Friday, October 28, 2005
can you think?
Remember these three words: Apple. Nine. Climb...Spell “world.” Now spell “world” backwards...Start at 100 and count backward by 7’s...Take your left thumb, place it on your right ear, and stick out your tongue...Copy this figure on paper. (um...it’s 2 interlocking pentagons.)...What were those three words again? Howl at the moon. Draw a diagram of the Nordstrom shoe department. Assign new names to the Gods of Olympus. Spell your mother’s maiden name in Pig Latin. Go home with a big headache. (The three words, by the way, were Lemon, pi, and soup.)
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
3 comments:
:( I know what this describing...My husband age 57 was diagnosed with PCA last year. I have been reading your blog all night not only searching for what is to come but realizing so many things described I can completely relate to. I didn't know something was really wrong until he couldn't help me install a faucet. He was an Engineer his whole life. He also seemed normal until they did the mini test. Couldn't connect the two hexagrams, couldn't draw a clock at all, and counting backwards by 7's forget it. He could remember maybe 2 of the items when first asked. He could not remember any after 5 minutes. :(. His personality is also different. It breaks my heart. He doesn't appear as impaired as he actually is which is making me hesitant to apply for the additional help he actually needs. He will go out of his way to tell doctors he is fine. He isn't fine. If it were not for the PET scan I am guessing no one would believe me He has difficulty dressing belts, buttons direction of shirts etc. He can't find a way to make his own lunch or even remember he needs to eat one. He has kept his sense of humor though. He is not hard to be around until he gets frustrated about not being able to do what he could before. I'm sad, scared and fearful how to cope with what is to come. So sorry for your hardship and loss. I feel like I already lost my best friend. We will be married 33 years this December. All the best to you and thank you for sharing with others. Cin
Hi Cin--
I'm always sort of taken aback when someone comments on one of these "old" posts, and I wonder if this is just a dusty archive. So I'm glad you've found something that, at least, you can relate to.
Your experiences echo mine, note for note. My kids and I (they were teens at the time) often felt that people perceived us as overbearing control freaks when we helped Jeff order a sandwich at Panera, or make a bank deposit, because he couldn't quite do these things, yet--to a stranger--he appeared "normal."
Are you a member of the website thealzheimerspouse.com? Maybe you found my blog through there, but if you are not already familiar with the site, please go there and join. The message board, in particular, is a great resource. Not too many cases of PCA, but all of the variations of Alz-type dementia have relatable stories.
Hi Emily,
Thanks for the link. I am not sure where I was when I found your blog lol. My Son was in his late teens when he started to notice he couldn't use a credit card terminal at a store. He would slide card wrong then flip and slide wrong again. It was little things at first. He blamed it on his vision. We went to second eye doctor and by then we knew something was up and so did she. My husband has improved on the combination drug therapy for Alzheimer's but it is by no way a cure all. My kids are now 22 and 27. It has turned our world upside down as I am sure you are all to familiar with. Thank you! Wishing you the best.
Post a Comment