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May 30, 2010

Losing Ground?

Posted by PeterT under Daily Challenges, Family, Help from Others, Meaningful Caregiving, Practical Tools for Coping, Therapeutic Activities | Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , |
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I am just not sure how to assess the day, but I am sure I don’t like it.  The signs pointed to the hallucinations firing up last night.  She was restless at first.  The hallucinations fired up between 3am and 4:30am.  Then she slept for a while.

She did try to get up early, but when I took her to the bathroom, she fainted.  I had to put her back into bed and she slept for a while.  There has been a pattern that has played itself out all day.  When she is lying down, she has often been talking apparently about or to the hallucinations.  I described that before. She often has her eyes open when she lying there talking.

When she became alert enough to sit up, usually wanting to go to the bathroom, after a short time her eyes would slam shut and it would cease to be possible to communicate with her.  She simply could/would not respond.  I had to put her back into bed since there was really no other option.

She did manage to get up for breakfast, but then and most of the rest of the time I tried to talk with her, she could not speak intelligibly.  Once this evening when the words she used were recognizable, they did not match what she wanted.  She said she needed to cook a meal, when it became clear that she intended to say a drink of water.

[WARNING — GROSS CONTENT] I was barely able to get food into her mouth for the little bit she ate. At breakfast, she did get her pills down with much difficulty.  I fed her a few spoons of yogurt before she just didn’t take any more.  I found out shortly thereafter that the last bites had not been swallowed.  As she sat in her chair for a while, I had to get napkin after napkin to deal with what had not gone down, along with lots of clear fluid.  Sorry to include such unpleasant stuff, but it I have passed the will to be delicate and I am too tired to try to think of some cute euphemistic way of saying it.  This matter of not swallowing food and uncontrolled saliva production is a new and unsettling issue for me.

The difficulty in dealing with the once or twice a day intestinal activity really is pretty close to being unmanageable by myself.  To hold up her weight with one arm, as she is pulling away from me while I am cleaning with the other is just barely doable.  That has been continuing for many days now with no sign of improvement.

All of this is becoming a very old story to those of you who read these posts regularly.  What seems different to me is that we appear to be losing ground at a pretty rapid rate by comparison to past declines.  It seems that every few days something worsens.  The changes seem too rapid to me to be a normal part of the disease process.  In my mind the evidence still points to medication issues for the rapidity of the decline.  The trouble is that there seems to be no clear and definitive approach to medicating those with a form of Lewy Body Dementia that produces consistent results.  The same med can produce opposite results in different patients.

I may simply be in denial and the rapid changes may just be a function of the disease.  As our Parkinson’s Speicalist once said, after 23 years of the disease and the meds, there is no telling what problems are caused by side effects of meds and which the progression of the disease.

Volunteer Elaine came over to spend time with Mary Ann this morning while I went to the lake to sit and read and ponder and look for birds.  Today, it was hard to leave, and I couldn’t let go of concern for Mary Ann lying in bed talking to the hallucinations.  Mary Ann ended up sleeping (or just lying there) the entire time I was gone. I just don’t like how much more difficult this is getting and how fast it is moving.  It is not so much life threatening as it is that our system here at the house is being threatened.

One bonus this morning was that Elaine surprised us with a Quiche she made for us while at the house.  Not only that, but Volunteer Tamara had asked yesterday if she could bring food to us again.  When I answered her question about what Mary Ann liked, what popped into my mind was, Quiche.  This morning while Elaine was making her Quiche for us, Tamara brought two more.  Mary Ann ate a piece of one, although the same thing happened that had happened with the yogurt earlier in the day.  I ended up eating a couple of pieces of one and one piece of another by the time the day was over.  They all appear to have home made crusts.  They are wonderful.  One will end up in the freezer in pieces to be heated in the microwave later, but I suspect two of them will be long gone before that happens.

I am hoping for a better day tomorrow since our Son, Daughter-in-Law and Granddaughter are coming over for a while for Memorial Day. The menu will be Quiche — and Glory Days pizza for those who are not into Quiche.

If you want to write a comment about this or any of the posts on this blog, look to the column on the right side of this page, titled “Recent Posts,”  click on the name of a post and you will find a box at the end of that article in which you can write a comment.  Clicking on the title of the post you are reading will accomplish the same thing.  Comments are appreciated.

 

May 16, 2010

Happy Birthday Mary Ann!

Posted by PeterT under Daily Challenges, Family, Help from Others, Information on Parkinson's, Meaningful Caregiving, Practical Tools for Coping, Relationship Issues, Therapeutic Activities, Uncategorized | Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , |
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Well, it wasn’t wild and crazy partying, but given our circumstances, it was okay.  After sleeping well last night, Mary Ann got up some time after 10am.  For some reason, when we were finishing with her pills and food (she was already dressed). I remembered a couple of music CD’s we had gotten when Occupational Therapist Karen was working with Mary Ann using rhythmic movements in her therapy.  It is a CD of big band music from the thirties and forties.  Even though we were not born until the early 1940’s, the music was part of our very early history.

