Comments on: Speed Blogging http://www.amountaintoohigh.com/2008/10/28/speed-blogging/ Living With Alzheimer's Disease Mon, 06 Feb 2012 07:09:58 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: femail doc http://www.amountaintoohigh.com/2008/10/28/speed-blogging/comment-page-1/#comment-3077 femail doc Thu, 30 Oct 2008 12:46:00 +0000 http://www.amountaintoohigh.com/?p=768#comment-3077 I find just the tiniest dose of anti-depressants helps to contain the tears. Not that tears are bad, but it's frustrating to want to say or do something and have tears get in the way. Especially trying to communicate with someone but can't due to crying. Of course, crying is communication too. My thoughts and prayers are with you! I find just the tiniest dose of anti-depressants helps to contain the tears. Not that tears are bad, but it’s frustrating to want to say or do something and have tears get in the way. Especially trying to communicate with someone but can’t due to crying. Of course, crying is communication too. My thoughts and prayers are with you!

]]> By: Wendy http://www.amountaintoohigh.com/2008/10/28/speed-blogging/comment-page-1/#comment-3071 Wendy Thu, 30 Oct 2008 00:50:00 +0000 http://www.amountaintoohigh.com/?p=768#comment-3071 We blog when we can, write and listen to the music when we can. That's the beauty of blogging. No one telling us we "have to".<br/><br/>God bless you both. It's a hard road. Everyone else summed things up pretty nicely. Hubby loves you Jean - it's his brain that's broken, not his heart.<br/><br/>If your md prescribes drugs - take them. That's what they're there for. I'm taking anti-anxiety meds to help with the stress of hubby's illness. Otherwise, I'd never sleep. We blog when we can, write and listen to the music when we can. That’s the beauty of blogging. No one telling us we “have to”.

God bless you both. It’s a hard road. Everyone else summed things up pretty nicely. Hubby loves you Jean – it’s his brain that’s broken, not his heart.

If your md prescribes drugs – take them. That’s what they’re there for. I’m taking anti-anxiety meds to help with the stress of hubby’s illness. Otherwise, I’d never sleep.

]]> By: Dog_geek http://www.amountaintoohigh.com/2008/10/28/speed-blogging/comment-page-1/#comment-3070 Dog_geek Thu, 30 Oct 2008 00:33:00 +0000 http://www.amountaintoohigh.com/?p=768#comment-3070 Jean, I don't have much to add to what everyone else has said. I don't blame you for having a hard time getting over the name thing. A name is just a word, just a label, but it still has to be quite a shock to you. Take care of yourself, and don't worry about the blogosphere - it will be here whenever you feel like going for a spin. Jean, I don’t have much to add to what everyone else has said. I don’t blame you for having a hard time getting over the name thing. A name is just a word, just a label, but it still has to be quite a shock to you. Take care of yourself, and don’t worry about the blogosphere – it will be here whenever you feel like going for a spin.

]]> By: Laura in L.A. http://www.amountaintoohigh.com/2008/10/28/speed-blogging/comment-page-1/#comment-3069 Laura in L.A. Wed, 29 Oct 2008 17:36:00 +0000 http://www.amountaintoohigh.com/?p=768#comment-3069 Jean, another thing. Don't be ashamed of getting emotional when you speak to your sons. I know they want you to be honest with them about what is going on. They want to help you. If speaking about it is too difficult, email them. My Mom emails me about difficult things, and we live in the same house! Whatever works for you to communicate with them.<br/><br/>Love, Laura Jean, another thing. Don’t be ashamed of getting emotional when you speak to your sons. I know they want you to be honest with them about what is going on. They want to help you. If speaking about it is too difficult, email them. My Mom emails me about difficult things, and we live in the same house! Whatever works for you to communicate with them.

Love, Laura

]]> By: Laura in L.A. http://www.amountaintoohigh.com/2008/10/28/speed-blogging/comment-page-1/#comment-3068 Laura in L.A. Wed, 29 Oct 2008 17:24:00 +0000 http://www.amountaintoohigh.com/?p=768#comment-3068 Jean, maybe a 8X10 picture of the two of you, with your names in big letters underneath? I don't know how much he responds to things written out. My Mom writes out the schedule for the day, every day, and posts it on the kitchen cupboard. Even though it's usually simple things, like "Go pick up the kids at pre-school. Have lunch. Go to the market." My Dad refers back to it many times during the day. He's calmer when he has an idea of what's coming up.<br/><br/>I quiz my Dad all the time--asking him who people are in the photos in the house. If he can't remember, I tell him who they all are, with little details that sometimes jog his memory. All very light-hearted and jokey, so he doesn't get frustrated or agitated. I'm just looking for ways to help his brain find different pathways.<br/><br/>Praying for you and W, Jean.<br/><br/>Love, Laura Jean, maybe a 8X10 picture of the two of you, with your names in big letters underneath? I don’t know how much he responds to things written out. My Mom writes out the schedule for the day, every day, and posts it on the kitchen cupboard. Even though it’s usually simple things, like “Go pick up the kids at pre-school. Have lunch. Go to the market.” My Dad refers back to it many times during the day. He’s calmer when he has an idea of what’s coming up.

