Kay's condition now

Do you have Glaucoma? Important things you may not know. Go here to find out what the doctor may not be telling you.

It is strange how dementia effects different people. Kay has a cousin who died recently and a sister in law who has it but is still living. Her cousin died a fairly short time after being diagnosed with it. Her sister in law is also fast succumbing to it's ravages. Kay has had it now since we moved her nearly 7 years ago probably somewhat longer of course and still can manage to take care of herself in most respects. She dresses, eats, takes her bath with help getting the water and clothes. So in a sense she is still the Kay I have known for 75 years. She still tries to read the paper. A couple days ago she got all upset when she read the story of the guy who blew up his house with his two boys inside. It took her quite a little while to stop asking wasn't that a horrible event.

One thing you can not do is order one with dementia around. They have a mind of their own. For instance she eats things I wish she would not. Like butter straight! It doesn't do any good to tell her not to. Of course I try to give her what she will eat. But whether she eats it will depend on what she has been snacking on. On the other hand she is 90 and her vital organs seem to be in good condition. So what then if she eats butter! She participated once in a UW Med. Survey many years ago about people with high cholesterol. At the time I didn't know cholesterol from a hole in the ground. If I remember right hers was somewhere up around 800 or a 1000. I might be wrong about that. I have been meaning to see if I could find out what happened to the survey and what hers was. There should be some recent measurements but have not had any discussions with a Dr. They tend to overlook these things with older people if you don't bring up the subject.

More soon

4 years in 3rd Inf in WW2 Go here My less heroic contribution. KE7PLR Established (born)Aug. 23, 1921

Kay today

I got up at 6:00 AM and cleaned up then read the paper for a while until Kay came in so I quit to make breakfast. Poached egg on toast in milk.  I had to urge Kay to come in and eat.  But she just sat there in her nightgown doing nothing. I tried to even feed her but she would not eat except for one bite.  In a little while she got up and went to the bedroom and lay down for a while. She hasn't said a word so far.  I am supposed to take her to the lab and get some blood drawn so they can test her potassium, and kidney function which the GFI was 45 the other day.  I've asked for an A1c too which the doctor has agreed to although she thinks it unnecessary.  She is sitting at the kitchen counter but doesn't seem to be eating.  I did a perfect job on the egg too.   


Bill Sheldon June 17, 1920. April 4, 2001. Four years in the 3rd Infantry Division WW2 His story. Find it at Four years in the 3rd Inf in WW2
If you can't wait to get new posting to this web page get on the list of automatic mail when something new is posted ................KE7PLR......................

Contending with dementia

I think one of the hardest things to contend with regarding dementia is when the person still has the mental capacity to realize that there something wrong but can not figure out what it is.  Today Kay came to  me saying that everything she did was wrong.  It took me a long time to figure out what she actually  meant was that she could not sort out what was in her mind into something coherent. After a while under these circumstances I finally just tell her that her memory is bad. Usually she can think of what is in her mind but  not say it. I think that today she couldn't even organize what was in her mind.  Later this afternoon she became quite rational for her at this stage and held a conversation with her cousin Virginia.  I was surprised at how well she did.  Of course it has to be a one way conversation from Virginia but that sparks enough of Kays mind to follow up on what ever Virginia said.  You can not ask Kay anything about the past.  Kay will usually say something about what can I do for you or what is going on with you. You then tell her something but do  not expect a response from Kay that requires her to remember something from her past. I don't know how it finally turned out but Kay went to bed probably depressed with her mental condition.  She remained very quiet.  I guess other diseases might be worse but only if they have pain.  I cant think of anything worse than dementia.  



Bill Sheldon June 17, 1920. April 4, 2001. Four years in the 3rd Infantry Division WW2 His story. Find it at Four years in the 3rd Inf in WW2
If you can't wait to get new posting to this web page get on the list of automatic mail when something new is posted.