When Blood Collides
Viewing comments for Chapter 92 "Zero Options "A family's love is tested.
42 total reviews
Comment from w.j.debi
For all our advances, we just can't fix some things. I like how you always find a bright spot. For the first time you are grateful for the fact Frank's heel because it keeps him from wandering off. My neighbor's father wandered off a couple times. We'd all go look. It's amazing how far he could get in just a few minutes.
Great information and well presented.
reply by the author on 12-Jun-2016
  |
For all our advances, we just can't fix some things. I like how you always find a bright spot. For the first time you are grateful for the fact Frank's heel because it keeps him from wandering off. My neighbor's father wandered off a couple times. We'd all go look. It's amazing how far he could get in just a few minutes.
Great information and well presented.
Comment Written 11-Jun-2016
reply by the author on 12-Jun-2016
-
Your six made my day. (Didn't even place in the 2-4-2 contest :-() News articles all the time about elderly people who got themselves lost. One less thing to worry about.
-
Sometimes a little gold star makes the day brighter. One of those things we learn in kindergarten.
I enjoy your writing.
Comment from mermaids
I administer Aricept and Namenda to many of my Alzheimer residents, I call them "hope drugs". I am not sure they have any effect but my residents are in advance stages of the disease. I agree with you about seeing the neurologist, I am not sure what they can do as Alzheimer's disease progresses. I enjoyed reading your story.
reply by the author on 11-Jun-2016
 |
I administer Aricept and Namenda to many of my Alzheimer residents, I call them "hope drugs". I am not sure they have any effect but my residents are in advance stages of the disease. I agree with you about seeing the neurologist, I am not sure what they can do as Alzheimer's disease progresses. I enjoyed reading your story.
Comment Written 11-Jun-2016
reply by the author on 11-Jun-2016
-
Frank had a reaction to Namenda when they upgraded him to the pill. So many "natural" pills hawked and sold by holistic healers. Thanks for you input, mermaids.
Comment from Selina Stambi
Oh, my dear Shari,
You are one brave lady. I hope the writing is therapeutic and helps you take your mind off things.
You make a sad side of life very poignant and readable. The matter-of-fact recounting of you story - no sobs, sighs or simpers - is very effective and keeps your reader attentive and interested.
How lovely of the Fanstory Angels.
Love,
Sonali xx
reply by the author on 08-Jun-2016
|
Oh, my dear Shari,
You are one brave lady. I hope the writing is therapeutic and helps you take your mind off things.
You make a sad side of life very poignant and readable. The matter-of-fact recounting of you story - no sobs, sighs or simpers - is very effective and keeps your reader attentive and interested.
How lovely of the Fanstory Angels.
Love,
Sonali xx
Comment Written 08-Jun-2016
reply by the author on 08-Jun-2016
-
Yes, I was overwhelmed by the support, Sonali. The writing helps but I'd trade it all to have Frank be his old self. :-)
Comment from Dawn Munro
Oh Sherri, my heart goes out to you both - what a difficult diagnosis. Your essay is full of information for others though, and in this case, it's hard to tell you I laughed out loud, but I did, at your tale of the frying pan you did not throw. (Been there.) LOL.
I was also able to feel your frustration with a PA who wasn't forthcoming with the news of Frank's test score, especially after your description of how cheerful and warm she'd been at the start. It's kind of important information!
As always, well written. Normally I might shy away from verb tense changes, but in this case you handle them well, and I can see how they're necessary.
Well done.
reply by the author on 08-Jun-2016
|
Oh Sherri, my heart goes out to you both - what a difficult diagnosis. Your essay is full of information for others though, and in this case, it's hard to tell you I laughed out loud, but I did, at your tale of the frying pan you did not throw. (Been there.) LOL.
I was also able to feel your frustration with a PA who wasn't forthcoming with the news of Frank's test score, especially after your description of how cheerful and warm she'd been at the start. It's kind of important information!
As always, well written. Normally I might shy away from verb tense changes, but in this case you handle them well, and I can see how they're necessary.
Well done.
Comment Written 08-Jun-2016
reply by the author on 08-Jun-2016
-
Thank you so much, Dawn, for your warm review. The information is the reason I posted so high. If I can survive the next few years, I'll surprise myself! All the stress shows itself in physical problems that even pain pills don't seen to help. Sigh...
Comment from heyjude
Spitfire, This is a frightening disease. I can only guess how difficult
it must be. You have written very well about this experience at
the first signs. I like your phrases ... ant-size letters and honey tones.
reply by the author on 08-Jun-2016
|
Spitfire, This is a frightening disease. I can only guess how difficult
it must be. You have written very well about this experience at
the first signs. I like your phrases ... ant-size letters and honey tones.
Comment Written 08-Jun-2016
reply by the author on 08-Jun-2016
-
Glad you appreciate my efforts at trying to be creative in the midst of all this. My biggest worry is that it could happen to me too.
Wouldn't that be hysterical. The blind leading the blind. LOL
Thanks for the review.
Comment from Ulla
This was a poignant write. I am so sorry that you face this and a very difficult time ahead of you. I do hope you have a good support group to help you coping. It can't be easy for your husband either who must be aware that something is not right. My ex husband's wife has just been diagnosed with Alzheimer, but is only fifty-eight.
