31 Mar 2012
Went to WalMart with Chris today. He was hurting so bad (he has circulatory problems in his legs) that I had to push him around in a wheelchair. He can't sit by himself anymore when I shop because he wanders. I did buy him a walker today that has a seat on it so he can push it so he can still get his exercise walking and when he gets tired he can sit down. AND I believe I can file it with medicare and get 100% reimbursment. I will ask his doctor this week and see if I need something from him like a letter or prescription stating that it's needed. My husband Jim should be home any minute and Chris just came into the family room and was so upset saying that he saw Jim walking down our long drive limping. He started crying and said someone was helping him walk. I told him that I was just on the phone with Jim and he is about 15 miles away driving. Chris just would not believe me that Jim wasn't outside so I took him to the door and showed him that no one was out there. He then cried even harder and said he loved Jim and didn't want Jim to be hurt. All I could do was hug him and wipe away his tears. It rips my heart in two to see him so distressed. Oh Lord, some days it's just almost too much to bear. Today has been one of those days. Praying that tomorrow will be much much better.
Saturday, March 31, 2012
Friday, March 30, 2012
30 Mar 2012
Just got home from a 2 day visit to my Mother in laws. Chris is so close to her and she's so great with him. I thought it would be good for him to go visit everyone and relax. He had a great time and all the way home kept saying "I had so much fun at Marys". He did very well on the trip and was in great spirits. He did have a bad dream last night and said he was scared and thought he was in trouble with someone. I talked to him and he soon went back to sleep and did great. I wonder if alzheimers patients have more bad dreams and nightmares than others? Chris never had bad dreams before but he has alot now. Perhaps it is more than just a dream but the confusion that sets in too. He does get so confused at times. The strange thing is that he knows alot of times that he is confused, he knows it doesn't make sense to him, yet he can't figure it all out. I hate to see him confused, scared, and upset. I feel so helpless at times and I want to scream at the unfairness of this damn disease. I get so frustrated by it all. Ofcourse my frustration is nothing compared to what my sweet brother feels. I am so blessed to have such a wonderful family I have married into. Everyone is so loving and absolutely embraced my brother with no problem. They are so good to him and spoil him everytime they see him. Today, every thing is great and Chris is doing so good. :)
Just got home from a 2 day visit to my Mother in laws. Chris is so close to her and she's so great with him. I thought it would be good for him to go visit everyone and relax. He had a great time and all the way home kept saying "I had so much fun at Marys". He did very well on the trip and was in great spirits. He did have a bad dream last night and said he was scared and thought he was in trouble with someone. I talked to him and he soon went back to sleep and did great. I wonder if alzheimers patients have more bad dreams and nightmares than others? Chris never had bad dreams before but he has alot now. Perhaps it is more than just a dream but the confusion that sets in too. He does get so confused at times. The strange thing is that he knows alot of times that he is confused, he knows it doesn't make sense to him, yet he can't figure it all out. I hate to see him confused, scared, and upset. I feel so helpless at times and I want to scream at the unfairness of this damn disease. I get so frustrated by it all. Ofcourse my frustration is nothing compared to what my sweet brother feels. I am so blessed to have such a wonderful family I have married into. Everyone is so loving and absolutely embraced my brother with no problem. They are so good to him and spoil him everytime they see him. Today, every thing is great and Chris is doing so good. :)
Tuesday, March 27, 2012
27 Mar 2012
Today I have researching alternative treatments. I found some very exciting and useful information that I certainly am going to try with Chris. Chris has had a very good day today. He has been very active and happy. He did get alittle confused awhile ago but that's okay. All in all a very good day. :)
Vitamin E (400-800 IU per day) combined with Aricept has been shown to slow cognitive decline. I am going to try this since Chris is on Aricept.
Eat 1/2 c. frozen blueberries a day due to their great antioxidant benefits. Suppose to help patients with alzheimers. Most would think fresh would be better but freezing the berries makes the antioxidants in the berries skin more easily absorbed. This will be an easy one to do with Chris. I can add it to his morning cereal and his yogurt. I also fix a real simle dessert for us; sugarfree angelfood cake with berries on top and a dap of coolwhip lite. I usually use mixed frozen berries-raspberry, strawberry, blackberry, and blueberry.
