HOSPITAL STAY PART 2

ONCE THE DOCTOR DECIDED TO ADMIT MIKE, I ASKED THE HEAD NURSE IF SHE COULD PLEASE FIND ME SOME KIND OF A RECLINER CHAIR SO THAT I COULD STAY BY MIKE'S BED ALL NIGHT.  THE NURSE PROMPTLY SAID "OH NO MRS. HAYES, WE NO LONGER ALLOW ANYONE TO STAY IN THE PATIENTS ROOM OVER NIGHT UNLESS THEY PAY FOR A PRIVATE ROOM".  NOT WANTING TO ARGUE WITH THE NURSE I THANKED HER, AND SAID " I WILL BE HAPPY TO GO HOME AND GET A GOOD NIGHTS REST, BUT I THINK I SHOULD AT LEAST LET YOU KNOW WHAT YOU WILL BE IN FOR.  MIKE AS YOU KNOW HAS ALZHEIMER'S DISEASE, AND I AM HIS SECURITY BLANKET.  IF HE WAKES UP AND DOES NOT SEE ME OR HEAR MY VOICE, HE WILL GET UP OUT OF BED, DRAGGING ALL THE IV'S AND WHAT EVER MONITORS YOU HAVE HIM CONNECTED TO, AND  WALK UP AND DOWN THE HALLS YELLING "MOM" (THAT IS WHAT HE CALLS ME)".  NOT FIVE MINUTES LATER THAT SAME NURSE TELLS ME "GOOD NEWS"!!  "WE FOUND A PRIVATE ROOM FOR MIKE, AND IT HAS A RECLINER CHAIR ALREADY IN THERE".  WELL, AFTER SPENDING A SLEEPLESS NIGHT IN THAT HORRIBLE CHAIR (IT MADE SOUNDS LIKE YOU WERE PASSING GAS EVERY TIME YOU MOVED IN IT), PLUS THE FACT THAT THEY HAD NO OVER NIGHT FOLEY BAG FOR MIKE, SO I HAD TO GET UP EVERY COUPLE OF HOURS TO EMPTY HIS OSTOMY BAG (AND HEAR THAT AWFUL NOISE FROM THE CHAIR AGAIN).  ALSO NOT TO BE OVER LOOKED WAS THE LOUD SPEAKER OVER THE BED ASKING FOR NURSE SO AND SO OR DR. SO AND SO TO REPORT TO THE NURSE'S STATION ALL NIGHT, I WAS NOT SO SURE THAT FINDING MIKE A PRIVATE ROOM WAS SUCH GOOD NEWS AFTER ALL. ANY HOW,   ALL I CAN SAY IS-THANK GOD MIKE DID NOT HAVE TO SPEND ONE MORE NIGHT IN THAT AWFUL PLACE OR I THINK THEY WOULD HAVE HAD TO ADMIT ME TOO!!  ALL THAT IS LEFT NOW IS THE FOLLOW UP VISITS WITH PT, AND A WHOLE SLEW OF DR.'S.  MIKE HAD ONE APPOINTMENT YESTERDAY, AND WILL HAVE ANOTHER TOMORROW.  I STILL NEED TO MAKE ARRANGEMENTS FOR HIS PT, BUT I FEEL LIKE SOMEONE HAS UNPLUGGED ME.  HOPE YOUR DAY WILL BE A WELL ONE-TILL LATER-JUST ME

