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Nora is still here - 24 Dec 2003 06:58 GMT

I just wanted to say hi as I have read a lot of the posts, responded to
one and have gotten a wealth of information. I've only been reading
these for a couple days and plan on making this a habit. My father is
not diagnosed yet with the dreaded Alzheimer's, but his doctor believes
he might have it and has scheduled some medical tests to help diagnose
it. I have seen the symptoms enough in my life with other people to
know that this is a possibility. I hope in the future that this
discussion group will be a solace to me. I know I can't deal with this
alone.

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Dennis P. Harris - 24 Dec 2003 09:48 GMT

On Wed, 24 Dec 2003 01:58:03 -0500 (EST) in
alt.support.alzheimers, Tubthumper68@webtv.net (Nora is still
here) wrote:

> I just wanted to say hi as I have read a lot of the posts, responded to
> one and have gotten a wealth of information. I've only been reading
[quoted text clipped - 5 lines]
> discussion group will be a solace to me. I know I can't deal with this
> alone.

you'll have a lot of support here. welcome to the club that no
one wants to join.

the FAQ is at http://www.muggsmulcher.com/kstuff/a.s.a/intro.htm

head for the newest bookstore and buy a copy of "the 36 hour day"
by mace & rabin. it covers about 90% of what you need to know,
the rest is handling the unexpected, and there's a *lot* of that.

if you can, make sure your father has signed durable powers of
attorney for 1) health care decisions and 2) financial decision
as soon as possible, as well as having a will and a Living Will
expressing his wishes for final care. if you get along well,
have him sign a release with all his doctors allowing them to
release all medical info to you and any other family caregivers,
because he *will* forget things and someone else will have to
remember for him and discuss his care and condition with medical
professionals.

you need to do all of these things while he is still actually
competent, preferably before diagnosis.

he needs a full neurological and psychiatric evaluation, which
should include a cognitive skills test (computation, time
telling, memory, arithmetic, sequential tasks), tests to rule out
causes such as carotid artery restrictions, strokes, TIAs,
thyroid malfunction, tumors... often includes a CAT scan.

is he living alone? is he married? if so, is *she* capable of
caring for him?

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Evelyn Ruut - 24 Dec 2003 12:09 GMT

Dear Nora,

I don't know what I would have done if it wasn't for this group sharing
their knowledge, their sympathies, and their experiences. Welcome to the
group nobody really wants to be a member of, but if you are here you are in
the right place.

Signature

Evelyn

(To reply to me personally, remove sox)

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Ronny 1 - 24 Dec 2003 17:30 GMT

Group: alt.support.alzheimers Date: Wed, Dec 24, 2003, 1:58am (CST+1)
From: Tubthumper68@webtv.net (Nora is still here)
I just wanted to say hi as I have read a lot of the posts, responded to
one and have gotten a wealth of information. I've only been reading
these for a couple days and plan on making this a habit. My father is
not diagnosed yet with the dreaded Alzheimer's, but his doctor believes
he might have it and has scheduled some medical tests to help diagnose
it. I have seen the symptoms enough in my life with other people to know
that this is a possibility. I hope in the future that this discussion
group will be a solace to me. I know I can't deal with this alone.

Dear Nora,

Good morning. :-) And you are right that this is a nice place and don't
feel shy as I've only been here about 4 days myself and I've already
posted my morning vent! LoL Now I just need someone in here to come burn
my trash for me, mop the bathroom floor and do just a little more pickup
here and there in the house. :-)<BG> What! Oh,then that means I have to
go do it myself! LoL

Love,

Ronny

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Mare - 24 Dec 2003 19:48 GMT

Aww let your sisters do the cleaning, you have plenty on your
plate caring for your Mom! Our house was never the neatest when I
was caring for Mom at home and if anyone said anything about it I
just handed them the appropriate tool to do the job and said
thanks for the help;~)
--

Mare
mfcoleman@THEOLEmindspring.com
http://www.muggsmulcher.com/kstuff/a.s.a/intro.htm
alt.support.alzheimers' FAQs and Stuff Pages

I used to have a handle on life...but it broke off

Group: alt.support.alzheimers Date: Wed, Dec 24, 2003, 1:58am
(CST+1)
From: Tubthumper68@webtv.net (Nora is still here)
I just wanted to say hi as I have read a lot of the posts,
responded to
one and have gotten a wealth of information. I've only been
reading
these for a couple days and plan on making this a habit. My
father is
not diagnosed yet with the dreaded Alzheimer's, but his doctor
believes
he might have it and has scheduled some medical tests to help
diagnose
it. I have seen the symptoms enough in my life with other people
to know
that this is a possibility. I hope in the future that this
discussion
group will be a solace to me. I know I can't deal with this
alone.

Dear Nora,

Good morning. :-) And you are right that this is a nice place and
don't
feel shy as I've only been here about 4 days myself and I've
already
posted my morning vent! LoL Now I just need someone in here to
come burn
my trash for me, mop the bathroom floor and do just a little more
pickup
here and there in the house. :-)<BG> What! Oh,then that means I
have to
go do it myself! LoL

Love,

Ronny

Reply to this Message

Jennie - 25 Dec 2003 18:23 GMT

You Go, Girl!

Actually, that's exactly the reason why my husband never complains about my
housekeeping - he'd get the same answer!

Jennie

> Aww let your sisters do the cleaning, you have plenty on your
> plate caring for your Mom! Our house was never the neatest when I
[quoted text clipped - 47 lines]
>
> Ronny

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