CommunityMemberbb839a's Status Updates

, I'm so sorry for all the loss you've experienced. It's hard when we lose what feels like pieces of our hearts. They're still with you. I lost my stepmom, her services were last week. I feel her everyday, like she is still here.

I'm glad to hear things are going well with your speech therapist! They can help in so many areas. I hope you are getting feelings of accomplishment when you finish your tasks <3 Where have you noticed the most improvement or easing of improvements? - Warmly, Donna (Team Member)

Hello! I am so sorry for all of your loss. When things change or people die I have a very hard time with it. As a person with Alzheimer's, I keep expecting them to be in the same place that I left them. My husband's best friend Dan died 3 years ago but he used to come over everyday and I still think he will walk through the front door to bring a sub to my husband. When a friend at church died I felt so sad that every time I look back where she used to sit I would start to cry again.
After talking with my priest, he told me at church to do the things my friend used to do at church. She was so friendly! I am usually reserved. So I took on her mission and now I greet people like she used to and have found a new purpose at my church.
When you have Alzheimer's you have really STRONG feelings. It might be crying or anger. You might laugh when no one else is laughing. Our brains are just resetting. It's like when we have to turn our phone off to make it work right again. So our brains go off for and minute and then they restart.
I am in speech therapy and I believe it has been a godsend. At one point last September I almost quit talking. I was only using sign language. However, my speech therapist kept at me. Even when I had a huge set back due to facial seizures (nothing to do with Alzheimer's), she brought me back to clear consise speaking.
I hope this helps you and I hope I hear from you!
Take care of yourself!

@CommunityMemberbb839a @DonnaFA @JillBrodie

I am so sorry to hear that your stepmom passed away. It sounds like you very close to her and she cared deeply for you. My children didn't use the term stepmom, they called me 🦦 otter. Meaning my other mother, it worked then as it still does today. I am thinking of you as you go through your time of sorrow.

, it was complicated for us. She was only 7 years older than I was and I think that made it awkward for her to call me her daughter/stepdaughter. To me, she was and always will be my mom. She is the only one I ever had, and without her I would not have known how to parent my children. She was, as my brother said at her eulogy, "A bright light in the world". Thank you, I appreciate you <3. - Warmly, Donna (Team Member)

that is great. Do you find it is helping you? How often do you meet with her? Jill (Team Member)

It' really helping and we meet once a week! I have lots of homewowork that helps me!

I am so glad to hear this. Thanks for sharing with us. Jill (Team Member)

thanks for sharing and this sounds delicious! I am so glad you are able to rest so that you can attend the meeting. I hope you enjoyed the weekend and the yummy food! Jill (Team Member)

, you're always making something delicious! I hope the weekend was joyful, and that your wonderful cookies and casserole. - Warmly Donna (Team Member)

while ago I started to lose my appetite. I was diagnosed with Alzheimer's almost 2 years ago. Sometimes I just forget to eat. I am never really hungry but I do crave things if we go out and I see a menu. I think it also helps if someone just sets food in front of me without giving me a lot of choices. I like mostly soft bland foods but on occasion I will surprise myself with something unique. Lately I am really in the mood for Chinese takeout. So hope next week we can order some. I only weigh 92 lbs now so people let me eat whatever I want to eat. @DonnaFA @ScottMatheny @PattyDay

Thanks for being here and letting us know how you are doing. We appreciate you sharing your Alzheimers journey with us, and we are always here, so do reach out and share with us anytime. If you don't mind me asking, do you live alone? If you live with others, they could plan to set a schedule for you to eat simple snacks and meals that include foods you like. Could a timer help? When it goes off and how often you would like it to (breakfast, lunch, snack, dinner), it reminds you and your loved ones that it is time to eat. I would also suggest you keep some drinks near you, like water and vitamin water, along with nutritious shakes like Ensure. When you see them, you could be more tempted to drink one. I know you enjoy Chinese food. What else do you like to eat? Respectfully, Nancy Alzheimersdisease.net Team Member

Don't hesitate to reach out to me if you ever need to connect with someone who has Alzheimer's. I know the feeling of being alone and in your own head with this disease. Isolation is a big part of it. I am really grateful that my oldest daughter Sarah calls me everyday. She doesn't accept that I suffer from profound memory loss but that is okay she will get there when the time is right for her. I make myself go to church with my husband on Sunday just to keep up with my friends there and we go to breakfast afterwards. Sometimes we go to the store if we need to get a couple of things. We have found that Aldi's is quiet, has large aisles and is small enough that I don't get overwhelmed. The last time we went to Kroger, my husband got me a Starbucks which I love but I got bored and wondered off, got confused and lost! Everything was so noisy and loud! He decided that we would not go there again. I am very fortunate to have a husband who understands Alzheimer's because his father had dementia. It's not the same but he has some understanding of what I am going through at this time. Today we bought protein shakes because the nurse said I have to drink one everyday. I don't like them but I will drink them really fast! I don't want to starve. I just forget to eat. I have been thinking about you and hoping that you are not alone. I also have home health care. There is a nurse, a nurse aide, a physical therapist and a speech therapist who come 2x a week to check on me. That way I am not alone during the day and my family doesn't have to worry that I will just wander off. Feel free to reach out anytime! @CommunityMemberbb839a @DonnaFA @PattyDay@ScottMatheny

I live with my loving hubby and he does his best to understand my Alzheimers. He's a type 2 diabetic and hungry all the time where I'm barely hungry. I'm going to check into shakes with protein! I see my regular doctor tomorrow about my gut etc until I can see my gut doctor last of January

I don't live alone but my husband works long hours. He leaves when it's dark and gets home when it's dark. So it's hard for me to keep track of time. I like the idea of setting a timer. I have made a note of that on our kitchen counter and will start that tomorrow. We bought protein shakes today because the nurse said I have to drink one everyday. I don't really like the taste but I will just drink it really fast! I have yogurt and other snack like dried pineapple which I love! I never thought that I would forget to eat. I thought that you would just get hungry and naturally eat but that doesn't happen. I do feed my dogs and give them lots of treats! They are very spoiled. I am grateful that in August we decided to get home health care in here before I declined to this point. I am in Palliative care so I don't have to ever go to the hospital. I think going to the hospital would be very traumatic for me. Today my husband took me to breakfast as is our habit on Sunday after Mass. I can get whatever I want even if it's not breakfast food. The people at the diner that my husband takes me to know me and treat me really well. Today I had a cheeseburger and hash browns with a Coke! It tasted great. I only ate about half and my husband said that I needed to do better but he was just joking. @DonnaFA @ScottMatheny

I need support

Sometimes when I'm in Krogers getting groceries all of a sudden I feel lost and confused so I call my husband who is in the car to come in. Once he's there and takes my hand I'm ok I am safe again.

Praying and sending loving hugs to you!

Thank you!💗