HOSPITAL STAY

SUNDAY MORNING MIKE WOKE ME UP WINCING IN PAIN.  HE WAS NOT ABLE TO MOVE HIS LEGS AT ALL, AND HE SAID HIS BACK HURT REALLY BAD.  I PUT HEAT ON IT TO SEE IF THAT WOULD HELP, BUT TO NO AVAIL. MIKE NEVER COMPLAINS ABOUT PAIN, SO I KNEW THIS WAS SERIOUS.   I STARTED CALLING MY SISTER, AND A WONDERFUL BROTHER FROM MY K. H. TO SEE IF THEY TOGETHER WITH ME COULD LIFT MIKE INTO MY CAR SO I COULD TAKE HIM TO THE E.R.  NOT HAPPENING.  HE WAS JUST IN TOO MUCH PAIN.  PLAN B WAS THEN EMPLIMENTED-CALL 911.  THAT WAS A BIT OF A FIASCO IF I MUST SAY SO MYSELF.  THEY FIRST TRIED TO BRING THE GURNEY INTO MY BED ROOM.  NOT ENOUGH SPACE. NEXT THEY TRIED THIS YELLOW TWO PIECE CONTRAPTION THAT THEY HAD TO ROLL HIM ONTO (OUCH), BUT THAT TOO FAILED TO GET THE JOB DONE.  NEXT THEY BROUGHT IN THIS BLUE TARP LOOKING FABRIC STRETCHER WITH HANDLES, AND AGAIN GOT HIM TO ROLL ONTO THAT.  WELL, PROBLEM WITH THAT  WAS  IT WAS A 4 MAN (OR WOMAN ) JOB, SO I HAD TO PITCH IN AND CARRY HIS LEGS AND MANEUVER HIM INTO THE LIVING ROOM WHERE THEY WERE FINALLY ABLE TO LAY HIM ONTO THE GURNEY.  OF COURSE I DID NOT HAVE TIME TO FIND MY BACK BRACE LET ALONE PUT IT ON, SO FOR THE PAST TWO DAYS I HAVE BEEN IN  HORRIBLE BACK PAIN MYSELF.  NO MATTER-MIKE WAS HIS USUAL FUNNY SELF IN THE E.R. . WHEN THE BLOOD PRESSURE MACHINE WENT OFF HE WANTED TO KNOW WHAT THAT WAS, SO I TOLD HIM THAT IT SQUEEZES YOUR ARM TO SEE WHAT YOUR BLOOD PRESSURE IS AND THEN IT GIVES A READ OUT.  THIS WAS ONE OF THE FUNNIEST PARTS OF HIS HOSPITAL STAY (OH YES-THERE WERE SEVERAL MORE).  A FEW MINUTES LATER HE LIFTS UP HIS ARM, AND STARTS TURNING IT FROM SIDE TO SIDE-STUDYING IT VERY INTENTLY.  I FINALLY HAD TO ASK WHAT HE WAS DOING, AND HERE WAS HIS REPLY "I'M LOOKING FOR THE BLOOD PRESSURE READOUT".  I THEN EXPLAINED TRYING HARD AS I COULD NOT TO L.O.L. THAT IT WOULD APPEAR ON THE MONITOR-NOT HIS ARM. IF I WERE NOT STILL SO TIRED I WOULD GO ON AS THERE IS SO MUCH MORE TO TELL-BUT I NEED TO REST NOW, SO TILL LATER-JUST ME

Be-200 amphibious aircraft

Be-200 amphibious aircraft

RESEARCH INFORMATION

TODAY WHILE SEARCHING FOR MORE CLINICAL STUDIES FOR ALZHEIMER'S THAT MIKE MAY QUALIFY FOR, I FOUND A WHOLE LIST (46 IN TOTAL) THAT ARE ACTIVELY RECRUITING PATIENTS .  I DON'T KNOW HOW MANY ARE BEING CONDUCTED IN OUR PARTICULAR AREA, BUT YOU CAN BET THAT I WILL BE ON THE PHONE LOOKING INTO THAT TODAY. I KNOW THERE ARE OTHERS OUT THERE WHO ARE DEALING WITH A LOVED ONE WHO IS ALSO SUFFERING FROM THIS DREADED DISEASE, SO FOR THAT REASON I AM SHARING SOME OF THE STUDIES I HAVE FOUND, AS WELL AS A PHONE NUMBER AND E-MAIL ADDRESS THAT YOU CAN FOLLOW UP ON WITH YOUR OWN QUESTIONS. JUST HOPING AND PRAYING THIS TERRIBLE DISEASE WILL GO AWAY WILL NOT MAKE IT SO.  WE ALL NEED TO DO OUR PART (YES, TRIALS HELP-IF NOT OUR LOVED ONE-PERHAPS ANOTHER'S).  HERE IS WHAT I HAVE FOR YOU TODAY.
ALZHEIMER'S DISEASE GENETICS STUDY
ALZHEIMER'S IN LONG-TERM CARE TREATMENT FOR AGITATION
CAREGIVERS OF PARENTS WITH ALZHEIMER'S DISEASE
COUPLES COPING WITH ALZHEIMER'S DISEASE
QUETIAPINE FOR TREATMENT OF INSOMNIA IN ALZHEIMER'S DISEASE
THESE ARE JUST A FEW OF THE CURRENT STUDIES BEING CONDUCTED. HERE'S ARE THE PHONE NUMBER AND E-MAIL ADDRESS'S FOR MORE INFORMATION:
ADEAR CENTER 1800 438-4380
trials@nia.nih.gov  or www.clinicaltrials.gov. HOPE THIS INFORMATION WILL BE USEFUL FOR SOMEONE ELSE OUT THERE TODAY-LET'S MAKE IT A BETTER DAY-JUST ME