I put the CD’s on and invited Mary Ann to dance.  As I have admitted before, I don’t dance.  I can, however, sway.  She laughed at me, as usual.  We stood for a minute or two of swaying/dancing before she fainted from the Orthostatic Hypotension (drop in blood pressure when standing) that has come from a combination of medicines and a compromised Autonomic Nervous System (due to both the Parkinson’s and the Parkinson’s Dementia).

Today did not include the option of going out anywhere since Mary Ann fainted every time she stood up — that is every time!  There was some intestinal activity, which always included a cluster of fainting spells.  I just hung close to her at all times.  If she just stood up in front of her chair to stretch her legs, she fell back into the chair and was out for a time.

In spite of that, the day went better than I thought it might.  She was awake most of the time.  She did not seem to be hallucinating very much at all.  She got good, long phone calls from both of the kids.  Daughter Lisa’s crew sang happy birthday, and both of the girls (5 and 7) had stories to tell about what was going on with them.  Mary Ann was able to respond a little to both Son Micah and Lisa.

My Sister, Gayle, phoned and sang happy birthday also, so Mary Ann got lots of attention.  There have been lots and lots of cards.  She now has a bank envelop with the words “for ice cream only” filled with a total of $60 in cash.  The bank teller wrote that note on the envelop in accord with the note on a $50 check.  I believe there will also be some Graeter’s ice cream from Louisville delivered when Lisa and her crew come to visit in June. That has to rank as one of the best in the world of ice cream.

Don and Edie came over again to deliver some flowers and visit for a few minutes.  Volunteer Coordinator Mary had brought over a bouquet yesterday.  Friend Jeanne called, widhed Mary Ann happy birthday, and arranged for a visit on Monday.

After eating a slice of Glory Days Pizza for lunch (left over), we each had a piece of rhubarb pie (Volunteer Coordinator Mary made it a couple of days ago using Mary Ann’s recipe).  Mary Ann’s piece, of course, had a couple of scoops of ice cream on it.

Mary Ann dozed for a while with her head down on the little table in front of her, but was awake most of the time.  The big band music was on for much of the time.  Later she lucked out and found a couple of episodes of “House,” followed by an NCIS marathon.  We went through birthday cards.  She was not as alert yesterday when I read some to her, so we went through them again.  She was much more alert today.

The wildlife was entertaining to both of us at various times.  Three very colorful Baltimore orioles were in and out of view for much of the day.  It was rainy outside, but only occasional sprinkles.

After some more leftovers for supper, we each had a big piece of the three layer melt-in-your mouth chocolate cake frosted with thick layers of whipped cream and coconut frosting.  I made a pot of Sumatra Badak Rhino Blue Tawar coffee from PT’s. It is a moderately dark roast that fit my taste perfectly.  Mary Ann is not much for the strong coffees that I enjoy.  She prefers Pepsi.

Today, I included the additional half tablet of Seroquel in the morning cluster of pills.  The Neurologist is suggesting we try that addition to see if it might help reduce the hallucinations.  It can cause her to sleep more of the time and increase the fainting, but the fainting had already started before she took her meds and long before the medicine could have gotten into her blood stream. She didn’t sleep as much as usual during the day today.  It is way too soon to draw any conclusions on the effect the increase in Seroquel might have.  Today she seemed to have minimal trouble with hallucinations and more fainting, but the medicine may have had no part in those characteristics of the day.

Mary Ann slept well and for a long time each of the last two nights.  I also have had two full nights of sleep.  I have absolutely no clue whether tonight will be a night of sleep or a night of hallucinations/delusions/dreams mixed with reality, up and down with no sleep for either of us.  I do know which I would prefer.

If you want to write a comment about this or any of the posts on this blog, look to the column on the right side of this page, titled “Recent Posts,”  click on the name of a post and you will find a box at the end of that article in which you can write a comment.  Clicking on the title of the post you are reading will accomplish the same thing.  Comments are appreciated.

 

May 9, 2010

Quiet Mother’s Day — A Bit Pensive

Posted by PeterT under Daily Challenges, Family, Meaningful Caregiving, Relationship Issues, Therapeutic Activities, Uncategorized | Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , |
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Mary Ann slept reasonably well after settling last night.  She got up and had breakfast, but afterward opted to remain in her pajamas.  After a time, she just started fainting in her chair.  We managed a trip to the bathroom once, but the second time she fainted in the transfer chair before I could get her on the stool.  She just needed to get back in bed.

While she slept, I did a bunch of simple household chores.  It struck me how much effort is necessary just to do the most basic tasks to maintain a household. That is hardly news to anyone who has had responsibility for those basic tasks.  Having grown up in a household in which Dad did outside stuff and Mom did inside stuff, it has taken a while for me to catch on.

I did manage some time watching the large screen nature show at the back of the house.  I need to correct the pronouns in my last post.  That Oriole is “she” not “he.”  I should have known since she was more yellow than I expected of a Baltimore Oriole.  Mr. Oriole appeared at the waterfall this morning.  He has not ventured to the jelly yet, at least when I have been watching.  Mrs. Oriole has spent a number of times there today.

