Re: update from today

[Guest guest]

I agree .  You probably should not do this alone, but have at least

one family member with you to be a standby in case something goes wrong.  They

could also help you get the guns out of the house.  Hide the extra set of keys

where he would not be able to find, maybe an extra set with a magnet holder

under the car.

Pamela Hutchins 

________________________________

To: LBDcaregivers

Sent: Wednesday, March 14, 2012 8:29 AM

Subject: Re: update from today

, I wholeheartedly agree with taking " baby steps. "   But in the case of

deadly weapons - the rifles and yes, the car - delay could have serious

consequences.  You need to have the doctor's help and advice, but I believe

that you need to move on these two things right away.  If you move in baby

steps on these and something extreme takes place, what would you do then?

By dealing with these things quickly, you protect yourself, your husband,

and every adult and child in town.  You can't predict what Lewy will do or

when he will do it.

Kate

> **

>

>

> Thank you Judy. She advised taking him off all his medications, which he

> admitted to her he was only taking once daily, not the three times daily he

> had been prescribed. She explained to him it might help him to identify

> things if she started him from scratch. She did talk to me about putting

> him on an antipsychotic and mentioned Exelon to him, but did not tell him

> what it was for. But she stressed she wants to see if he is better or worse

> without medications on board. She did explain we would want to get a

> psychiatrist on board eventually to help with the paranoia and delusions,

> but said she wanted to take baby steps or she would lose him. She certainly

> appeared to know this was a possibility with this diagnosis and the

> baby-step thing sounded reasonable to me. He could potentially accuse her

> of being in collusion with me and he would not trust either of this. I

> cannot afford this right now.

>

> As for the driving, she will address it with him “if†he flunks his

> reaction tests. The guns I will have to work on with her and the counselors

> I am to get. I have to remember what she said “baby stepsâ€. Sure wish I

> could have all the answers at once, but at least I got the big one answered!

>

> Thank you for your support. I am sure it will continue as I work my way

> down this road of no return and I thank you all for sharing your kindness

> and experiences. You have already been more help than you know.

>

>

>

> From: LBDcaregivers [mailto:LBDcaregivers ]

> On Behalf Of Judy Strauss

> Sent: Tuesday, March 13, 2012 6:40 PM

> To: LBDcaregivers

> Subject: Re: update from today

>

>

> -

>

> What an update ! At least you finally got a professional confirmation of

> what you were thinking about the LBD dx. Its also apparent that you

> thankfully have a supportive team of health professionals to guide you

> through the lewy maze. I hope you actually

> Did the mds prescribe any meds for your husband that could help with his

> state of mind so that you could talk to him about the imp issues on the

> table ( driving and guns ) ?

> By the way, LBD is often described as a combo of Alzheimer's and

> Parkinson's.

> I'm sending you prayers, strength and courage as you move through this

> part of the journey ! Keep us informed....

>

> Best,

>

> Judy

>

> Judy R Strauss, LMSW, PhD

> Area Chair | College of Social Sciences

>

> University of Phoenix

> Jersey City Campus | 100 Town Square Place | Suite 305

> Jersey City, NJ 07310

> Cell:

> Email: Jrstr@... <mailto:Jrstr%40email.phoenix.edu>

>

> On Mar 13, 2012, at 8:41 PM, " Plouff " <splouff@... <mailto:

> splouff%40comcast.net> > wrote:

>

> > Well, Len had his appointment at Booth Gardner today. After all the

> > rudimentary tests, the doctor said what I have suspected for months. he

> has

> > Lewy Body Disease and not Parkinson's. She separated the two, which I had

> > read were different, but I still thought LBD was a type of Parkinson's.

> So

> > often they are used in the same sentence. I have so much to learn. After

> > the meeting she met with me separately. I couldn't help myself, the tears

> > fell freely as I told her what was going on at home. She asked if I had a

> > POA, which I do not yet, since I am " trying to take everything he has "

> and

> > he was resistive of even a will. She assured me after the memory / neuro

> > testing she would get us to some counselors who would assist in making

> that

> > happen.

> >

> > She referred him for a reaction test, which he is starting on Thursday.

> She

> > advised me that the first order of business is to get the keys out of his

> > hands. I naively said he was good " most of the time " and felt this was

> > premature. She said one time of me being frightened was too many! Just

> like

> > the drunk driver who kills someone the first time they drove after

> drinking,

> > it only takes once. Never really occurred to me that way. So much to

> > consider!! It will kill him to give up his keys. It is really all his has

> > left after losing his job. Part of me wants him to pass the darn test. I

> > am not ready to take on that battle, too. She offered to have someone do

> > home checks, but I don't think we are there yet.

> >

> > I have to think of a way to get the rifles out of the house. She was very

> > concerned about the guns. Again, I will face wrath if anything is

> missing,

> > since I am already accused of taking so much. Anyone have any ideas? " He

> > is completely in denial that he has any issues, self diagnosing to the

> > doctor that his problem is just that he is getting " old " (at 63) and that

> > his issues were " natural and age related. " The doctor listened

> > compassionately, and then told him he had LBD. He didn't seem to listen

> or

> > understand what she said.

> >

> > On the way home he asked me if I had learned anything from the meeting.

> My

> > mind raced as I thought of everything that was discussed. I finally said,

> > gently, no. I explained that she had confirmed what I had suspected ever

> > since I heard his other neurologist thought it was a possibility he had

> LBD.

> > I told him of all my research. I also reassured him we were in this

> battle

> > together, and reaffirmed the words " together " so he would know he wasn't

> > alone in this battle. If only he knew, but he doesn't. I am not sure he

> > really is capable of fully comprehending this diagnosis, especially with

> the

> > denials.

> >

> > It was very apparent to me that this center was as much devoted to

> caregiver

> > support as patient care. I found warmth, caring and support there. I know

> > my journey will not be alone.

> >

> > Thank you for listening.

> >

> >

> >

> > Monroe WA

> >

> >