Eating fewer animal fats and more fish is excellent for the brain. Another easy one for us since we aren't a big red meat eating family and we love fish; especially salmon and tilapia. Infact, we had salmon tonight. Living by the Tennessee River, we have access to all the catfish we want and we do like it but I figure it's probably not as healthy as other fish.
There are some excellent websites where I got alot of this info that everyone should check out. Both are from the University of Maryland Medical Center. They offer a wealth of information that all should read......
www.umm.edu/patiented/articles/who_gets_alzheimers_disease_000002
http://www.umm.edu/altmed/articles/dementia_000046.htm
Today I have researching alternative treatments. I found some very exciting and useful information that I certainly am going to try with Chris. Chris has had a very good day today. He has been very active and happy. He did get alittle confused awhile ago but that's okay. All in all a very good day. :)
Vitamin E (400-800 IU per day) combined with Aricept has been shown to slow cognitive decline. I am going to try this since Chris is on Aricept.
Eat 1/2 c. frozen blueberries a day due to their great antioxidant benefits. Suppose to help patients with alzheimers. Most would think fresh would be better but freezing the berries makes the antioxidants in the berries skin more easily absorbed. This will be an easy one to do with Chris. I can add it to his morning cereal and his yogurt. I also fix a real simle dessert for us; sugarfree angelfood cake with berries on top and a dap of coolwhip lite. I usually use mixed frozen berries-raspberry, strawberry, blackberry, and blueberry.
Eating fewer animal fats and more fish is excellent for the brain. Another easy one for us since we aren't a big red meat eating family and we love fish; especially salmon and tilapia. Infact, we had salmon tonight. Living by the Tennessee River, we have access to all the catfish we want and we do like it but I figure it's probably not as healthy as other fish.
There are some excellent websites where I got alot of this info that everyone should check out. Both are from the University of Maryland Medical Center. They offer a wealth of information that all should read......
www.umm.edu/patiented/articles/who_gets_alzheimers_disease_000002
http://www.umm.edu/altmed/articles/dementia_000046.htm
Monday, March 26, 2012
26 Mar 2012
Today has been a pretty good day. Chris and I watched the boats and barges on the Tennessee River. When we got home, we looked through old photos laughing and remembering all the good times. The issue today is Chris not eating. He had a good breakfast but didn't eat much lunch and didn't want supper. This is an issue with all alzheimer patients; loss of appetite. Thank goodness Chris likes Ensure so he got that and drank it right down. He also loves yogurt so he got that too. Chris has lost 20lbs and even though he could stand to lose some weight; it is now very important that he doesn't lose too much and that he gets his nutrients and vitamins. Chris knows that something is wrong with his brain. He asks me whats wrong with him; why does he forget and get confused. I answer him as honestly as I can. I tell him that his brain is playing tricks with him and we have to get it back on track. He gets scared and cries sometimes. It breaks my heart when he's scared. I'm scared too but I can't ever let him see me cry. That's for at night when I'm lying in bed thinking about everything. Thank God I have a wonderful husband, Jim, that is supportive, loves Chris so and helps with everything. Another issue is Chris' lack of B-12. Alzheimer patients deplete their B-12. When Chris had bloodwork done, his B-12 didn't even register. I give him B-12 every day. It helps him greatly, not only with his energy but also his memory. I tucked Chris in bed tonight after he watched Andy Griffith and I told him as I do every night "Don't ever forget how much you're loved" He has heard it so much that he says it with me now. I hope and pray that this is one thing he won't forget. Chris is loved so very much and so many people love him.
Chris takes 10mg Aricept* every night, 1000mg B-12, 1200mg Fish Oil, and tsp. Coconut Oil as tolerated.
*Aricept has not been promising for patients with Down Syndrome. I think it is helping Chris. It seems to anyway. Hopeful.
