Twenty-Five!

Yesterday I went with my husband to his doctor. We discussed how expensive his medicine is and she made some changes which can save money.  Basically she said, "I don't want you to mortgage your house for his medicine." I will write more about this with a forthcoming post.

Before he took a that thirty question test, she repeated what I had heard her say before. "I don't understand how you worked so long."

"It was his long-term memory," I said and she seemed to agree.

In front of him she said, "His dementia will not be getting any better!"

"Should we see a neurologist to see what kind of dementia he has?"

"You can," was the reply but we didn't arrange for one yet.

After she left, her nurse came in to give my husband THE TEST. He scored 25 points! Now mind you in December of 2008 he scored 22 out of 30 and she told him point blank, "You have dementia." His points have been going up, with the last one being 24 out of 30 six months ago. I was prepared that we were going to go downhill especially after she said, "His dementia will not be getting any better!"

It has occurred to me that I am fretting too much. I have been reading books that fan my worry and tomorrow I start a three session caregiver's class. I have been a widow once, and I am just going to enjoy being his wife and ask our Lord to help with the worry. Look up these verses--some of my favorites.

Philippians 4:6,7,12,13 and I Peter 5:7

So tonight I told my hubby that I was going to a health class tomorrow. He wanted to know what kind. I said it is a class for me to be the best wife I can be for you to train me in caregiving for dementia. I didn't use the A word--Alzheimer's. He seemed to feel I am making a mountain out of a mole hill. Just trying to be the best wife I can under the circumstances, sweetheart!

Higher Memory Score Again

One thing I will never forget about 2009 is living with my husband's dementia, deciding to become the best wife/caregiver I can be under the circumstances,  and learning all I could about dementia. I chronicled this effort on this blog. Here is a summary of his memory tests which are the usual indicator of problems.

• In December of 2007 my husband scored 29/30. I suspected a problem, but the doctor didn’t.

• In December of 2008 he scored 22/30 and his doctor told him point blank he has dementia. Namenda and the Exelon patch were prescribed.  We don't know what kind of dementia he has, but he definitely has short-term memory and life is frustrating to him often.

• In June of 2009, by a comment someone made to me, I started researching coconut oil and how it can help people with dementia. Immediately I incorporated it into his diet.

• In September of 2009 he scored 23/30, going up a point!

• Yesterday, January 8, 2010 he scored 24/30, going up yet another point!

Memory Test

For my husband we have things as orderly as possible. I don't change his things. His routine works for him--very well to this point.

But, I've been leaving things lately or can't remember where I put something. We have construction and painting here and hopefully when it is done, before Easter, the house can be put back to order. Then, where did I put things? Starting to get concerned, I took the informal test below and passed. By the way. It is not the test the doctor gave my husband when he was diagnosed with dementia.

http://www.everydayhealth.com/longevity/memory/questions.aspx?xid=nl_EverydayHealthHealthyAging_20090330