Mary Ann got up in the early to mid-afternoon.  Given the choice of waiting an hour for me to make a bigger meal or having a sandwich then, she opted for ice cream. You will note that ice cream was not one of the options I suggested.  We both had some ice cream.  I put the baked potatoes in the oven, and after about an hour, I George Foremanned a couple of pieces of sirloin from Omaha Steaks I had marinating in the fridge and steamed a bunch of Asparagus. By the way, I absolutely HATE cleaning the George Foreman Grill!

After eating, Mary Ann watched some television.  Daughter Lisa phoned to wish Mary Ann a happy Mother’s Day and report that some items produced by our Granddaughters would be coming later.  Since we had eaten so late, it was not long before it was time to go to the Evening Service at church.  Mary Ann had forgotten that it was Sunday.  I got changed and we headed over to the Service.

Shortly after we got back, Mary Ann was ready to go to bed.  It is a very cool and gray evening.  I have stepped outside a few times just to take it in.  I prefer the days when Mary Ann is subdued and sleeps a lot to the ones when she is so intense and streaming hallucinations, delusions and dreams confused with reality.  At the same time, on occasion when she is sleeping, there are pensive moments during which I get a glimpse of what it might feel like to be alone.  There are lots and lots of people who have faced that challenge before me.  As any will testify, that there are others does not lessen the impact when it is you.

I choose not to remain long in the pensive times.  We live in a state of intentional denial.  We have enough to deal with in the present.  We will deal with future possibilities when they become the present.  For now, we have each other.  That is our reality.  It is enough.

If you want to write a comment about this or any of the posts on this blog, look to the column on the right side of this page, titled “Recent Posts,”  click on the name of a post and you will find a box at the end of that article in which you can write a comment.  Clicking on the title of the post you are reading will accomplish the same thing.  Comments are appreciated.

 

May 6, 2010

Rendered Speechless

Posted by PeterT under Daily Challenges, Family, Help from Others, Meaningful Caregiving, Practical Tools for Coping, Relationship Issues, Uncategorized | Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , |
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…No small matter for a retired preacher.  This one came so much out of the blue, that at first I was completely at a loss as to how to respond.

The night had been a tough one.  Mary Ann just could not settle.  We were up many times.  The frequency diminished to once every half hour or forty-five minutes after about 3am.  The last one was at 4:45am before I got up at 6:30am to prepare for the Spiritual Formation group that meets on the deck (weather permitting — downstairs otherwise).  I complained to Mary Ann that I would be getting up soon and wanted at least a couple hours of sleep before then.

Mary Ann was sleeping soundly when I got up to get ready for the Group.  Since a couple of folks couldn’t make it there were only two of us this morning.  We talked for a bit on the deck until I saw Mary Ann moving.  I keep the video monitor with me during the group when there is no Wednesday morning Volunteer.

I went in, and as she was lying on the bed facing me, I asked if she needed to use the commode.  Wide-eyed and angry sounding, she said in a strong voice, “Don’t lie to me!  I know you have been out all night smoking Marijuana.  You wreak of it!”  Yes, preacher of many words that I am, I was completely baffled and at a loss to know how to respond.

It is such a mystery how those synaptic connections can create thoughts with no context.  We both preceded the baby boomers by long enough that Marijuana had not yet been invented when we were in high school.  We didn’t experiment nor did our kids have any apparent experience with it.  In fact I asked Mary Ann this morning how she knew what Marijuana smelled like that she decided I was wreaking of it.  She said the kids told her.

Realizing that since she began this interaction with the non-sequitur response to my question about the commode that I should stop lying, I tried to connect with something that might bring her back to reality.  I asked who exactly she thought it was who was up with her multiple times all night long if I was gone.  I reminded her of my complaining at the 4:45am commode trip.  She remembered that.

I got her up and to the table to eat something before Bath Aide Zandra arrived.  She seemed to be transitioning at least part way back to reality.  I then commented on how angry she was this morning — to which she responded “So would you.”   She seemed to be back to feeling that it was real and not a dream/hallucination.

I asked if she still smelled the Marijuana.  She said, yes.  Then as if to hint that maybe it was not true that I had been smoking it, she said she knew that the kids smoked it.  She had seen them the last time we visited there.  She was referring to our Kentucky crew.  Then she said that the last time the Kentucky Daughter Lisa was here she said that she smoked.  At this point Mary Ann switched to talking about regular cigarettes.  Anyone who knows Lisa realizes just how crazy that suggestion is.  Mary Ann said that Son Micah told her he did not smoke.

I don’t remember so much as a recent news broadcast that would have brought the word Marijuana into her mind, unless it has been in one of the Law and Order episodes that dominate our television.

I realize that this sounds like something worthy just laughing off.  It is not funny to me.  In fact it was scary.  I felt utterly helpless to respond in a way that could deal with her anger.  It is hard to think about how upset she must be feeling when those painful and very vivid thoughts and sounds and images, and now even scents, take hold as her reality.  It is clear that there is nothing that I will be able to say that will remove that view of reality from her mind.  I will not be able to reason it out with her.  Judging from past experience, that now will become a reality she goes back to, one that will remain with her, accessible at any moment in time.