"THE NOSE" JOB

NO, MIKE DID NOT HAVE HIS NOSE SHORTENED OR TUCKED IN (AT LEAST NOT FOR LOOKS).  MIKE HAS SKIN CANCER ON BOTH SIDES OF HIS NOSE FROM BEING OUT SIDE IN THE SUN SO MUCH, AND FOR NOT USING THE SUN BLOCK FONDA, AND I HAVE BOUGHT HIM (NUMBEROUS TIMES!!).  HE SIMPLY FORGETS (OF COURSE HE DOES-HE HAS ALZHEIMER'S!!!).  SADLY, HE HAS ALREADY HAD CANCER SURGERY ON HIS EAR, AND NOW HE WILL HAVE TWO ON HIS NOSE.  TODAY I GET TO TAKE THE BANDAGE OFF AND AM PRAYING IT WON'T LOOK TOO BAD.  HE WILL NO DOUBT WANT TO SEE IT FOR HIMSELF BEFORE I CAN SLIP ANOTHER BANDAGE ON.  MY SISTER VICKIE DROVE US TO THE SURGERY CENTER AS I DO NOT DRIVE THAT FAR ANY LONGER.  MIKE WAS BRAVE, ONLY THING HE COMPLAINED ABOUT WAS WHEN WE WERE GOING TO GET OUT OF THERE AND GO BACK HOME.  THEY HAD TO TAKE HIM BACK INTO SURGERY THREE TIMES, AS THEY ONLY REMOVE A SMALL AMOUNT OF SKIN EACH TIME THEN SEND IT TO THEIR IN HOUSE LAB TO SEE IF THEY GOT IT ALL. IF NOT, THEY BRING HIM BACK INTO THE SURGERY ROOM AND REMOVE A LITTLE MORE. I HAD GIVEN MIKE TWO NERVE PILLS (AS PER THE DOCTORS SUGGESTION), AND I THINK THEY REALLY HELPED TO KEEP HIM CALM. WELL, NOW ONE IS DOWN, AND ONE MORE TO GO NEXT MONTH.  THEN IT WILL BE TIME TO ADDRESS HIS KNEE PROBLEM. THANKS TO THE GOOD LORD ABOVE, I HAVE BEEN UP TO ALL THE CHALLENGES THAT HAVE COME MY WAY AS OF LATE.  I HOPE AND PRAY THE SAME IS TRUE FOR EACH ONE OF YOU. TILL LATER-JUST ME

