Re: My family's story with LBD

[Guest guest]

Hi,Pamela. Welcome to you and your mother. I will hope you find the group

as helpful and caring as I have.

I recently described LBD to my cousin as erratically cyclical. Others call

it a roller coaster. I've learned to expect the bad days and gratefully

celebrate the good days. It's the way I cope. Others in my family are

having a hard time accepting this cyclic disease. You'll find your own way

of describing it and dealing with it as time goes on.

I also worried about having an early onset of dementia, especially as

dementia appeared in 3 of my 4 grandparents. But don't jump to any

conclusions and don't make things worse for yourself by worrying about it

overmuch. In my case, I was exhibiting classic dementia symptoms and was

worried about keeping my job. So I saw my own neurologist and

neuropsychiatrist. From them I learned that symptoms such as I had-

memory, balance, episodes in which I couldn't remember how I got from one

moment to the next, speech difficulties and more - are also symptoms of

other, treatable conditions. Even if they did indicate dementia, it could

be from a treatable form, like dementia associated with depression. Well,

after a cognitive test and a sleep study, I learned that my real problem is

sleep apnea which is probably made worse by the stress of caregiving.

There are also tremors, which can be attributed to neuropathy.

What I learned is to avoid self diagnosis and seek medical help, even if I

feel odd doing it.

If you are worried about your own condition, please follow up with a

doctor. It could be anything and is probably treatable. I also learned

not to panic until I know I have a real reason to panic.

One of the hardest things about caregiving is to take care of yourself.

Part of that is getting your own medical help when you are worried about

something. But please don't hesitate to seek help for yourself - even if

your concern seems trivial to you. The sooner you deal with your own

worries, the sooner and better you can help your loved one.

Best wishes.

Kathy

Kate Knapp

On Dec 30, 2011 8:26 PM, " Pam Hutchins "

wrote:

> **

>

>

> Hello LBD Caregivers and family members,

>

> My name is Pam Hutchins and I am the daughter to my dad, Jim Hubbard, who

> has LBD, plus other dementias. It took a good while for the family to find

> out for sure what dad had. He has multiple health issues with his heart,

> hypertension, Diabetes, etc. We started noticing memory issues on

> occasion, but most prevalent immediately after he had a medical procedure

> or surgery that involved anthesia. We just thought he was allergic to the

> anesthesia at first, but then later realized when his condition worsened

> due to severe falls. His heart doctor told us that he would progressively

> get worse with the dementia after a procedure or surgery due to the

> anesthesia. My dad was finally diagnosed at a VA hospital under the care

> of a psychologist when they tested him extensively with psychiatric testing

> with paper/pencil and questions. None of his doctors (family practice,

> heart, etc) knew about LBD. Even some did not act like they had ever heard

> of

> it. Once we found out, my mom and I looked it up on the web and we knew

> the diagnoses was correct. For some strange reason, my dad's dementia

> seemed to take a turn for the better--he quit falling and hurting

> himself--and had a little while where his cognitive abilities seemed to be

> in a remission, but then he took a turn for the worse, and is depressed,

> stays in bed a lot, highly confused w/hallucinations, delusions, and even

> some days cannot carry on a lucid conversation with my mom, his caregiver.

> He hasn't been diagnosed with LBD more than a 6-8 months, however we know

> from looking back, that he has had the dx much longer than that. We think

> he might have vascualar dementia as well due to lack of oxygen to his brain

> from his heart blockage and blocked caratoid arteries. In the last CT scan

> he had, the ER doctor asked us about a possible stroke that showed up in

> the brain CT. He has had several CT Scans due to his numerous head

> injuries from his falls, but that was the first time a doctor mentioned

> the possible stroke to the family. My dad is 79 now and I'm not sure how

> much longer he has on this earth with us, but with all of his other serious

> health conditions, I'm not sure which will take him first, the Congestive

> Heart Failure, the Diabetes, or the Dementia. My mom is the primary

> caregiver, but my brother and I try to do our part by relieving her and

> doing things with my dad to get him out on occasion, such as a drive, etc.

> It gives him out mentally and physically to do anything any more but its

> hard on us to see him just lay in bed and slowly die.

>

> One question for now: Does LBD have phases that the patient goes through

> from beginning to end so the family has someway to judge? My dad dresses

> with assistance, uses a cane, walker, and wheelchair due to unstable gait,

> needs assistance bathing, wears depend diapers due to incontienence, most

> time he is confused, still knows his immediate family, but gets confused

> about grandkids, great grandkids names.

