Loving and Living Alzheimer’s

Going on our 3rd week of peaceful existence.  The change has been wonderful.  Randy has been happy, playful and mellow.  Why am I subconsciously waiting for the storm? I should be grateful… Tomorrow is Thanksgiving and we are hosting 20.  It also happens to be Randy’s birthday.  I am thrilled to be able to surround him with family to celebrate “55”.  He is blessed to get another birthday.  I wonder how many more he will see. I need to be grateful… We have kept his calendar pretty full, as he is happiest when he is busy.  He struggles to remember when he has plans but never forgets that he indeed has them.  Giving him things to look forward to motivates him.  However, it also prompts the never ending repetitious loop of the same questions. It’s hard to be grateful… Daily, his communication skills become more and more cryptic.  One more time, he asks to “ go to the place, that we went that time, where we can get the thing from that gu...

The last week and a half has been surprisingly peaceful and pleasant.  We had that prior weekend of terrible and then settled into this new place.   Anxious moments have certainly happened, as they are the normal way of things but, Randy has been navigating quite well.   Shirts have been put on inside out and sometimes backwards, socks on inside out or heel up.  Items have been misplaced or lost.  The TV remote isn’t quite as easy to use as he remembered.  All of these triggers are continuing to happen but, he remains calm a pleasant.  He has even gone as far as to willingly ask for help on the occasion he recognizes his struggle. We were blessed to have been invited to speak at an Alzheimer’s educational event this week.  I was nervous as I contemplated what my contribution would sound like.  Randy was calm and confident that it would all go well.   True to his prediction, the evening went well.  He was all smiles and giggles while...

It has been 3 1/2 years since Randy’s last day of work.  3 years and 3 months since his misdiagnosis .  3 years and 1 month since he has driven a vehicle.  2 years and 10 months since being given the correct diagnosis that has altered our lives, forever. While we wait for our referral for a new Neurologist, it is a daily crap shoot in regards to what will be his next trigger.  His next meltdown, fit or verbally abusive rant.  He is suffering.  We are suffering.  The only option is to tread lightly while we wait however, we have become quite comfortable with letting him “pout it out”. His confusion has increased exponentially and his inability to express his wants and needs verbally, is the cause of much angst.  He is diminishing before my eyes.  He has frequent headaches and head pressure.  His shrinking brain is erasing who he is.  Who he was.  What we had.   He is now beginning to exhibit a form of confusion that could b...