"THE CLOCK" AND OTHER CHANGES

I'VE HAD THIS RATHER LARGE WALL CLOCK HANGING IN OUR BATH ROOM FOR A FEW YEARS NOW, AND IT IS (HAS) ALWAYS BEEN HUNG IN THE PERFECT PLACE-RIGHT ABOVE THE DOOR.  WELL, MIKE TOOK IT DOWN TO CHANGE THE TIME (OR SO I THOUGHT) A COUPLE DAYS AGO.   MUCH TO MY SURPRISE, YESTERDAY WHEN I LOOKED UP FOR IT-IT WAS NO LONGER IN THE PERFECT PLACE FOR IT, BUT MIKE SOMEHOW HUNG IT FROM THE CEILING!!!  I MUST ADMIT THE SITE OF IT DID MAKE ME LAUGH, THEN WANT TO CRY. THE EMPTY HANGER WHERE THE CLOCK USE TO REST IS NOW EMPTY, AND LOOKS SO BARE.  THEN I LOOK UP, AND SEE THE CLOCK THAT BELONGS THERE. IF I RISK TAKING IT DOWN FROM THE CEILING, I WILL NO DOUBT HURT HIS FEELINGS AS FOR SOME UNKNOWN REASON-HE THOUGHT IT WOULD LOOK GOOD THERE. SO, I GUESS I AM STUCK FOR THE TIME BEING LOOKING UP TO THE CEILING TO SEE WHAT TIME IT IS, SMALL PRICE TO PAY-HE IS AT LEAST STILL TRYING TO HELP AROUND HERE, AND I DO SO MUCH APPRECIATE THAT. THERE HAVE BEEN OTHER THINGS THAT HAVE MADE ME L.O.L. LATELY THAT MIKE HAS SAID OR DONE.  HERE ARE JUST TWO EXAMPLES. YESTERDAY I WAS TELLING MY SISTER VICKIE THAT MIKE HAS ALWAYS BEEN CLAUSTROPHOBIC AS HER LATE HUSBAND GEORGE WAS.  THEN MIKE SPEAKS UP ALL INSULTED AND SAYS " I AM NOT CLAUSTROPHOBIC-WHY DID YOU SAY THAT"?  MY SISTER AND I JUST LOOKED AT EACH OTHER AND SMILED-THAT WAS QUITE THE SHOCK TO BOTH OF US!!  NEXT, MIKE HAS ALWAYS SAID HE IS ALLERGIC TO MUSHROOMS.  RECENTLY WE WENT TO A FINANCE SEMINAR (FREE FOOD), AND THEY HAD MUSHROOM SOUP AS PART OF THE ENTRE'. TO MY (AND MY FRIENDS WHO WENT WITH US AND KNOW OF HIS SUPPOSED ALLERGY) ALL SAT THERE WITH OUR MOUTHS OPEN AS HE ATE BITE AFTER BITE TILL IT WAS ALL GONE. OF COURSE HIS ALLERGY MUST HAVE BEEN IN HIS HEAD, AS HE DID NOT SWELL UP OR HAVE ANY OTHER SIGNS OF BEING ALLERGIC.  SOME CHANGES ARE FOR THE GOOD, SOME MAKE ME LAUGH, BUT IT IS CLEARER EVERY DAY THAT THE MAN I MARRIED IS CHANGING BIT BY BIT.  AT LEAST HE STILL KNOWS ME AND SAYS HOW MUCH HE LOVES ME EVERY DAY, SO THAT'S ONE CHANGE I AM LOVING!!!!  TILL LATER-JUST ME