>

> I have taken after my dad regarding Diabetes, Hypertension, and I have to

> admit I spend way too much time worrying if I too will get LBD. I'm

> starting this year out right by getting on a Diabetic meal plan, plenty of

> exercise, and sleep in an effort to get as healthy as I possibly can. I am

> 51 years old and I know I could easily get early onset of the dx. I try to

> keep my mind healthy by attending a college for furthering my education,

> but I have to work a full time job too and also have all of my other

> responsibilities of family, church, etc.

>

> Thank you for listening to my family's story. I'm sure my mom and I will

> rely on your group quite a bit now that we know it exist. Our prayers will

> be extended to include you and your family as you go through this journey

> of LBD. God Bless you with His peace, comfort, and healing.

>

> Pamela Hutchins

>

>

[Guest guest]

In the files for this group, there is a list of stages put together by

caregivers in 2007. I've used it several times both for trying to determine my

husband's stages and as a way to see what's coming so I can prepare to the best

of my ability.

 

If it's any consolation, I have moments where I wonder if I have LBD too, and I

don't think I can catch it from my husband (*grin*). The stress and lack of

sleep coupled with menopausal issues, have me forgetting things on a regular

basis. However, getting fit is the smartest thing you can do. If you have

inherited this condition, tackling it now can only help you in the long run.

There are many studies now showing that exercise helps a host of conditions

including neurological ones. My husband began an intense exercise program when

he was dx with PD three years ago. His LBD dx only came a few weeks ago, though

I knew from the beginning that he didn't have PD (my dad recently died with PD

after fighting it for 24 years.  PD I'm very familiar with). My husband's

physical symptoms are still very mild. He runs 6 miles a week, cuts firewood,

etc. Mentally, he has declined a great deal, but I can tell a difference when he

exercises. My theory is that the

increased blood flow to the brain helps the existing cells to function more

optimally.

 Welcome to the group no one wants to belong to. You'll find the people here to

be very helpful.

Good luck

C

 

________________________________

To: " LBDcaregivers " <LBDcaregivers >

Sent: Friday, December 30, 2011 7:35 PM

Subject: My family's story with LBD

 

Hello LBD Caregivers and family members,

My name is Pam Hutchins and I am the daughter to my dad, Jim Hubbard, who has

LBD, plus other dementias.  It took a good while for the family to find out for

sure what dad had.  He has multiple health issues with his heart, hypertension,

Diabetes, etc.  We started noticing memory issues on occasion, but most

prevalent immediately after he had a medical procedure or surgery that involved

anthesia.  We just thought he was allergic to the anesthesia at first, but then

later realized  when his condition worsened due to severe falls.  His heart

doctor told us that he would progressively get worse with the dementia after a

procedure or surgery due to the anesthesia.   My dad was finally diagnosed at

a VA hospital under the care of a psychologist when they tested him extensively

with psychiatric testing with paper/pencil and questions.  None of his doctors

(family practice, heart, etc) knew about LBD.  Even some did not act like they

had ever heard of

it.  Once we found out, my mom and I looked it up on the web and we knew the

diagnoses was correct.  For some strange reason, my dad's dementia seemed to

take a turn for the better--he quit falling and hurting himself--and had a

little while where his cognitive abilities seemed to be in a remission, but then

he took a turn for the worse, and is depressed, stays in bed a lot, highly

confused w/hallucinations, delusions, and even some days cannot carry on a lucid

conversation with my mom, his caregiver.  He hasn't been diagnosed with LBD

more than a 6-8 months, however we know from looking back, that he has had the

dx much longer than that.   We think he might have vascualar dementia as well

due to lack of oxygen to his brain from his heart blockage and blocked caratoid

arteries.  In the last CT scan he had, the ER doctor asked us about a possible

stroke that showed up in the brain CT.   He has had several CT Scans due to

his numerous head

injuries from his falls, but that was the first time a doctor mentioned the

possible stroke to the family.  My dad is 79 now and I'm not sure how much

longer he has on this earth with us, but with all of his other serious health

conditions, I'm not sure which will take him first, the Congestive Heart

Failure, the Diabetes, or the Dementia.   My mom is the primary caregiver, but

my brother and I try to do our part by relieving her and doing things with my

dad to get him out on occasion, such as a drive, etc.  It gives him out

mentally and physically to do anything any more but its hard on us to see him

just lay in bed and slowly die. 

