Re: Gayle

[Guest guest]

--- Dear Gayle,

I just wanted to say that Im in awe reading your post.I seem to

get overwhelmed once in a while taking care of my mother and have to

have a break.What your doing is nothing short of

extraordinary.Please do take care of yourself and vent here often.We

are listening and I promise you, I am learning as I listen, how to

be strong through all of this.Your a true inspiration.My very best

to you Ron

In LBDcaregivers , " Gayle "

wrote:

>

> Hi all you sweet, helpful supporters,

> As you may know from my prior posts, I am a caregiver to a 92 yr

old very frail, sweet and gentle Daddy and a 75 yr old hubby with

LBD, exhibiting Parkinsons tremors, gait, lean, speech and slack

jawed open mouth face. He has daily hallucinations, and a basic

negative personality, and more often than not a rotten disposition.

I don't expect gratitude but would like a little cooperation. He has

become incontinent on more occasions lately so I keep him in

attends. I have learned he is easier to handle if I let him sleep in

till he awakens by himself. I need to get him dressed first thing

before any activity, meals or medication. As the day progresses the

hallucinations and illusions start. He wants to watch TV, but only

westerns which sometimes keeps him occupied while I try to catch up

with housework and sorting 50 plus yrs of accumulated treasures,

(junque). He absolutely refuses to go for a walk with me or do any

other activity. We hope to sell both our places and move closer to

family and senior respite or suitable long term care for him. We

live in a very remote area in N/E CA, 12 miles from the OR border

and about 7 from NV. The nearest town is 27 miles away and that just

has a Mom/Pop market and it's a major job getting him in or out of

the car. If Dad or I want to watch the news or game shows, he says

things under his breath like " they ought to be shot " or calls them

names. His speech is whispery and very difficult to understand. He

goes rigid when I try to change him or get him on his feet and is

very difficult to manage. Even to position him in bed and he cannot

follow instructions like " lift this foot " (so I can put a sock on),

instead he lifts the other foot or neither! I have strained muscles

and bruises right now, just trying to get him in a sitting position.

> My Dad was a 6ft tall man around 180 lbs or so and he'd lost down

to about 128 lbs. After moving him in with us and me trying to fix

all his favorite foods,(in the past) and not being able to tempt his

appetite, I resorted to a generic brand of Ensure to try to beef him

up a little and it's working! He was up to 143 the other day!! I

also offer him ice cream 2 or 3 times a day with a cookie which he

slurps down happily. Dr was happy to see Dad's wt gain and

said " just let him eat what makes him happy " . " At this stage of the

game we don't have to worry about cholestrol. " Which was really what

I wanted to say here. The Ensure-type drinks are full of vitamins

and thicker than water so easier to swallow without choking. Just

compare the ingredients on the labels. We get our generics at Rite

Aide and stock up when they have them on sale. Wal Mart, Costco or

Sam's Club may even have a better buy if you live near any of them.

I've taken care of comatose patients for years who were fed through

a stomach tube 4 to 6 cans daily and then the tube was flushed with

water and they did very well. One kid even started to put on too

much wt. so we cut back a can. He was in the next bed and neither

patient moved a muscle on their own. I want to thank you all again

for just being here. Every body says to take care of yourselves but

when you live where your neighbors are all seniors too or working

and no family near enough to call on, it's so nice to have this

group to be able to vent to, who will understand and offer advice

and not judge you. Each of you know and have been there and done

that in one way or another. Much love to you all. Gayle-in-the-

Boonies

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