BROOKE

BROOKE IS A VERY SWEET VERY ADORABLE SIX YEAR OLD WHO LIVES ACROSS THE STREET FROM US. I'VE WRITTEN ABOUT HER ONCE BEFORE-SHE'S THE LITTLE GIRL WHO'S FATHER PASSED AWAY A COUPLE MONTHS AGO FROM LEUKEMIA.  WELL, I DO BELIEVE SHE HAS ADOPTED MY HUSBAND MIKE AS HER SURROGATE GRAND FATHER, AS SHE HAS BECOME A CONSTANT FIGURE AT OUR HOME.  WHEN EVER SHE SEES "MR. MIKE" OUT SIDE SHE JUST RUNS OVER TO HIM AND BEGINS TALKING OR ASKING IF SHE CAN HELP HIM. DAY BEFORE YESTERDAY WHEN I GOT BACK HOME FROM SERVICE, I SAW A MOSTLY EMPTY GLASS OF MILK ON THE TABLE SO I ASKED MIKE WHERE THAT CAME FROM (IT WAS NOT IN FRONT OF WHERE HE NORMALLY SITS). HE SAID "WELL, I WAS SWEEPING THE DRIVEWAY AND BROOKE CAME OVER AND WANTED TO PLAY, SO I WAS TEACHING HER HOW TO PLAY PHASE 10 (UNDER MY BREATH I HAD TO CHUCKLE AND WONDER WHO WAS TEACHING WHO).  ANY WAY HE CONTINUES "AFTER WE PLAYED FOR A LITTLE WHILE SHE WANTED SOME MILK AND COOKIES, SO THAT IS HER GLASS". TOO CUTE I THOUGHT-SHE HAS FAST BECOME MIKES BEST FRIEND.  YESTERDAY WHEN I GOT HOME FROM MY MEETING, I WENT TO MY ROOM TO CHANGE CLOTHES, THEN I WENT LOOKING FOR MIKE TO TELL HIM HIS LUNCH WAS READY. WHAT DO I SEE??  THERE'S BROOKE AGAIN, HOLDING A BROOM TWICE HER SIZE, GIVING MIKE A HAND WITH THE SWEEPING OF OUR DRIVE WAY-A DAILY CHORE NOW THAT THE POLLEN IS FALLING OFF OUR OAK TREE IN THE FRONT YARD.  IF IT WERE ONLY WHITE, WE COULD PRETEND IT WAS SNOW, AND IT WOULDN'T BE SO UGLY TO LOOK AT. OH WELL, THAT IS LIFE  WITH MIKE (AND BROOKE). TODAY MIKE HAS SURGERY ON HIS NOSE FOR SKIN CANCER, SO ALL WHO READ THIS BLOG-PLEASE SAY A LITTLE PRAYER FOR MY VERY SPECIAL VERY SWEET MAN, MIKE.  UNWRAP YOUR GIFT OF TODAY AND ENJOY EVERY MINUTE OF IT-JUST ME

SLEEPLESS IN ORLANDO

I WOULD LOVE TO KNOW IF ANY ONE ELSE OUT THERE WHO IS DEALING WITH AN ALZHEIMER'S PATIENT IS GOING THROUGH WHAT I HAVE BEEN.  MIKE WILL GO TO BED AT MIDNIGHT-SOMETIMES LATER, AND YET, HE IS AWAKE AT 3 OR 4 AM!!  THAT WOULD NOT BE SO BAD, EXCEPT THAT WHEN HE'S AWAKE, HE WANTS ME TO BE AWAKE AS WELL.  FIRST, HE WILL GENTLY RUB MY BACK AND SHOULDERS, THEN HE WILL START PATTING MY SHOULDER EVER SO SOFTLY. IF I DON'T LET HIM KNOW THAT I AM AWAKE AFTER ALL THAT, HE WILL START TO PAT MY SHOULDER A LITTLE HARDER, OR RUB MY BACK WITH MORE UMP THAN BEFORE.  NOW, OF COURSE I AM AWAKE BY NOW, JUST PRETENDING TO BE SLEEPING, HOPING THAT HE WILL STOP, AND GO BACK TO SLEEP.  SOMETIMES IT WORKS, AND OTHER TIMES NOT SO MUCH.  THIS MORNING WHEN I DID NOT LET HIM KNOW THAT I WAS AWAKE, HE GOT UP AND TOOK A SHOWER, WHICH OF COURSE CAUSED HIS OSTOMY BAG TO LEAK.  NOW HE HAS A REAL GOOD REASON TO MAKE SURE THAT I AM AWAKE.  I OF COURSE SPRANG TO MY FEET, GOT ALL THE SUPPLIES I NEED FOR THE JOB, AND PROCEEDED TO CHANGE HIM. THAT IS PURELY SELFISHNESS ON MY PART, BECAUSE IF I DID NOT JUMP UP AND CHANGE HIM RIGHT AWAY, I WILL HAVE SHEETS, TOWELS, AND BED SPREAD TO WASH WHEN I DID GET UP. SO, LONG STORY SHORT, ONE WAY OR THE OTHER, MIKE STILL HAS HIS WAYS OF GETTING HIS WAY!!!  TILL LATER-JUST ME

NEW OBSERVATION!!