One question for now:  Does LBD have phases that the patient goes through from

beginning to end so the family has someway to judge?   My dad dresses with

assistance, uses a cane, walker, and wheelchair due to unstable gait, needs

assistance bathing, wears depend diapers due to incontienence, most time he is

confused, still knows his immediate family, but gets confused about grandkids,

great grandkids names. 

I have taken after my dad regarding Diabetes, Hypertension, and I have to admit

I spend way too much time worrying if I too will get LBD.  I'm starting this

year out right by getting on a Diabetic meal plan, plenty of exercise, and sleep

in an effort to get as healthy as I possibly can.  I am 51 years old and I know

I could easily get early onset of the dx.  I try to keep my mind healthy by

attending a college for furthering my education, but I have to work a full time

job too and also have all of my other responsibilities of family, church, etc. 

Thank you for listening to my family's story.  I'm sure my mom and I will rely

on your group quite a bit now that we know it exist.  Our prayers will be

extended to include you and your family as you go through this journey of LBD. 

God Bless you with His peace, comfort, and healing.

 

Pamela Hutchins 

[Guest guest]

go into the files section:

http://health.groups.yahoo.com/group/LBDcaregivers/files/

and into the folder marked:

LBD Phases

List of Phases put together by the LBD Caring Spouses Group

>

> In the files for this group, there is a list of stages put together by

caregivers in 2007. I've used it several times both for trying to determine my

husband's stages and as a way to see what's coming so I can prepare to the best

of my ability.

>  

> If it's any consolation, I have moments where I wonder if I have LBD too, and

I don't think I can catch it from my husband (*grin*). The stress and lack of

sleep coupled with menopausal issues, have me forgetting things on a regular

basis. However, getting fit is the smartest thing you can do. If you have

inherited this condition, tackling it now can only help you in the long run.

There are many studies now showing that exercise helps a host of conditions

including neurological ones. My husband began an intense exercise program when

he was dx with PD three years ago. His LBD dx only came a few weeks ago, though

I knew from the beginning that he didn't have PD (my dad recently died with PD

after fighting it for 24 years.  PD I'm very familiar with). My husband's

physical symptoms are still very mild. He runs 6 miles a week, cuts firewood,

etc. Mentally, he has declined a great deal, but I can tell a difference when he

exercises. My theory is that the

> increased blood flow to the brain helps the existing cells to function more

optimally.

>  Welcome to the group no one wants to belong to. You'll find the people here

to be very helpful.

> Good luck

> C

>  

>

>

> ________________________________

>

> To: " LBDcaregivers " <LBDcaregivers >

> Sent: Friday, December 30, 2011 7:35 PM

> Subject: My family's story with LBD

>

>

>

>  

>

> Hello LBD Caregivers and family members,

>

> My name is Pam Hutchins and I am the daughter to my dad, Jim Hubbard, who has

LBD, plus other dementias.  It took a good while for the family to find out for

sure what dad had.  He has multiple health issues with his heart, hypertension,

Diabetes, etc.  We started noticing memory issues on occasion, but most

prevalent immediately after he had a medical procedure or surgery that involved

anthesia.  We just thought he was allergic to the anesthesia at first, but then

later realized  when his condition worsened due to severe falls.  His heart

doctor told us that he would progressively get worse with the dementia after a

procedure or surgery due to the anesthesia.   My dad was finally diagnosed at

a VA hospital under the care of a psychologist when they tested him extensively

with psychiatric testing with paper/pencil and questions.  None of his doctors

(family practice, heart, etc) knew about LBD.  Even some did not act like they

had ever heard of

> it.  Once we found out, my mom and I looked it up on the web and we knew the

diagnoses was correct.  For some strange reason, my dad's dementia seemed to

take a turn for the better--he quit falling and hurting himself--and had a

little while where his cognitive abilities seemed to be in a remission, but then

he took a turn for the worse, and is depressed, stays in bed a lot, highly

confused w/hallucinations, delusions, and even some days cannot carry on a lucid

conversation with my mom, his caregiver.  He hasn't been diagnosed with LBD

more than a 6-8 months, however we know from looking back, that he has had the

dx much longer than that.   We think he might have vascualar dementia as well

due to lack of oxygen to his brain from his heart blockage and blocked caratoid

arteries.  In the last CT scan he had, the ER doctor asked us about a possible

stroke that showed up in the brain CT.   He has had several CT Scans due to

his numerous head

> injuries from his falls, but that was the first time a doctor mentioned the

possible stroke to the family.  My dad is 79 now and I'm not sure how much

longer he has on this earth with us, but with all of his other serious health

conditions, I'm not sure which will take him first, the Congestive Heart

Failure, the Diabetes, or the Dementia.   My mom is the primary caregiver, but

my brother and I try to do our part by relieving her and doing things with my

dad to get him out on occasion, such as a drive, etc.  It gives him out

mentally and physically to do anything any more but its hard on us to see him

just lay in bed and slowly die. 