I read pretty much daily accounts of experiences almost exactly like ours.  The online Yahoo Group of Spouses of those with Lewy Body Dementia [LBD] talk about the hallucinations and delusions and vivid drreams confused with reality all the time.  Lots of their Loved Ones have people living at their house, are convinced that their spouse has been replaced by an imposter, are paranoid about one thing or another.  It does help to a certain extent to know that we are not alone in this regard and that it is normal behavior for those with LBD.

On the other side of it there is a terrible sadness realizing that this is only going to get worse.  The deep pain is apparent when those posting in that online group talk about living with a person who is physically present but no longer the person they have been married to for so many years.  That person has in some cases ceased to exist completely.  They are not alone but very lonely.

I am very grateful that Mary Ann is still present much of the time.  It is frightening to see the times she is present diminish as the weeks and months go by.

Friend Jeanne came over to spend a few hours with Mary Ann today.  Mary Ann spent more time awake than I thought she would, given the rough night last night.  I appreciated having time to run a couple of errands.  Then we went to G’s Frozen Custard for Turtle Sundaes.

Mary Ann ate a fairly light supper and dozed with her head down for while.  Then she got ready for bed.  She has been sleeping fairly well, at least it appears so.  I certainly hope she gets a good night’s sleep. We both need it!

If you want to write a comment about this or any of the posts on this blog, look to the column on the right side of this page, titled “Recent Posts,”  click on the name of a post and you will find a box at the end of that article in which you can write a comment.  Clicking on the title of the post you are reading will accomplish the same thing.  Comments are appreciated.

 

May 3, 2010

Mary Ann Attends but Misses Trio

Posted by PeterT under Daily Challenges, Family, Help from Others, Hospice, Information on Parkinson's, Meaningful Caregiving, Practical Tools for Coping, Sources of Strength, Therapeutic Activities, Uncategorized | Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , |
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As we rolled back to the car after the concert this afternoon, Mary Ann asked why the trio I was singing in had not been asked to come up to the front to sing.  We did sing, but somehow it did not register in her mind.  Caregiver Debbie said that she had pointed out when I went up front to sing and that Mary Ann had responded that she saw me. The Parkinson’s Disease Dementia is such an odd sort of disease.  Perception is sort of like Swiss Cheese, there are random holes with no explanation as to why they are where they are.

The concert seemed to go well.  It was tough logistically to pull off since there was a huge choir made up of folks from five congregations.  There were numbers of instrumentalists playing at different times depending on the style of music.  There was classical music and contemporary music, liturgical dance, poetry, drama; there were soloists, ensembles, a hand bell choir, pieces with organ accompaniment and piano accompaniment and combinations of any or all of the above.  It would have been tough to sit through that concert without finding something to like. It struck me what a complex organism the event was with each of us having our little piece that when put together with all the others could provide something of such magnitude.  There were no stars, no one to single out, other than Young, the project director who had the vision and put it all together.

I enjoyed being in the setting, talking and thinking and listening to and making music.  One of the choir directors from another congregation sang in the trio.  He and I had a chance to talk music off and on.  It is a world in which I have spent much quality time in earlier decades.  I find it engrossing and energizing, as well as spiritually uplifting.

Yesterday I had a chance to talk with our eleven year old Granddaughter whose choir concert was also this afternoon, resulting in my missing it.  She seemed okay with my missing her concert.  She told me about some of the songs they would be singing.  Our Son said he would try to get some of the concert on video for us.  I feel better having made that connection.

Mary Ann and I both slept well last night.  I had plenty of time to get her ready this morning, dressed, fed two meals, hair washed.  There was lots of fainting again, raising some concern about how things would go if she tried attending the concert.  When Home Instead Caregiver Debbie came, we just headed over to church.  Mary Ann seemed to do fine.  The concert was almost two hours long, plus a reception afterward. Lots of people made a point of greeting Mary Ann.  Now that there is an awareness that she is enrolled in a Hospice Program, folks are probably less sure what to expect and more surprised to see her appearing to be doing reasonably well.

Last evening and this evening, after Mary Ann went to bed, I was able to spend almost an hour on the deck, enjoying the sound of the waterfall, watching clouds and birds, as dusk arrived and the lights in the waterfall shone at the base of each level, sparkling in the sheets of water coming over the rocks. As a result it is now getting late.  I will hope for another good night’s sleep tonight, but, of course, whether or not that happens is not mine to decide.

If you want to write a comment about this or any of the posts on this blog, look to the column on the right side of this page, titled “Recent Posts,”  click on the name of a post and you will find a box at the end of that article in which you can write a comment.  Clicking on the title of the post you are reading will accomplish the same thing.  Comments are appreciated.

 

April 30, 2010

Such Complex Delusions

Posted by PeterT under Daily Challenges, Family, Help from Others, Meaningful Caregiving, Practical Tools for Coping, Relationship Issues, Sources of Strength, Therapeutic Activities, Uncategorized | Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , |
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This morning when getting up, Mary Ann looked at the cup with a red cozy around it for keeping the ice water cold for as long as possible and thought it was red Jello.  After I described what it actually was, she reminded me about the red Jello that we needed to call the lady about — the lady who brought it.  We needed to find out what to do to thicken it since something had gone wrong when the lady made it and it was runny.  There is, of course, no red Jello, no lady. (Monday’s meal was delivered by a Volunteer and it included a ring of fruit filled Jello including some that was red — it was not runny but solid.)