I quiz my Dad all the time–asking him who people are in the photos in the house. If he can’t remember, I tell him who they all are, with little details that sometimes jog his memory. All very light-hearted and jokey, so he doesn’t get frustrated or agitated. I’m just looking for ways to help his brain find different pathways.

Praying for you and W, Jean.

Love, Laura

]]> By: Mary http://www.amountaintoohigh.com/2008/10/28/speed-blogging/comment-page-1/#comment-3067 Mary Wed, 29 Oct 2008 15:54:00 +0000 http://www.amountaintoohigh.com/?p=768#comment-3067 All of these comments are wonderful, Jean. I wish there was something I could say... All of these comments are wonderful, Jean. I wish there was something I could say…

]]> By: KGMom http://www.amountaintoohigh.com/2008/10/28/speed-blogging/comment-page-1/#comment-3066 KGMom Wed, 29 Oct 2008 13:48:00 +0000 http://www.amountaintoohigh.com/?p=768#comment-3066 I agree 100% with Wanderin' weeta--he has not forgotten you, only your name.<br/>AD punches holes in the brain, and the way our brains work, names are stored where verbal skills come from. Language is one of those things that goes in AD.<br/>Of course it is heart rending, no way around that.<br/>I grieve for you, because who we are called helps define us.<br/>One thing AD seems not to touch for a long time is MUSIC. Can you come up with a song that uses your name? Or make up words to a well known tune, and sing it over with him? It might work for a while.<br/>When my MIL was in her last stages of AD, she couldn't talk at all--but she could sing! Amazing, isn't it.<br/>We are fearfully and wonderfully made--and we are also clay vessels. I agree 100% with Wanderin’ weeta–he has not forgotten you, only your name.
AD punches holes in the brain, and the way our brains work, names are stored where verbal skills come from. Language is one of those things that goes in AD.
Of course it is heart rending, no way around that.
I grieve for you, because who we are called helps define us.
One thing AD seems not to touch for a long time is MUSIC. Can you come up with a song that uses your name? Or make up words to a well known tune, and sing it over with him? It might work for a while.
When my MIL was in her last stages of AD, she couldn’t talk at all–but she could sing! Amazing, isn’t it.
We are fearfully and wonderfully made–and we are also clay vessels.

]]> By: Bear Naked http://www.amountaintoohigh.com/2008/10/28/speed-blogging/comment-page-1/#comment-3065 Bear Naked Wed, 29 Oct 2008 13:18:00 +0000 http://www.amountaintoohigh.com/?p=768#comment-3065 May your writing about your true feelings here on your blog bring you some peace and tranquility.<br/>I am here to *listen* any time.<br/>(((Jean)))<br/><br/><a HREF="http://wwwbearnaked.blogspot.com/" REL="nofollow">Bear((( ))) </a> May your writing about your true feelings here on your blog bring you some peace and tranquility.
I am here to *listen* any time.
(((Jean)))

Bear((( )))

]]> By: Granny Annie http://www.amountaintoohigh.com/2008/10/28/speed-blogging/comment-page-1/#comment-3064 Granny Annie Wed, 29 Oct 2008 13:03:00 +0000 http://www.amountaintoohigh.com/?p=768#comment-3064 The forgetfulness, the inability to dress, always living the unexpected, the center of care and attention reminds me of my ex-husband. His sickness was alcoholism and thankfully he left me or I'm afraid I might have stayed with my children's father through sickness and health. I know you love your dear spouse but sometimes I want to scream for you to be able to put him in care and have a productive life of you own. Forgive me. The forgetfulness, the inability to dress, always living the unexpected, the center of care and attention reminds me of my ex-husband. His sickness was alcoholism and thankfully he left me or I’m afraid I might have stayed with my children’s father through sickness and health. I know you love your dear spouse but sometimes I want to scream for you to be able to put him in care and have a productive life of you own. Forgive me.

]]> By: kenju http://www.amountaintoohigh.com/2008/10/28/speed-blogging/comment-page-1/#comment-3063 kenju Wed, 29 Oct 2008 12:50:00 +0000 http://www.amountaintoohigh.com/?p=768#comment-3063 Jean, I can't say anything any better than the other three did. I might resort to wearing a name tag, were it me. Jean, I can’t say anything any better than the other three did. I might resort to wearing a name tag, were it me.

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