Alzheimer’s wrecks another of my family

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April 16, 2019, 08:57 AM

Leemur

Alzheimer’s wrecks another of my family

This is the second aunt and 4th person in my extended family now. She was always a bit off in the head so no one realized she was showing symptoms. In the last couple weeks she’s gone from odd to full blown Alzheimer’s and needing near 24/7 care. Along with cancer this has to be the most evil disease in history. At least she had a good long run. I think she’s nearly 80.

Serious about crackers

April 16, 2019, 09:48 AM

Jimbo54

My sister-in-law has it and lives nearby so we see her often. It's amazing how quickly she went downhill to the point that she needs full time care. A horrible thing to witness.

I feel your pain Leemur.

Jim

________________________

"If you can't be a good example, then you'll have to be a horrible warning" -Catherine Aird

April 16, 2019, 11:28 PM

coloradohunter44

Sorry to hear. My wife’s mom is suffering now, about time to put her in protective care. Sucks

"Someday I hope to be half the man my bird-dog thinks I am."

FBLM LGB!

April 17, 2019, 12:59 PM

Perception

It's an awful disease, even worse than cancer as far as I'm concerned. Cancer steals the rest of your life, Alzheimer's takes the part you've already lived as well. I worked with Alzheimer's patients for years, and it was horrible watching them lose their minds, and know it was happening.

I'm truly sorry you have had so many people close to you go through it.

"The people hate the lizards and the lizards rule the people."
"Odd," said Arthur, "I thought you said it was a democracy."
"I did," said Ford, "it is."
"So," said Arthur, hoping he wasn't sounding ridiculously obtuse, "why don't the people get rid of the lizards?"
"It honestly doesn't occur to them. They've all got the vote, so they all pretty much assume that the government they've voted in more or less approximates the government they want."
"You mean they actually vote for the lizards."
"Oh yes," said Ford with a shrug, "of course."
"But," said Arthur, going for the big one again, "why?"
"Because if they didn't vote for a lizard, then the wrong lizard might get in."

____________________________
Yes, Para does appreciate humor.

April 18, 2019, 11:03 AM

Leemur

quote:
Originally posted by pwelch001:
You’ve had a rough go lately Leemur, I’m so sorry to hear this.

Thanks but personally I’ve had a great life. These things find us all eventually. Save the prayers for the ones actually suffering, they’re the ones in greatest need.

May 01, 2019, 10:34 AM

Leemur

Aunt that I mentioned in the original post got up in the middle of the night, wandered outside and fell down the stairs of the deck. She’d been staying with my cousin (her son) until arrangements could be made at a memory care facility. Broken vertebrae, ribs, skull fracture and Lord knows what else. My cousin can’t catch a break. Several years ago he found his wife lying in the floor dead of an overdose and one of his children is a mental case. If you’ve got prayers to give, he needs them.

May 01, 2019, 11:30 AM

Batty67

I'm very sorry. My MIL is in year 11 post-diagnosis. She's 83.

For good or bad, she had a long, slow, descent to where she is now...basically an infant. If her utterly devoted husband did not care for her 24/7 (with 7 day a week in-home assistance for about 12 hours each day), she'd stay wherever she was last left and die of dehydration or whatever claimed her life. She must sleep 16+ hours per day. And her Mom lived into her 90s with AD, but she was much more active when she was diagnosed.

May 01, 2019, 12:54 PM

btanchors

My sister-in-law has been diagnosed with Alzheimer's. She is only in her late 60's. She lives in Washington State with her husband, who we're pretty close to.

Since we live in Virginia, across the country, we can't be there much of the time. Anyone with some general suggestions on how we can support and help them?

May 01, 2019, 06:55 PM

randyman

So sorry to hear this. We had to institutionalized my mother last year because of this disease. 24x7 home health care was expensive and my mother would run off most of the health attendants. She simply could not remember why they were there in her home.

May 01, 2019, 07:18 PM

P-220

I am sorry for what you are going through.

We have been dealing with the early stages with my Mother for the last year.

It is a cruel, cruel disease.

Niech Zyje P-220

Steve

“Everybody wants a Sig in the sheets but a Glock on the streets.” -bionic218 04-02-2014

May 02, 2019, 03:47 PM

Bytes

My mom passed from heart failure. My dad passed from a lung infection. Both were getting a little slow in their thinking before they passed. Alzheimer disease scared the hell out of me. Sending good thoughts your aunts way Leemur.

May 17, 2019, 10:28 AM

Leemur

Well fortunately it was quick. Damage from the fall was far worse than initially thought. She was quite frail so I’m not surprised. I’ve been asked to be a pallbearer. First time I’ve ever done this. So far 2019 has taken two friends and one family member. I’ve said it many times but it bears repeating: Plan for tomorrow but live for today. Call your loved ones if you haven’t talked in a while.