Sky: Nighttime Troubles

So, here’s another not so pleasant aspect of Alzheimer's: trying to kill my wife. For several months now, once or twice a week, in the middle of the night, I have half surfaced from horrible nightmares. The nightmares are truly terrifying, too terrifying to remember them all. Their themes are the same though. Something horrible is after me, and I have to fight back. My screams are reported to be blood-curdling. Worst is my strategy to actually fight back, hard, with Jane playing the role of the monster.  So far, I’ve inflicted just scratches, but it’s getting worse. 

Jane is not pleased.

Sky: Drugs

Dr. P barely skips a beat from letting me know my probable diagnosis: Likely early stages of Alzheimers Dementia, with Mild Cognitive Impairment, before launching into his offerings for “treatment.”

The quotation marks here indicate sarcasm, because there is no treatment. 

No Treatment. No Treatment. No Treatment. No Treatment.

Despite huge efforts, Alzheimers Disease (AD) remains incurable, progressive, and fatal. There are no drugs to stop the progress of the deterioration or to build back brain capacity. 

Sky: Welcome to my World

Have you noticed? 

these posts are

 sometimes in order 

and sometimes not. 

some are longer, 

some are shorter.  

some might even begin to rhyme

others have slipped their anchors to time

 WELCOME TO MY WORLD!

Jane: The Myth of the "Four Things"

1) Spend time with people/don’t let yourself get isolated — find meaningful paid or volunteer work and hang out with people you love.

2) Get some exercise — aerobic, several times a week — walking, biking, running, swimming, etc.

3) Eat right — preferably a diet rich in plant foods — fruit, veggies, whole grains, nuts, legumes, fish — think the Mediterranean diet.

4) Keep your brain active with reading, puzzles, hobbies, and other mental challenges.

The Alzheimer’s Association, AARP, and just about every health care practitioner we’ve run into these days has touted these four things as a way to “age well,” improve brain health, and keep you from getting dementia.

Right. 

Sky: PET Scan and Diagnosis

After a week or two of fussing and wondering how I did Taking The Test, Dr P lets me know I did very well, “high average,” cryptically adding that had I taken the test several years ago, it probably would have been “superior.” Now he recommends an additional test, a PET scan, to make a more conclusive diagnosis. I’d done so well on the neuropsychological testing (eg. remembering the names for “comb” and “pen," among other things!!) that he was looking for more data to make a clear diagnosis.

So, back to the hospital again for what turned out to be my favorite of the barrage of tests. [Not that anyone cares about my personal preference, but still.] I had to fast, no solid food or juice or COFFEE for the morning of the test. That wasn’t so bad, but more interesting, they wanted me to “become a couch potato” for 24 hours before the actual test. No exercise. Walking only if necessary. Just chill out and relax. 

Nice. Sure beats repeated blood drawing!