>

> One question for now:  Does LBD have phases that the patient goes through

from beginning to end so the family has someway to judge?   My dad dresses

with assistance, uses a cane, walker, and wheelchair due to unstable gait, needs

assistance bathing, wears depend diapers due to incontienence, most time he is

confused, still knows his immediate family, but gets confused about grandkids,

great grandkids names. 

>

> I have taken after my dad regarding Diabetes, Hypertension, and I have to

admit I spend way too much time worrying if I too will get LBD.  I'm starting

this year out right by getting on a Diabetic meal plan, plenty of exercise, and

sleep in an effort to get as healthy as I possibly can.  I am 51 years old and

I know I could easily get early onset of the dx.  I try to keep my mind healthy

by attending a college for furthering my education, but I have to work a full

time job too and also have all of my other responsibilities of family, church,

etc. 

>

> Thank you for listening to my family's story.  I'm sure my mom and I will

rely on your group quite a bit now that we know it exist.  Our prayers will be

extended to include you and your family as you go through this journey of LBD. 

God Bless you with His peace, comfort, and healing.

>  

> Pamela Hutchins 

>

>

[Guest guest]

Kathy: Loved what you said--very true.

I would like to further emphasize your comments about taking care of yourself.

I made a point of doing this during the last year of my husband's life. In

part, it was a case of trying to control SOMETHING because his situation was out

of my control for the most part. But it was also a deep need to take care of me

so that I could take care of him. I switched to a much healthier diet and

embarked on a regular exercise program. In the process, I lost 85 pounds and my

stamina and energy were so greatly increased that I could care for him and deal

with the stress much easier than before.

Also, I made a point of having a quiet time for myself in the morning because on

most mornings he was very quiet and sleeping until lunchtime. It helped me

tremendously because it started my day off with tranquility.

However you do it, find the time for YOU! It is critical to dealing with your

new everyday realities and all the challenges your are going to face.

Cassie

To: LBDcaregivers

From: knapp@...

Date: Sat, 31 Dec 2011 02:14:31 -0600

Subject: Re: My family's story with LBD

Hi,Pamela. Welcome to you and your mother. I will hope you find the

group

as helpful and caring as I have.

I recently described LBD to my cousin as erratically cyclical. Others call

it a roller coaster. I've learned to expect the bad days and gratefully

celebrate the good days. It's the way I cope. Others in my family are

having a hard time accepting this cyclic disease. You'll find your own way

of describing it and dealing with it as time goes on.

I also worried about having an early onset of dementia, especially as

dementia appeared in 3 of my 4 grandparents. But don't jump to any

conclusions and don't make things worse for yourself by worrying about it

overmuch. In my case, I was exhibiting classic dementia symptoms and was

worried about keeping my job. So I saw my own neurologist and

neuropsychiatrist. From them I learned that symptoms such as I had-

memory, balance, episodes in which I couldn't remember how I got from one

moment to the next, speech difficulties and more - are also symptoms of

other, treatable conditions. Even if they did indicate dementia, it could

be from a treatable form, like dementia associated with depression. Well,

after a cognitive test and a sleep study, I learned that my real problem is

sleep apnea which is probably made worse by the stress of caregiving.

There are also tremors, which can be attributed to neuropathy.

What I learned is to avoid self diagnosis and seek medical help, even if I

feel odd doing it.

If you are worried about your own condition, please follow up with a

doctor. It could be anything and is probably treatable. I also learned

not to panic until I know I have a real reason to panic.

One of the hardest things about caregiving is to take care of yourself.

Part of that is getting your own medical help when you are worried about

something. But please don't hesitate to seek help for yourself - even if

your concern seems trivial to you. The sooner you deal with your own

worries, the sooner and better you can help your loved one.

Best wishes.