There was another complex delusion that she talked about in a very matter of fact voice a little later in the morning.  I can’t remember the content, just that it was surprisingly complicated and detailed, with no relationship to any bit or piece of the visible reality in which we live.

It was probably a good thing that there was a Volunteer scheduled while I have the periodic lunch with jimmy, a retired casket salesman who is enjoyable to talk with.  It was a good thing for Mary Ann since Volunteer Jacki brought her violin and serenaded Mary Ann while she was eating her lunch.

I finally got to the grocery after lunch today.  It would have been tough to go another day without more of a couple of things (most importantly, Mary Ann’s disposables).

Mary Ann had been asking to get to the dentist’s office for a cleaning since we missed the last appointment.  This afternoon was her appointment.  As always, the cleaning produces lots of bleeding. There are two reasons for that.  One is that she is taking Plavix and Aspirin, thinning her blood. The other is that I don’t do enough to care for her teeth since she has lost the ability to brush on her own.  The Aides do a little to help that problem, but it would be good if I would stop feeling guilty about not doing mouth care for Mary Ann and just do it.  I have put a Chux pad on her pillow tonight so that any bleeding will not get on the sheet or pillow.

This evening Volunteer Edie came to stay with Mary Ann while I went to another choir practice in preparation for Sunday’s Concert.  I enjoy singing, I made the commitment and will keep it, but I am very ambivalent about it for a number of reasons.  The central reason is that I will miss Granddaughter Chloe’s choir concert in Kansas City.  She is 11 years old and sings in a children’s choir sponsored by the University of Missouri, Kansas City [UMKC].  This is one of two concerts in the year.  Last year our Kids included a combination Mother’s Day/Birthday celebration by taking us and the other Grandparents out for a nice meal/dessert afterward.  We are missing out on all of that because I didn’t put the date on our calendar, and I committed to sing in the concert here before I received an email reminding us of the date. I hate disappointing Chloe as well as our Son Micah and Daughter-in-Law, Becky.

Another reason for my ambivalence is that the more I enjoy the singing in the concert, the more I remember what I am missing in my life at the moment.  Singing takes my mind off everything else.  I am completely immersed in getting the notes and rhythms right, being exactly on pitch, interpreting the phrases appropriately, blending with the other singers.  There is no room for awareness of anything else when that is going on.

When someone you love has to be away for a long time, while you long to have a visit from them, a short visit from them also brings with it the pain of knowing you will have to say good-bye again in a day or two, going through the grieving all over again when they leave.  It is almost easier just not to see them until they can come home and stay.  That is the something of how it feels when I do something that brings me joy and satisfaction, something that has no place in my life at the moment.

With enough effort, I could probably figure out the logistics of singing in some choir or vocal ensemble more regularly. There’s the rub — effort.  Serving as the 24/7 Primary Caregiver for someone who truly needs your help day and night, does not leave the stamina necessary to work out those logistics.  The will and the energy to do what needs to be done to get away at scheduled times is simply no longer there.  The role I have here is big enough to take all that I have to give.  Even at that, Mary Ann could/should receive better care (e.g. oral hygiene).

Sunday will include a mass of conflicting feelings.  While I want her to get out and enjoy the music, there will be complex transportation and timing issues if Mary Ann decides she would rather attend the concert than stay at the house with the person assigned from the Agency (a person Mary Ann knows and likes); there will be the $80-$90 it will cost to cover that care so that I can sing in the concert; there will be disappointment at missing Granddaughter Chloe’s concert and how she and her parents will feel about it; there will be frustration that I am not reading music or singing as well as in the past; there will be exhilaration in doing the singing, joy in hearing and participating in making the music that will reverberate in that building (Lutherans can really sing).  There will be the Spiritual uplift that comes with the organ music and instrumentalists and the singers in the choir, a roomful of people of faith in the congregation expressing that faith in full voice.

Right now it is getting late and all that is too much to think about.  For the moment, I just hope Mary Ann sleeps well tonight, and me too.

If you want to write a comment about this or any of the posts on this blog, look to the column on the right side of this page, titled “Recent Posts,”  click on the name of a post and you will find a box at the end of that article in which you can write a comment.  Clicking on the title of the post you are reading will accomplish the same thing.  Comments are appreciated.

 

April 27, 2010

A Sumptuous Feast

Posted by PeterT under Daily Challenges, Family, Help from Others, Meaningful Caregiving, Practical Tools for Coping, Relationship Issues, Therapeutic Activities, Uncategorized | Tags: , , , , , , , , , , |
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Last night Volunteer Tamara came over and picked up a number of cooking dishes, so that she could bring a supper for us to cook here tonight.  Anybody hungry?  The cooking dish she took was far too small.  When the food came this afternoon, I needed to get the turkey roasting pan from downstairs to hold the roast and vegetables.  The pyrex loaf pan was filled to the brim with a spinach, onions and cheese side dish.  The Jello mold she had picked up from us could not be used since it was barely more than half the size necessary to hold the mult-layered fruit filled molded Jello that came with the meal tonight.  Then there was the ten by thirteen pan filled with a lemon dessert to be cut into many bars.

