your strength and ability to care for someone who is no longer able to love you back, be that a parent or a spouse.
Mary
Member Kindred Spirits
I look at the seven people on the membership page and even though I can't see some of your faces, I feel like kindred spirits. I pray over you and your hearts as well as praying for those you love.
We are all sharing the same pain, some at different stages, but all in a world only we can understand.
Thank you for sharing this world with us.
We are all sharing the same pain, some at different stages, but all in a world only we can understand.
Thank you for sharing this world with us.
Vacationing Away
Just wondering.
There are only two of the sons who help care for Ma Katie. Even though she is in a Senior Manor and has round the clock care, sometimes we are the only ones who can get her to eat or get out of bed, etc.
We are scheduled for a vacation/business trip for 8 days the middle of
March. The other brother has offered to make sure to go everyday.
Since she is used to us coming and won't understand why we are not there, are we wrong to go?
Have any of you been faced with this?
We will be 12 hours away in case something happens.
There are only two of the sons who help care for Ma Katie. Even though she is in a Senior Manor and has round the clock care, sometimes we are the only ones who can get her to eat or get out of bed, etc.
We are scheduled for a vacation/business trip for 8 days the middle of
March. The other brother has offered to make sure to go everyday.
Since she is used to us coming and won't understand why we are not there, are we wrong to go?
Have any of you been faced with this?
We will be 12 hours away in case something happens.
Feeling Her Age
What follows is a portion of my blog which is too long to post in its entirety here...
My mother suffers from dementia. There, I said it, and believe me, it's not easy accepting that truth. Part of the disbelief came from not wanting to believe it, and part from how long my father hid it from us.
I come from a rather large family that spread our wings rather than stay close to home, so visiting often was just something that wasn't happening. Not a family reunion, no holidays together, we each went our own direction and had our own families and Mom and Dad enjoyed their empty nest, knowing that they had raised five independent children. Most of my connection to them over the last 35 years has been regular phone calls and occasional visits. Very occasional visits. At times we were even on different continents and or spread across each time zone.
To read the rest of the story view link I will post additions to my blog here as I am inspired to blog more.
My mother suffers from dementia. There, I said it, and believe me, it's not easy accepting that truth. Part of the disbelief came from not wanting to believe it, and part from how long my father hid it from us.
I come from a rather large family that spread our wings rather than stay close to home, so visiting often was just something that wasn't happening. Not a family reunion, no holidays together, we each went our own direction and had our own families and Mom and Dad enjoyed their empty nest, knowing that they had raised five independent children. Most of my connection to them over the last 35 years has been regular phone calls and occasional visits. Very occasional visits. At times we were even on different continents and or spread across each time zone.
To read the rest of the story view link I will post additions to my blog here as I am inspired to blog more.
The Book
My husband and I are writing our memoirs on this journey with his mother. So many things that happen to us also happen to others.
The baby thing, the clothes askewed or not worn at all, the wandering, the paranoia and so many more stories. I know there are other books which help.
This book is for her!
When she first sensed that something was wrong she started telling me to write it down. Her greatest joy was to make others laugh. She is still doing that and our goal is to make you "Laugh To Keep From Crying". Almost every chapter has a "choke up" moment but there is also laughter with her sense of humor.
The baby thing, the clothes askewed or not worn at all, the wandering, the paranoia and so many more stories. I know there are other books which help.
This book is for her!
When she first sensed that something was wrong she started telling me to write it down. Her greatest joy was to make others laugh. She is still doing that and our goal is to make you "Laugh To Keep From Crying". Almost every chapter has a "choke up" moment but there is also laughter with her sense of humor.
I Have a New Baby Brother!
Wasn't quite sure whether to call this "More Adventures With Dementia" or something else, but I have to admit that if it were not so personal it would be funny. You just never know what will come out of the mouth of a person suffering from dementia.
It seems that Mom is in a different point in her life on a daily basis. I actually started noticing it when my sister spent a month in the hospital last April and May. When we finally got around to telling her about it, she got all confused and thought my sister was having a baby.
There is more here view link
It seems that Mom is in a different point in her life on a daily basis. I actually started noticing it when my sister spent a month in the hospital last April and May. When we finally got around to telling her about it, she got all confused and thought my sister was having a baby.
There is more here view link
You Have To Laugh To Keep From Crying
You do not have to go on this ride alone. Our mission is to help others feel as if they are not alone on this roller coaster called Dementia. We will laugh, we will cry but we will make it together.
Please tell us about your "story". We will all have one, the good, the bad, and the ugly. For those who are going through it themselves, with a spouse, or parent, you no longer have to think you are alone.
Our normal is not the world's normal but it is the world we live in for a season.
I don't think I can explain this disease better than God did in
Ecclesiastes 3
King James Bible
1 To every thing there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven:
2 A time to be born, and a time to die; a time to plant, and a time to pluck up that which is planted;
3 A time to kill, and a time to heal; a time to break down, and a time to build up;
4 A time to weep, and a time to laugh; a time to mourn, and a time to dance;
5 A time to cast away stones, and a time to gather stones together; a time to embrace, and a time to refrain from embracing;
6 A time to get, and a time to lose; a time to keep, and a time to cast away;
7 A time to rend, and a time to sew; a time to keep silence, and a time to speak;
8 A time to love, and a time to hate; a time of war, and a time of peace.
Please tell us about your "story". We will all have one, the good, the bad, and the ugly. For those who are going through it themselves, with a spouse, or parent, you no longer have to think you are alone.
Our normal is not the world's normal but it is the world we live in for a season.
I don't think I can explain this disease better than God did in
Ecclesiastes 3
King James Bible
1 To every thing there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven:
2 A time to be born, and a time to die; a time to plant, and a time to pluck up that which is planted;
3 A time to kill, and a time to heal; a time to break down, and a time to build up;
4 A time to weep, and a time to laugh; a time to mourn, and a time to dance;
5 A time to cast away stones, and a time to gather stones together; a time to embrace, and a time to refrain from embracing;
6 A time to get, and a time to lose; a time to keep, and a time to cast away;
7 A time to rend, and a time to sew; a time to keep silence, and a time to speak;
8 A time to love, and a time to hate; a time of war, and a time of peace.
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