DON'T KNOW WHAT MADE ME THINK OF THIS, BUT THIS MORNING AS I WAS WATCHING MIKE, IT DAWNED ON ME THAT SOME OF HIS POSITIVE CHANGES COULD BE DUE TO THE FACT THAT I HAVE COMPLETELY TAKEN HIM OFF ASPARTAME PRODUCTS.  I HAD HEARD A WHILE BACK HOW THEY COULD ADVERSLY EFFECT ONES HEALTH, BUT I NEVER PUT TWO AND TWO TOGETHER UNTIL MY DAUGHTER BROUGHT IT TO MY ATTENTION. YOU SEE MY HUSBAND MIKE DRINKS PINK LEMONADE CONSTANTLY, AND I DO MEAN CONSTANTLY-ABOUT ONE GAL. OR MORE A DAY. THAT'S A LOT OF ASPARTAME. SO I STARTED SEARCHING ON LINE FOR A PINK LEMONADE (IT HAS TO BE PINK FOR MIKE), AND THE ONLY ONE I COULD FIND WAS SPECIAL K PROTEIN WATER MIX WHICH IS QUITE COSTLY.  I CONTINUED MY SEARCH AND FOUND A PRODUCT CALLED "TRUE LEMONADE", WHICH IS 100% NATURAL, AND USES STEVIA AS IT'S SWEETNER. THE PROBLEM??  IT DOES NOT COME IN PINK.  THE SOLUTION??  I NOW MIX TWO PACKAGES OF THE SPECIAL K PROTEIN WATER (PINK LEMONADE) WITH TWO PACKAGES OF THE TRUE LEMONADE, AND WALLA-PINK LEMONADE THAT IS MUCH HEALTHIER FOR MIKE, AND HE HAS NEVER NOTICED THAT I SWITCHED FROM HIS USUAL BRAND TO MY NEW CONCOCTION!!  I JUST KNOW THAT MIKE HAS SHOWN SOME IMPROVEMENT LATELY, AND WHETHER IT IS FROM ALL THE MEDS. AND VITAMINS I HAVE HIM ON OR WHETHER IT HAS TO DO WITH GETTING HIM COMPLETELY OFF THE ASPARTAME PRODUCTS WHO CARES??  I'M JUST THANKFUL TO SEE SOME IMPROVEMENT!!  THIS MAY HOWEVER SERVE TO PROVE THAT WHAT WE PUT INTO OUR BODIES CAN HAVE A POSITIVE OR NEGATIVE EFFECT ON ONES OVERALL HEALTH!!  JUST ME

GOOD NEWS KIDS!!!

AN ARTICLE IN TODAY'S ORLANDO SENTINEL HAD SOME POSITIVE NEWS FOR ALL OF MY CHILDREN,  AND PERHAPS YOURS TOO!  IT STATED IN PART, THAT INHERITING ALZHEIMER'S FROM YOUR MOTHER IS MUCH WORSE THAN INHERITING IT FROM YOUR FATHER.   ONLY HAVING A MOTHER WITH THE DISEASE APPEARED TO INFLUENCE THE DEGREE OF BRAIN ATROPHY. SO, HOPEFULLY, THIS HEART BREAKING DISEASE WILL END WITH DAD. NOW, ON A TOTALLY DIFFERENT SUBJECT, IT APPEARS THAT BRISK WALKS MAY BOOST MEMORY IN OLDER ADULTS.  I DON'T KNOW ABOUT "BRISK" WALKS, BUT I DO KNOW THAT MIKE TAKES TWO WALKS A DAY WITH OUR TWO CAVALIER KING CHARLES SPANIELS, AND SPENDS MANY HOURS OUTSIDE IN THE YARD PULLING WEEDS, RAKING LEAVES, AND WATERING THE LAWN. I WISH I HAD HALF HIS ENERGY!!!  I'M ALSO NOT SURE WHICH OF HIS MEDS. OR VITAMINS ARE HELPING HIM RIGHT NOW, BUT I HAVE NOTICED (AS HAVE MY CHILDREN) THAT HE SEEMS TO BE MUCH SHARPER WHEN PLAYING GAMES NOW. HE HAS EVEN WON SOME (LEGITIMATELY TOO)!!  SO FOR TODAY, THINGS ARE LOOKING UP, AND I AM PRAYING THAT THEY CAN STAY THAT WAY-AT LEAST FOR A WHILE LONGER. JUST ME