The veggies went into the oven first at 425 degrees for 30 minutes.  Then the huge boneless pork roast covered in a mustard and herb glaze was placed in the center of the pan with the veggies and that pan was put returned to the oven for another forty-five minutes.  Before that would be done, the spinach dish went into the oven.  At the end of the 45 minutes the roast came out and the veggies went back in for another fifteen minutes as the roast was put in a dish and covered to rest for fifteen minutes before slicing.  During that time the spinach finished cooking and the fresh asparagus she also brought was steamed.

Roast pork, roasted vegetables , a hot spinach and cheese dish, asparagus, a fancy layered fruit Jello and lemon bars all provided a sumptuous feast in our little place tonight.  Had we realized just what magnificent food would be in such quantity, you would all have been invited.  We will have good food for days to come, and I will not have to cook!!!

Mary Ann struggled today to stay alert.  She slept well last night, a very good thing.  She didn’t get up until Bath Aide Zandra came, and she remained very tired during the shower, hair washing and getting dressed routine.  Breakfast was a little more difficult than usual for her to handle.  After some fainting, she ended up back in bed for a about an hour and a half.

After she got up, we headed out to run a couple of errands and bring back some lunch for her.  I most often do leftovers.  For the afternoon, she was again somewhat vulnerable to mild confusion and hallucinations.  I needed to stay close.

As we were finishing supper, Volunteer Tamara returned at the usual evening Volunteer time.  She even did the after dinner clean up as I helped Mary Ann wtih the last of her supper.  That was a wonderful gift.  Then I was able to have some time away this evening (Lowe’s and Barnes and Noble).

Mary Ann has been in bed now for a while, but she is really struggling to get settled. I certainly hope she is able to rest, for both our sakes.

Our Daughter, Lisa, phoned this morning while Mary Ann was with Zandra.  She called to work out plans for a couple of visits to our place, one just after the girls get out of school for the summer and just before they start back toward the end of the summer.  That will give Mary Ann a couple of focal points to keep her interest and attention as the months go by.  The Grandchildren always put things into a healthy perspective, keeping us from seeing our journey only in terms of the two of us.

If you want to write a comment about this or any of the posts on this blog, look to the column on the right side of this page, titled “Recent Posts,”  click on the name of a post and you will find a box at the end of that article in which you can write a comment.  Clicking on the title of the post you are reading will accomplish the same thing.  Comments are appreciated.

 

April 22, 2010

Slept for Many Hours

Posted by PeterT under Daily Challenges, Family, Help from Others, Meaningful Caregiving, Practical Tools for Coping, Therapeutic Activities | Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , |
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Mary Ann went to bed at about 9pm last night.  Once she settled, she did not get up until 12:15pm today.  That is fifteen hours straight.  When I went to the bedside commode to clean it today, it had not been used at all.  She was not up even once.

I said in last night’s post that I hoped to get to bed earlier than usual.  I was in bed by 10:30pm (usual time is 12-1am.  I slept in until 8:30am and got my shower done quickly in case Mary Ann needed me.  After getting showered and dressed, since she was still sleeping and there was a quiet rain with soft rumblings of thunder in the distance, I lay back down on the bed.  I also did not get up again until 12:15pm. And people ask what it is like to be retired!!

The rest was very much needed for both of us.  Mary Ann was not so confused today, nor was she in that intense popping up mode that is so difficult for me to deal with.  The symptoms that suggested to me that I might be coming down with something seem to have subsided also.

Mary Ann ate well, only two meals due to getting up so late in the day, but substantial meals — with a large bowl of Ambrosia Salad as a snack in between the meals.  There was some much needed intestinal activity, demanding my participation.  There was some fainting that made that job more difficult, as usual.  She was able to sit up in her chair most of the time when she was in the living room.

Volunteer Deb came over to spend the evening with Mary Ann while I attended a choir rehearsal at the church from which I retired.  I was asked to sing one of the parts in a trio that is part of a larger piece to be sung by a combination of area choirs at a concert concluding a number of months of music activities.  This is the first commitment I have made in a year and a half, other than doctor appointments and that sort of thing.  Mary Ann’s needs at the last minute resulted in my being unable to honor a somewhat similar commitment a year and a half ago. At that time, I concluded that I simply could not commit to anything outside of Mary Ann’s care.

This time I have put in place coverage for Mary Ann that should assure my ability to honor the commitment.  Since my little part in the piece impacts the rest of the choir I can’t in good conscience just bail out at the last minute.  There is a paid Companion Care Aide from a Home Health Care Agency (Home Instead) who is scheduled to be with Mary Ann during the time of the concert itself.  Aide Debbie knows Mary Ann very well from having come each Sunday Morning to be with her for a year or two before I retired.