Kathy

Kate Knapp

On Dec 30, 2011 8:26 PM, " Pam Hutchins "

wrote:

> **

>

>

> Hello LBD Caregivers and family members,

>

> My name is Pam Hutchins and I am the daughter to my dad, Jim Hubbard, who

> has LBD, plus other dementias. It took a good while for the family to find

> out for sure what dad had. He has multiple health issues with his heart,

> hypertension, Diabetes, etc. We started noticing memory issues on

> occasion, but most prevalent immediately after he had a medical procedure

> or surgery that involved anthesia. We just thought he was allergic to the

> anesthesia at first, but then later realized when his condition worsened

> due to severe falls. His heart doctor told us that he would progressively

> get worse with the dementia after a procedure or surgery due to the

> anesthesia. My dad was finally diagnosed at a VA hospital under the care

> of a psychologist when they tested him extensively with psychiatric testing

> with paper/pencil and questions. None of his doctors (family practice,

> heart, etc) knew about LBD. Even some did not act like they had ever heard

> of

> it. Once we found out, my mom and I looked it up on the web and we knew

> the diagnoses was correct. For some strange reason, my dad's dementia

> seemed to take a turn for the better--he quit falling and hurting

> himself--and had a little while where his cognitive abilities seemed to be

> in a remission, but then he took a turn for the worse, and is depressed,

> stays in bed a lot, highly confused w/hallucinations, delusions, and even

> some days cannot carry on a lucid conversation with my mom, his caregiver.

> He hasn't been diagnosed with LBD more than a 6-8 months, however we know

> from looking back, that he has had the dx much longer than that. We think

> he might have vascualar dementia as well due to lack of oxygen to his brain

> from his heart blockage and blocked caratoid arteries. In the last CT scan

> he had, the ER doctor asked us about a possible stroke that showed up in

> the brain CT. He has had several CT Scans due to his numerous head

> injuries from his falls, but that was the first time a doctor mentioned

> the possible stroke to the family. My dad is 79 now and I'm not sure how

> much longer he has on this earth with us, but with all of his other serious

> health conditions, I'm not sure which will take him first, the Congestive

> Heart Failure, the Diabetes, or the Dementia. My mom is the primary

> caregiver, but my brother and I try to do our part by relieving her and

> doing things with my dad to get him out on occasion, such as a drive, etc.

> It gives him out mentally and physically to do anything any more but its

> hard on us to see him just lay in bed and slowly die.

>

> One question for now: Does LBD have phases that the patient goes through

> from beginning to end so the family has someway to judge? My dad dresses

> with assistance, uses a cane, walker, and wheelchair due to unstable gait,

> needs assistance bathing, wears depend diapers due to incontienence, most

> time he is confused, still knows his immediate family, but gets confused

> about grandkids, great grandkids names.

>

> I have taken after my dad regarding Diabetes, Hypertension, and I have to

> admit I spend way too much time worrying if I too will get LBD. I'm

> starting this year out right by getting on a Diabetic meal plan, plenty of

> exercise, and sleep in an effort to get as healthy as I possibly can. I am

> 51 years old and I know I could easily get early onset of the dx. I try to

> keep my mind healthy by attending a college for furthering my education,

> but I have to work a full time job too and also have all of my other

> responsibilities of family, church, etc.

>

> Thank you for listening to my family's story. I'm sure my mom and I will

> rely on your group quite a bit now that we know it exist. Our prayers will

> be extended to include you and your family as you go through this journey

> of LBD. God Bless you with His peace, comfort, and healing.

>

> Pamela Hutchins

>

>

[Guest guest]

Hi Pamela,

Your history seems to be much aligned to that of my wife Kathy. She and her

sister were caregivers to both her parents who developed dementias. Both had

symptoms that were exacerbated following surgeries. Since Lewy wasn't

identified until around 1996 we are guessing that her Dad did in fact suffer

from LBD.  All the symptoms were classic. I can still vividly recall his

posture, shuffling gait, varying cognitive levels, RBD and visual

spatial disturbances. He passed on 2000.  About that time I began to notice

some changes in Kathy's behavior.  I attributed them to her grieving as well

as exhaustion caring for her Mom, pre SNF, who may or may not have had Lewy or

a mixture of Lewy and vascular dementias. It wasn't until Kathy's symptoms got

worse and she began cancelling her MRI's and other tests that my daughter and

I stepped in with some tough love and dragged her back into her doc's office. In

2007 we got the Lewy DX.  Then in 2010 her

Gyn palpated a lump that didn't show up on a mamo. Subsequent ultra sounds and

biopsies confirmed invasive breast CA. Last December she had a double

mastectomy along with the recommendation for genetic testing to rule out the

presence of the BRCA 1 & 2 genes.

To finally get to my point, we had the testing which, thankfully, was negative,

but I also had involved discussions about testing for Lewy and other dementias.