CLINICAL TRIALS, AND MEDICATIONS

TODAY I WAS WONDERING HOW MANY OF YOU CAREGIVERS HAVE CHECKED INTO DOING A CLINICAL TRIAL WITH YOUR PATIENT.  THERE HAVE BEEN MANY ADVANCES IN THE STUDY OF THIS VERY DEBILITATING DISEASE, AND CLINICAL STUDIES ARE AT THE FOREFRONT, AND ARE ALMOST ALWAYS BEING CONDUCTED.  MIKE HAS BEEN IN AT LEAST TWO OF THEM, BUT SADLY, NOW HE NO LONGER QUALIFIES FOR MANY BECAUSE HE HAS NOT BEEN CANCER FREE FOR AT LEAST FIVE YEARS. I WOULD LIKE TO OFFER YOU TWO PHONE NUMBERS NOW THAT YOU CAN CALL AND SEE IF YOUR PATIENT WOULD QUALIFY. FIRST IS FOR THE GAP STUDY WHICH IS DONE INTRAVENOUSLY. IT WILL REQUIRE THREE TRIPS TO MIAMI AT TWO WEEK INTERVALS, BUT THEN IN MOST CASES THEY CAN COME TO YOUR HOME TO ADMINISTER THE TREATMENT.  IT IS A TWO YEAR STUDY-THE NUMBER IS (305) 674-2424 OR 1 858-622-5827. NEXT IS A LOCAL ORLANDO (MAITLAND) COMPANY, THAT MIKE HAS DONE AT LEAST TWO STUDIES WITH.  THEY CURRENTLY DO NOT HAVE ANY STUDIES GOING ON, BUT SAID THEY EXPECT TO HAVE VERY SOON. HERE IS THEIR NUMBER-FLORIDA CLINICAL RESEARCH CENTER (407) 644-1165. I CONTINUE LOOKING INTO STUDIES FOR MIKE, AS YOU NEVER KNOW WHICH ONE MIGHT DO THE TRICK, AND MAKE SOME POSITIVE CHANGES IN HIS CONDITION. ALSO NOT TO BE NEGLECTED, ARE THE MEDICINES NOW AVAILABLE. ACTUALLY I FOUND OUT (FROM MIKE'S CLINICAL STUDY) THAT THE DOSAGE OF ARICEPT HE HAD BEEN ON WAS JUST RAISED AND APPROVED AT OVER TWICE THE DOSE LEVEL HE WAS ON TO 23MG (HE HAD BEEN ON A 10 MG. DOSE BEFORE). SO AS I'VE SAID BEFORE, NEVER GIVE UP, KEEP LOOKING AT NEW IDEAS AND TREATMENT POSSIBILITIES THAT CAN GIVE OUR LOVED ONE MORE TIME WITH US, AND ALLOW THEM TO HOLD ON TO THEIR MEMORIES, A LITTLE BIT LONGER. JUST ME

CAREGIVERS-CHECK YOUR STRESS LEVEL

I WOULD LIKE TO DEDICATE MY POST TODAY TO ALL THE CAREGIVERS OUT THERE WHO GIVE SO MUCH OF THEMSELVES TO HELP OTHERS.  HERE ARE SOME VERY IMPORTANT QUESTIONS TO CONSIDER, AND SOME THINGS YOU NEED TO BE AWARE OF, IF YOU ARE A FULL TIME CAREGIVER. 