It was a very emotional read. Your drawings really brings it home. All the best. Ulla:)))
reply by the author on 08-Jun-2016
|
This was a poignant write. I am so sorry that you face this and a very difficult time ahead of you. I do hope you have a good support group to help you coping. It can't be easy for your husband either who must be aware that something is not right. My ex husband's wife has just been diagnosed with Alzheimer, but is only fifty-eight.
It was a very emotional read. Your drawings really brings it home. All the best. Ulla:)))
Comment Written 08-Jun-2016
reply by the author on 08-Jun-2016
-
Frank chalks it up to old age, but on some level he must be aware. He's scared to death when I complain of not feeling well myself. I do have many good friends close by who let me vent my frustration. I feel for your ex and his wife. 58 is so young to be burdened with memory loss.
Comment from DALLAS01
A picture is worth a thousand words. I was familiar with the memory tests, except for the spatial quiz. I was aware that it was relative, but your drawings hammered it home in a simplistic example. In the beginning, mom was on Aricept, and I assumed it was somewhat effective until she regressed three or four levels. that was how my sister and I saw it. She would slip then stay on that plateau for a while until she slipped to another plateau.
My grandmother had what they referred to as hardening of the arteries, which may be vascular dementia that you refer to. It doesn't matter what you label it the pathology seems to be the same. My only suggestion to you would be to get a support group, now, before you get overwhelmed.
reply by the author on 07-Jun-2016
|
A picture is worth a thousand words. I was familiar with the memory tests, except for the spatial quiz. I was aware that it was relative, but your drawings hammered it home in a simplistic example. In the beginning, mom was on Aricept, and I assumed it was somewhat effective until she regressed three or four levels. that was how my sister and I saw it. She would slip then stay on that plateau for a while until she slipped to another plateau.
My grandmother had what they referred to as hardening of the arteries, which may be vascular dementia that you refer to. It doesn't matter what you label it the pathology seems to be the same. My only suggestion to you would be to get a support group, now, before you get overwhelmed.
Comment Written 07-Jun-2016
reply by the author on 07-Jun-2016
-
Thanks, Dallas, for sharing your story with me. Frank will slip too and then be on a plateau for at least three months. Thanks for correcting my definition of vascular dementia. As you say, what's the difference. Either way, you lose your cognitive abilities.
I have wonderful neighbors who are aware of my situation and have offered help any time I need it. That helps.
I've even picked out a place for him to go when it's impossible for me to handle the situation.
-
You're welcome.
Comment from Bill Schott
This chapter, Zero Options, is a great character examination of Frank. His crusty and argumentative nature are well-presented and demonstrated. The steps through the denial, the doctor visit, and the interactions with various unfortunate people, all make Frank both familiar and unique. The introduction of Bobby, as a transition, is effective as an enticement to read on.
reply by the author on 07-Jun-2016
|
This chapter, Zero Options, is a great character examination of Frank. His crusty and argumentative nature are well-presented and demonstrated. The steps through the denial, the doctor visit, and the interactions with various unfortunate people, all make Frank both familiar and unique. The introduction of Bobby, as a transition, is effective as an enticement to read on.
Comment Written 07-Jun-2016
reply by the author on 07-Jun-2016
-
Thanks, Bill, for a detailed and helpful review. Crusty is a great word to describe my husband. :-)
Comment from abbasjoy
This is quite an emotional read, because I have a cousin who has dementia, and she was a nurse. Her mother, my aunt, had Alzheimer's, and what I saw of my aunt was truly sad. She had been a vibrant woman and mother of ten. With Alzheimer's she became like a little girl, referring to her sons as her brothers.
So sorry for the decline in Frank's health.
reply by the author on 07-Jun-2016
|
This is quite an emotional read, because I have a cousin who has dementia, and she was a nurse. Her mother, my aunt, had Alzheimer's, and what I saw of my aunt was truly sad. She had been a vibrant woman and mother of ten. With Alzheimer's she became like a little girl, referring to her sons as her brothers.
So sorry for the decline in Frank's health.
Comment Written 07-Jun-2016
reply by the author on 07-Jun-2016
-
It's some consolation that the patient is unaware of what is happening. It's harder on the caretaker to watch the devolving of a loved one. Thank you so much for the six.
Comment from royowen
Well done with. I think we all worry about these things as we age. I'm not even sure that I haven't had some sort of neurological malfunction for years anyway, but I'm sure the physical side seems to be gradual!. Any change in your hubby must have worrying. This is a marvellous site for keeping, maintaining and/or developmental improvement, I'm sure that works! Well done, thanks for sharing, I think we can all relate to this (when older) of worrying symptoms. Well done, well written, blessings, Roy
reply by the author on 07-Jun-2016
|
Well done with. I think we all worry about these things as we age. I'm not even sure that I haven't had some sort of neurological malfunction for years anyway, but I'm sure the physical side seems to be gradual!. Any change in your hubby must have worrying. This is a marvellous site for keeping, maintaining and/or developmental improvement, I'm sure that works! Well done, thanks for sharing, I think we can all relate to this (when older) of worrying symptoms. Well done, well written, blessings, Roy
Comment Written 07-Jun-2016
reply by the author on 07-Jun-2016
-
I suspect Frank's memory loss started a couple of years before I noticed it. Some separate posts from the book will reveal what helped both of us.
-
I think all we aging ones will sit up and take notice of this one,