As of February of 2011, current state of genetic testing is only 3 -10%

predictive to identify a detectable mutation of the MAPT gene. This gene can

cause dementia and parkinsonism with variable symptoms. I shared the letter with

info from the genetic testing center with her neuro and geriatrician. Both

felt the 3-10% was optimistic and they suspected it was much less.  One went so

far as to say " Save your money " .

Both her parents we subsequently learned were poorly controlled hypertensives

and had evidence of at least some lacunar strokes which may have a played a

major role as well.  We will never know.

I share this information with you as I did with my daughter and for the

same reasons. To put your mind at ease. I also told her that she might want

to live her life the fullest and get legal issues addressed now, including LT

insurance while she is young and healthy. As well as making sure that she

address those controllables in her lifestyle. After retiring from wearing

different hats in the biotech/pharma world for 40 years, I see little reason for

hypertension to be poorly controlled.

Best of luck to you.  God Bless.

 

Jeff 

________________________________

To: " LBDcaregivers " <LBDcaregivers >

Sent: Friday, December 30, 2011 7:35 PM

Subject: My family's story with LBD

 

Hello LBD Caregivers and family members,

My name is Pam Hutchins and I am the daughter to my dad, Jim Hubbard, who has

LBD, plus other dementias.  It took a good while for the family to find out for

sure what dad had.  He has multiple health issues with his heart, hypertension,

Diabetes, etc.  We started noticing memory issues on occasion, but most

prevalent immediately after he had a medical procedure or surgery that involved

anthesia.  We just thought he was allergic to the anesthesia at first, but then

later realized  when his condition worsened due to severe falls.  His heart

doctor told us that he would progressively get worse with the dementia after a

procedure or surgery due to the anesthesia.   My dad was finally diagnosed at

a VA hospital under the care of a psychologist when they tested him extensively

with psychiatric testing with paper/pencil and questions.  None of his doctors

(family practice, heart, etc) knew about LBD.  Even some did not act like they

had ever heard of

it.  Once we found out, my mom and I looked it up on the web and we knew the

diagnoses was correct.  For some strange reason, my dad's dementia seemed to

take a turn for the better--he quit falling and hurting himself--and had a

little while where his cognitive abilities seemed to be in a remission, but then

he took a turn for the worse, and is depressed, stays in bed a lot, highly

confused w/hallucinations, delusions, and even some days cannot carry on a lucid

conversation with my mom, his caregiver.  He hasn't been diagnosed with LBD

more than a 6-8 months, however we know from looking back, that he has had the

dx much longer than that.   We think he might have vascualar dementia as well

due to lack of oxygen to his brain from his heart blockage and blocked caratoid

arteries.  In the last CT scan he had, the ER doctor asked us about a possible

stroke that showed up in the brain CT.   He has had several CT Scans due to

his numerous head

injuries from his falls, but that was the first time a doctor mentioned the

possible stroke to the family.  My dad is 79 now and I'm not sure how much

longer he has on this earth with us, but with all of his other serious health

conditions, I'm not sure which will take him first, the Congestive Heart

Failure, the Diabetes, or the Dementia.   My mom is the primary caregiver, but

my brother and I try to do our part by relieving her and doing things with my

dad to get him out on occasion, such as a drive, etc.  It gives him out

mentally and physically to do anything any more but its hard on us to see him

just lay in bed and slowly die. 

One question for now:  Does LBD have phases that the patient goes through from

beginning to end so the family has someway to judge?   My dad dresses with

assistance, uses a cane, walker, and wheelchair due to unstable gait, needs

assistance bathing, wears depend diapers due to incontienence, most time he is

confused, still knows his immediate family, but gets confused about grandkids,

great grandkids names. 

I have taken after my dad regarding Diabetes, Hypertension, and I have to admit

I spend way too much time worrying if I too will get LBD.  I'm starting this

year out right by getting on a Diabetic meal plan, plenty of exercise, and sleep

in an effort to get as healthy as I possibly can.  I am 51 years old and I know

I could easily get early onset of the dx.  I try to keep my mind healthy by

attending a college for furthering my education, but I have to work a full time

job too and also have all of my other responsibilities of family, church, etc. 

Thank you for listening to my family's story.  I'm sure my mom and I will rely

on your group quite a bit now that we know it exist.  Our prayers will be

extended to include you and your family as you go through this journey of LBD. 

God Bless you with His peace, comfort, and healing.

 

Pamela Hutchins