Today has been a pretty good day. Chris and I watched the boats and barges on the Tennessee River. When we got home, we looked through old photos laughing and remembering all the good times. The issue today is Chris not eating. He had a good breakfast but didn't eat much lunch and didn't want supper. This is an issue with all alzheimer patients; loss of appetite. Thank goodness Chris likes Ensure so he got that and drank it right down. He also loves yogurt so he got that too. Chris has lost 20lbs and even though he could stand to lose some weight; it is now very important that he doesn't lose too much and that he gets his nutrients and vitamins. Chris knows that something is wrong with his brain. He asks me whats wrong with him; why does he forget and get confused. I answer him as honestly as I can. I tell him that his brain is playing tricks with him and we have to get it back on track. He gets scared and cries sometimes. It breaks my heart when he's scared. I'm scared too but I can't ever let him see me cry. That's for at night when I'm lying in bed thinking about everything. Thank God I have a wonderful husband, Jim, that is supportive, loves Chris so and helps with everything. Another issue is Chris' lack of B-12. Alzheimer patients deplete their B-12. When Chris had bloodwork done, his B-12 didn't even register. I give him B-12 every day. It helps him greatly, not only with his energy but also his memory. I tucked Chris in bed tonight after he watched Andy Griffith and I told him as I do every night "Don't ever forget how much you're loved" He has heard it so much that he says it with me now. I hope and pray that this is one thing he won't forget. Chris is loved so very much and so many people love him.
Chris takes 10mg Aricept* every night, 1000mg B-12, 1200mg Fish Oil, and tsp. Coconut Oil as tolerated.
*Aricept has not been promising for patients with Down Syndrome. I think it is helping Chris. It seems to anyway. Hopeful.
Sunday, March 25, 2012
25 Mar 2012
Hello all! This is my first blog so bear with me. The purpose of this blog is to tell my journey with my brother Chris who has alzheimers. Chris was diagnosed Dec 2011 and my first feeling was anger. Chris has Downs Syndrome and I was so mad to think that this is how his life will end here on earth. Life hasn't been easy for him as it is and now this? It's not fair. I was really angry and sad. I'm still sad but not quite as angry as I was. Things aren't always fair in life and there isn't time to sit around feeling angry or bitter.
Chris and I have always been close. Ever since we were little kids, we have always been extremely close. We have always called each other buddy and we are best buddies. Chris is so much fun. We sing loud, laugh ALOT, and like to act silly. Chris loves to bowl, sing, watch Andy Griffith, play games, and loves to help me. He is in love with Dolly Parton. He goes on and on about "his" Dolly. Such an innocent love. I can't imagine what my life would be like without him. I don't even like to think about it but I have to. I have to prepare and get things settled and take care of Chris to the very end. Chris brings joy with him everywhere he goes. He brings joy and light into everyone's life.
Some information about Down Syndrome individuals with alzheimers; 50% of people aged 45 to 50 with Downs have alzheimers. Depending on how long a person with Downs lives, they all will have alzheimers. More research needs to be done. More education to the public. You hear alot about alzheimers but they never talk about the concern regarding Down Syndrome and alzheimers.
Hello all! This is my first blog so bear with me. The purpose of this blog is to tell my journey with my brother Chris who has alzheimers. Chris was diagnosed Dec 2011 and my first feeling was anger. Chris has Downs Syndrome and I was so mad to think that this is how his life will end here on earth. Life hasn't been easy for him as it is and now this? It's not fair. I was really angry and sad. I'm still sad but not quite as angry as I was. Things aren't always fair in life and there isn't time to sit around feeling angry or bitter.
Chris and I have always been close. Ever since we were little kids, we have always been extremely close. We have always called each other buddy and we are best buddies. Chris is so much fun. We sing loud, laugh ALOT, and like to act silly. Chris loves to bowl, sing, watch Andy Griffith, play games, and loves to help me. He is in love with Dolly Parton. He goes on and on about "his" Dolly. Such an innocent love. I can't imagine what my life would be like without him. I don't even like to think about it but I have to. I have to prepare and get things settled and take care of Chris to the very end. Chris brings joy with him everywhere he goes. He brings joy and light into everyone's life.
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