It was good to be singing again.  I struggled with my own ability to read music tonight as I sat with the choir, trying to sing along.  Singing in choirs and ensembles was the center of my school years.  I got to serve as student conductor of five choirs spread over high school and college years.   After that I sang in two Seminary choirs during those four years of graduate level schooling.  I sang in Schola Cantorum, a semi-professional choir sponsored by the American Guild of Organists for a number of years in Kansas City.  It is hard to accept struggling to read what would have come quickly in earlier years.  When I complained about that to the barista at the coffee shop on my way home tonight, I noted that the last time I had sung regularly was in 1987, when we left Kansas City.  The barista is of college age.  She immediately put into perspective the reason I might be a little rusty.  She was born in 1986.  How on earth did I get so old so fast!

As I was anticipating retirement and full time care of Mary Ann, I had visions of all sorts of things that I might do without 60 hours of commitments to my job as Senior Pastor of a large church filling my week.  I knew from the days and parts of days I was by myself with Mary Ann that it would be very hard to do other things.  The fall after I retired, reality set in.  Because of the vacillations that come with Parkinson’s, along with the addition of the Parkinson’s Disease Dementia, making those vacillations even more dramatic, it soon became clear that I could not commit to anything other than her care.

There are a number of folks in the online group of those in situations similar to mine, who are able to keep a few other activities in their lives on a regular basis.  I made a choice to just do the one thing.  I did it realizing that for me, the stress created by trying to manage regular commitments in addition to Mary Ann’s care was more than I could handle.  I still have no idea how, even with all the Volunteers, I survived the last seven or eight years before I retired.  I doubt that without our Daughter and her family’s move here to help out the last couple of those years I would have made it.  I continue to be grateful for the Staff with which I worked, who seemed to be willing to do anything to help, and a congregation with very understanding leadership, willing to do the same.  It is beyond comprehension that so many in the congregation were willing to give so much of their time and energy to help us in our day to day survival, some still doing so.

As I have said many times before in these posts and elsewhere, while I would not wish this horrible disease on Mary Ann or anyone else, I am in awe of what compassion in action has surrounded us on account of it.  I can only hope that those expressing that compassion have found some meaning and fulfillment in doing so.  We cannot repay what has been given so freely.  We can say thank you.  It is all I know to do.

If you want to write a comment about this or any of the posts on this blog, look to the column on the right side of this page, titled “Recent Posts,”  click on the name of a post and you will find a box at the end of that article in which you can write a comment.  Clicking on the title of the post you are reading will accomplish the same thing.  Comments are appreciated.

 

April 17, 2010

Good Days Come to an End.

Posted by PeterT under Daily Challenges, Family, Meaningful Caregiving, Practical Tools for Coping, Relationship Issues, Therapeutic Activities, Uncategorized | Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , |
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The short string of good days ended, beginning last night.  The remote control sitting two feet from her was a candy bar.  That and some other comments hinted at what was coming.  Last night she was up at least once an hour throughout the night.  She got up early this morning.

As I sat next to her in the living room she spoke with a very rational and clear voice asking about some things.  She asked if the blond young man who had come by was Daughter Lisa’s boy friend.  There was no blond young man, and Lisa, husband Denis and the girls in Kentucky are absolutely secure.  No amount of talking by me or Lisa has managed to remove that from her repertoire of hallucination/dreams/delusions.

She wanted to be sure to get the Tom Mix Western back to the library.  We haven’t been to the library and certainly have never taken out a Tom Mix book.  He was a western hero in the movies from before Mary Ann and I were born.

She wanted to make a list of things to send to the kids, all she could think of was a blue tennis shoe for a baby she concluded they had left here.  She looked outside that decided that there had been an avalanch.  I asked if she was referring to the waterfall.  She said it was under the waterfall.  She was struck by the orange-green tree in bloom in the back yard.  We do have a Tulip Poplar that has orange and green blossoms early in the summer.  There were barely any leaves on the tree yet.  Where she was looking when she said that was not where that tree is located.

She decided that the eyelets on my hiking boots (which I wear every day now that I am retired) were jingle bells.  She tried to make them jingle but they would not work.  She told me in that matter of fact voice that her oldest Brother’s widow had changed her last name, having married someone whose name was new to me.  I am confirming that such a thing has not happened.

We talked for a while about the fact that I knew the things she had said not to be true outside of her thinking and dreaming.  She said there was no reason that I would lie to her about it, espeicially about our Daughter.  She said she just felt that people were keeping things from her.  I explained that all the folks I read about online shared that their spouses suffering from the disease that she had talked the same way about things.

I recognize that telling her it is the disease is not going to convince her that the dreams/hallucinations/delusions are not real.  I just want to be consistently telling her the truth as I understand it since sometimes she is lucid and seems to understand that they are not real.

She was not up for long this morning before wanting to lie down.  She slept for over five hours.  I knew that I should insist on her getting up periodically to go to the bathroom, but she seemed unable, certainly unwilling to get up at the two hour intervals at which I gave her a pill.  There was bedding to be washed and pj bottoms to be washed.

She finally got up to eat a late lunch around 4pm.  We were invited to head to Neighbors Carol and Eddie’s house for ice cream and goodies.  I thought we could try.  Mary Ann wanted to do it.  She was having trouble with hallucinations as well as trouble sitting up without fainting.  I asked her again, and she insisted that she was all right. I called to say we would be coming over in about an hour.

