25yearsMLC - 10 yrs Later I File D (pt 5)

[25yearsmlc]

Check out a new book called The End of Alzheimer's. The author is Dr Bredesen and much of his groundbreaking work with Alzheimer's patients would probably also apply to stroke and other brain injury patients.

I'm dealing with my 85 year old mom who fell and had a concussion - she didn't have dementia before the fall but is showing signs since - she's not aware of how often she repeats a question I've already answered. I'm hoping she continues to improve, but it's definitely a problem.

You sound 100% but is it possible that your kids are picking up subtle signs of residual damage?

It's always possible. I know they noticed things at first, and I don't dispute that. Hell, I noticed things and waived rights to a joint account that h gave me while I was clearly impaired. (Yeah, nice...)

Good news is that I use metaphors a lot and per my T, apparently patients with dementia do not use metaphors. (So I guess you didn't hit a home run with that, KML. Get it??) So if there's damage or medication side effects (most likely the cause IF there are lingering issues), it's not alzheimers, thank God.

My son asked to speak with my T and I consented.

So they spoke (in private) and later on, he seemed appeased. Less worried.

As I understand it, our response to a lot of stress does affect our concentration,
even when we are totally healthy.

And I had also a poorly timed major health setback that absolutely affected my cognition and short term memory. Add to that the new medication, which has some side effects too (vimpat). I definitely feel that.

But I'm more used to it now. Thank God.

Geez God only knows how folks in these ordeals carry on at work. Being without a job has been a blessing in some ways and probably shook my confidence in my search.
(Hmm, I see that now.)

Sometimes I wonder about half of m's ending in Divorce - I could have surgery from someone who is only half there. :Maybe we should ask all doctors and lawyers (and pilots for that matter) how things are at home.

I feel like I'm almost 100%

And me at 90% ain't too bad. It's all relative.

But thanks for asking. I am seeing a neuro psychologist for testing just to figure anything out before the hearing, so I can make sure it's addressed on the off chance I'm somehow not as brilliant and witty as possible.

I will say that it's extremely disturbing to have this type of event. I do have flashbacks of the hospital and recall wishing my arm had been broken or some other part of me, b/c not being able to plug in what I wanted to say or feeling so cloudy (like stoned but not in a good way) was like losing my identity.

At one point I thought of a joke to make, but I could not say it. But I remember thinking "hey, I'm in here, and I'm still ME".

Made me wonder about people who have brain injuries and are still in there, but can't express it well. In the ambulance I was saying several things but my sister said the only word that was decipherable was "seriously??"

I can't speak for your mom, obviously. But I'll never see brain injuries as meaning the person is not there anymore. Very odd and surreal.

FWIW, don't give up on your mom.

((( )))