1.  DO YOU FEEL LIKE YOU HAVE TO DO IT ALL BY YOURSELF, AND THAT YOU ARE NOT DOING ENOUGH?
2.  ARE YOU BECOMING WITHDRAWN FROM YOUR FAMILY AND FRIENDS OR THE ACTIVITIES THAT YOU USE TO ENJOY?
3.  ARE YOU WORRIED ABOUT THE SAFETY OF YOUR PATIENT?
4.  DO YOU FEEL ANXIOUS ABOUT MONEY AND YOUR HEALTH CARE DECISIONS?
5.  DO YOU MINIMIZE OR DENY THE IMPACT OF THE DISEASE AND IT'S EFFECTS ON YOUR FAMILY?
6.  ARE YOU FILLED WITH GRIEF OR SADNESS THAT THE RELATIONSHIP WITH YOUR PATIENT (ESPECIALLY IF IT IS A MATE), IS NOT WHAT IT USE TO BE?
7.  DO YOU GET FRUSTRATED AND SOMETIMES ANGRY WHEN THE PATIENT CONTINUALLY REPEATS THINGS AND DOESN'T SEEM TO LISTEN OR UNDERSTAND WHAT YOU ARE SAYING?
8. DO YOU THE CAREGIVER HAVE HEALTH PROBLEMS THAT ARE TAKING A TOLL ON YOU MENTALLY AND PHYSICALLY?
IF YOUR ANSWER WAS YES TO MORE THAN ONE QUESTION, I STRONGLY SUGGEST YOU SEEK HELP. FRIENDS, FAMILY, MINISTER, AND YES, EVEN YOUR DOCTOR. MANY MEDICATIONS (I AM ON CYMBALTA-BTW) AVAILABLE TODAY ARE HELPFUL TO RELIEVE SOME OF THE STRESS THAT COMES WITH THE JOB. MY HOPE IS THAT TODAY'S POST WILL BE A WAKE UP CALL, AND SOME ONE OUT THERE WILL GET THE HELP THEY NEED. JUST ME

TIME OUT

I GUESS THE LATEST FINDING ON MY PART, IS THE LACK OF REASONING POWER ON MIKE'S PART.  THERE HAVE BEEN SEVERAL INSTANCES OVER THE PAST FEW DAYS WHERE I CAN SEE THAT HE IS JUST NOT ABLE TO GRASP WHAT IS GOING ON OR BEING SAID. EXAMPLE: WHILE SHOPPING AT PUBLIX, I ASKED MIKE WHAT TIME IT WAS, AS WE HAD TO BE BACK HOME FOR MY SISTER'S VISIT.  HE FIRST SAID 2:45PM, WHICH I KNEW COULD NOT POSSIBLY BE CORRECT AS WE LEFT THE HOUSE AT 1:15PM AND HAD JUST GOTTEN TO PUBLIX. HE LOOKED AT HIS WATCH FOR WHAT SEEMED LIKE 10 MINUTES (TRYING TO FIGURE OUT WHAT THE CORRECT TIME WAS) THEN, (UNABLE TO FIGURE OUT THE TIME HIMSELF), HE PROCEEDS TO TAKE OFF HIS WATCH AND HAND IT OVER TO ME. ANOTHER EXAMPLE: THE GARAGE DOOR.. I WATCHED HIM TRY AND CLOSE IT FOR THE LONGEST TIME, AND IT WOULD KEEP GOING BACK UP. I TRIED TO TELL HIM THAT AFTER YOU PUSH THE BUTTON TO CLOSE THE DOOR, YOU HAVE TO LET GO. SADLY, HE JUST DID NOT UNDERSTAND WHAT I WAS SAYING, SO I HAD TO PHYSICALLY SHOW HIM WHAT HE NEEDED TO DO.  LAST EXAMPLE:  I SUFFER FROM NIGHT TIME LEG CRAMPS (SOMETIMES QUITE SEVERE), AND THAT WAS THE CASE NIGHT BEFORE LAST. I WAS IN SO MUCH PAIN I WAS CRYING AND PANTING-I COULDN'T MOVE, SO I ASKED MIKE TO PLEASE BRING ME MY PRESCRIPTION PILL BOTTLE ON MY NIGHT STAND SO I COULD TAKE ONE.  HE BRINGS ME TWO PACKAGES OF GUM, AND ASKS "IS EITHER OF THESE IT"??  ANY OTHER TIME, I WOULD HAVE SEEN THE HUMOR IN THAT-STILL, I REALLY DO APPRECIATE HIS EFFORT TO HELP ME. WELL, IT LOOKS LIKE A RAINY DAY HERE, SO I THINK I CAN SMELL A BACKGAMMON MARATHON COMING ON!!! ENJOY YOUR DAY-JUST ME