Immediately after doing so, she moved to her spot in front of the television and her head went down on the little table with the pillow.  After a bit the deadly combination of fainting and intestinal activity began.  I was able to get to the phone to cancel just before it began in earnest.  Gratefully, it did not last as long as it had that last and most difficult Saturday evening.  As always, it was very demanding physically.  It has to be hard on her, but she remembers very little of it.

She is in bed, but seems to be in the sort of mode that is likely to result in lots of night time activity.  That remains to be seen.

I spent the time she was napping in deck therapy and more sunflower seedling removal.  I reread the article from Weavings that I read yesterday.  I also got the latest newsletter from a nearby Spiritual Formation retreat center called Shantivanam.  The newsletter has a short series of segments for meditation.  The birds were fairly active again.  By the way, the crazy Robin returned this morning to challenge his reflection in the lower window on the deck.  They had quite a battle.  I am not sure who won, but he finally left after a half hour or so.

A few minutes ago, Mary Ann needed a commode trip and asked if the people were settled down and in bed.  I just couldn’t bring myself to follow the general wisdom and just say yes.  I told her that while I could go along with the hallucinations, I wanted her to know that I would always tell her the truth whether she wanted to hear it or not.  I told her that there are no other people here.  It is just the two of us, and we are in this together.  Whether it is the best way to respond or not, it is the one I have chosen.

If you want to write a comment about this or any of the posts on this blog, look to the column on the right side of this page, titled “Recent Posts,”  click on the name of a post and you will find a box at the end of that article in which you can write a comment.  Clicking on the title of the post you are reading will accomplish the same thing.  Comments are appreciated.

 

April 14, 2010

Tons of Birthday Greetings

Posted by PeterT under Daily Challenges, Family, Help from Others, Hospice, Meaningful Caregiving, Practical Tools for Coping, Therapeutic Activities | Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , |
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This Face book business adds a whole new dimension to life.  I don’t think I have ever been wished a happy birthday by so many.

The morning began bright and early with cards from the Spiritual Formation Group members and a cherry and apple kuchen.  Before the group meeting was over, my Sister Gayle called and sang happy birthday to me.  There were more cards in the mail, in addition to a few yesterday.  We had no special plans, except, of course, some ice cream from Baskin and Robbins late this afternoon — but then every day is an ice cream day.

The last three days have been pretty active ones.  On Monday, after Bath Aide Zandra came, Mary Ann’s friend Jeanne came, brought lunch and then spent the afternoon.  Mary Ann had some time out outside in the beautiful weather.  During that time, I ran errands, including a trip to see Dr. Tim about manipulating my back to help with the consequences of Saturday night’s challenges with Mary Ann’s fainting.  Volunteer Patrice came to spend the evening with Mary Ann. I combined a few errands with some time sitting in what had been a favorite spot for quiet time.  The area has changed and it seemed to have become everyone’s favorite place to drive through.

On Tuesday, Mary Ann did well in Bible Study.  We picked up pizza slices for Mary Ann to eat for lunch, then went to see Doug and Marikay for haircuts.   It had been so long that he needed to use hedge trimmers to cut my hair!  We always enjoy the conversation with those two.  We share a love of the outdoors and wildlife.   Following the haircuts we went right to the grocery store.  I marvel at how much we buy just to feed the two of us.

Volunteer Shari came for the evening.  After a couple of little errands, I spent time again parked in the beautiful spot nearby.  For some reason there was very little traffic that evening.  It was a beautiful night and a wonderful experience.  A CD of choral music titled “Shakespeare in Song” by the Phoenix Bach Choir provided stimulating and exciting choral music, lifting my spirit.

This morning toward the end of our group time, Bath Aide Zandra came.  Mary Ann was still in bed and asleep when Zandra arrived.  Later in the morning, Hospice Nurse Emily came for her weekly visit.  Then Volunteer Cynthia came for two and a half hours, followed by Volunteer Rebecca who stayed another two and a half hours.

During Cynthia’s time with Mary Ann, she did the ironing!!! God is good!  So is Cynthia!  Also during that time Sheila, who does landscaping for folks in the area came by to do her every two week clean up.  She did some clean up on the waterfall to tide us over until Brad comes by for the official spring refreshing of the plantings.

During Rebecca’s time with Mary Ann, I got a major errand run, all the useful remnants of the clean up taken to Good Will.  Then came supper, followed by ice cream, followed by Mary Ann going to bed.   Doug and Marikay stopped by to deliver some salmon they had smoked for us and to see the new sun room.

Both of our Kids, Lisa and Micah made their Happy Birthday calls.  All in all, it has been a pretty good three days for both of us.  Last night when I sat down to write a post, I fell asleep at the computer.  I decided I needed to get to bed.

Now that I mention it, my head has been bobbing as I have been sitting here writing this. Thanks to all who sent cards or Face Book greetings.  It made the day a very special one.

If you want to write a comment about this or any of the posts on this blog, look to the column on the right side of this page, titled “Recent Posts,”  click on the name of a post and you will find a box at the end of that article in which you can write a comment.  Clicking on the title of the post you are reading will accomplish the same thing.  Comments are appreciated.

 

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