The ongoing saga.

Sweetie and me

I came across a bookmark with 10 A's for Alzheimer's. Thought I'd share one with you today and the rest as we go along. 

1) Arguments are useless. In fact, they often make matters worse. Confusion, memory loss and frustration are making the person behave irrationally, and you can't argue them out of it.

Boy, an't that the truth. One that they left out is fear. I see that in Sweetie's eyes when she is having a rough time. Trying to reason with Sweetie is the most frustrating of all thing possible. Especially when I'm trying to get her to do something that needs to be done. Anyone who is a caregiver knows reason and intimidation go right out the window when it comes to Dementia. Those who suffer with Dementia, know that we, the caregivers, are dealing with attempting to nail jello on to the wall. 

The ongoing saga of being a caregiver seems like a movie that doesn't have a plot, only villain's, overwhelming trials, and the hero has to navigate crocodile infested rivers. Will they get their Love One to the other shore safely?

Yesterday, we left our hero wondering what the day will bring. Sweetie woke and was better. She was more willing to be helped then the past two mornings. Hero proceeded to help, but when breakfast, wouldn't eat all her cereal and was worried, would it be a repeat of the day before? 

It seemed easier for our hero to try and get more medication on her ear. He was able to get her to relax and was able to apply Tea Tree Oil and A&D lotion to the ear. It was not as angry as it was the day before, so there is improvement on that front. With the less red ear, the better she was. Linking her aggressive behavior to the ear was the key for more of a stable behavior pattern. 

Did some online Christmas Shopping. Sweetie sat with her hero and didn't move. When there came a time to get outside, we did. Too cold for her, short walk. We did go and purchase a gift, and Sweetie was well behaved while we were in the store. Had some difficulty getting her to wear her mask. When I told her it is a rule, and that we cannot go in until she puts it on, seemed to make sense to her and she put it on and we went shopping. 

While home, she bolted to the door. This time I just went with her. Knowing that it was cold, and Dementia doesn't like the cold, it would be a short walk. As long as she didn't bolt for a door, we would be OK, and we were, OK.

We finished the day on a high note, cuddling on the couch, watching TV. Then to bed, and asleep. Over all, on big Easter Egg. 

Driver likes the way I was able to follow His directions. Love is the fuel needed for this  vehicle, and we filled up yesterday. It cannot run at all without it. Not the bargain brand love, it has to be the premium grade, the most expensive fuel available, and there is no substitute. Driver keeps an eye on the fuel gage and knows where the best filling stations are. We fill our tank and head out again. On the Road to Dementia Town, Keeping our Shiny Side Up. C'ya, Luv ya, and God Bless.      

 

The bigger hill.

My Sweetie.

Another wild one. Every time I think we are over the hump, I find the hill was hiding the bigger hill behind it. 

Sweetie was in bed most of the day, ate very little all day, and near the end of the day, came out of the bedroom and joined me for a car ride. Driving and singing Christmas Carols, it seem that she was settling down. 

Got home, fixed dinner, watched TV. Had a small battle to get her overnight pad in, but was successful. When we were getting ready for bed, she went off again. Wouldn't let me help her, check and put more medicine on her ear, and just got angry. She left, went down to the other bedroom and that is where she is now. Had to lock all the doors, set alarms and got some sleep. 

Hoping that today is a better day. I'm hoping that the ear is healing, and her crazies will subside as her ear heals. 

Last night, I had given her a dose of Oil before we went for the drive, and again when we got home. It wasn't until I got her to apply some Stress relief lotion that she became loving and cuddling. 

Damn this disease. If it was just her memories going, that is only one part. It is the confusion, the anger, the hallucinations, not wanting to be touched. All of those characteristics associated with Dementia that wear me down. 

My hope was that I'd found something that would help her and me get through it all. Don't get me wrong, CBD and the Stress Relief lotion does wonders. As the disease progress, it seems that the affects of these products becomes less and less. But, I will get through this day, and the that is the plan. Sunrise to sunset, one day at a time. 

That is what my Driver keeps telling me. Just take it one day at a time, and if necessary, one hour at a time, and we will find light at the end of the tunnel. I know Driver never takes a road that is filled with potholes, some are needed to let us know when we are on smooth roads. There maybe storms on the horizon headed our way, they are not here yet. We'll get to them soon enough, as we travel the Road to Dementia Town, Keeping our Shiny Side Up. C'ya, Luv ya, and God Bless.    

 

Likes to take drives.

Christmas '19.

Yesterday was another wild one. Although, it had its Easter Eggs. 

Sweetie has a sore ear. I don't know how it happened, but her ear is all red, and it is the one she sleeps on. I'm the one who should be taking care of her, and with this, I've fallen down. It is when I address it, and put medication on it, it gets better. Then I stop, thinking that the wound is healing, so I stop with the medication and it flares up again and again. 

Then, the next thing I know is that she is acting out, cranky, and, well you know, has the crazies. I think I've finally understand that it is her ear that is causing all this craziness. Her body hurts, and she is in pain. Like a UTI, she has lost the ability to tell me what is going on, so she gets crazy. As of now, I'm using Tea Tree Oil and Neosporin on it, and the redness is subsiding. Put a band-aid on it last night, so she won't irritate it while she sleeps. I'm not that good of a doctor, I'm slow at putting 2+2 together, but I sooner or later I get it. 

Had to go to the grocery store yesterday, and while herding Sweetie as we waited, a lady with in nurse's dress was behind us. On her fatigues indicating she worked Hospice. We started a conversation, told her about Sweetie, and she started helping me with her. We exchanged numbers and she said she could come and sit with her to give me some time off. What a relief that was. Another Easter Egg just was found. I'll let you know how it is going. 

Last night, we went out looking for and at Christmas lights. There is one area in our neighborhood that has quite a number of houses lit up. I make that our last journey before we go home. I enjoy our drive, and I think Sweetie does too, at least she seems to. Or it is just that we are in the car, and she likes to take drives, I don't know anymore. 

What I do know, it my Driver knows the way. I may be slow in figuring out stuff, like Sweetie's ear. Driver knows that and He will speed up or slow down when adjustments are needed. He will introduce new people into our lives when needed. The nurse has been a unspoken prayer of mine, and it is an example of answered prayers without being prayed over. Driver knows what I need before I do. What is around the bend, is yet to be seen. Driver and I will get there, as we travel together down the Road to Dementia Town, Keeping our Shiny Side Up. C'ya, Luv ya, and God Bless.