Alzheimer’s/Dementia

inspire

3 Positives:
Finished all the Father’s Day cards yesterday
some comfort food for dinner
printed pics for May and June folders – quite a few projects completed all in all.

Our Journey Notes:
24 hr allergy med is working for about 8 – 12 hours. I guess I need to talk to the dr again and see what he recommends next. Also back on the insomnia wheel again. 2 nights in now, but hopefully, this cycle will be a shorter one than the last. A and T have been really good at reminding me of things the last couple of days. It’s been very helpful. Things haven’t been sticking much since my sleep cycle has been interrupted again.

T has two appointments this week. Monday for blood draw and Tuesday he meets with the dr and gets some new scrips for the pharmacy. Late work starts on both those days. He goes back for another eye post op the following week – not sure if he’s taking a vacation day for that one or not.

treasure the simple moments

3 Positives:
cards for the first week in June are ready for mailing – a day in advance
cutting Father’s day and the rest of the month’s bdays today
no change in meds –

Our Journey Notes:
T is having headaches from eye stress. They are now daily. He went to bed early last night after his last dose of drops for the day and taking the rest of his meds. Hoping he won’t have a headache when he gets up this morning. Change in weather in the offing.

No change in thyroid dosage according to the dr. Figured that was what he would say. No other recommendations at this time. I have a feeling he may want to talk after the MRI results are in late next week. I’m changing the dosage on the vitamins – half dose and see if the symptoms I’ve had previously return — If not, we’ll continue on that track. Still have another 2 weeks off of them so I can do the Dexa scan.

I did get yesterday’s “new” list completed for a daily to-do. Including cleaning up T’s email account. 22k unread emails dating back to January of 2025. It will need another purge next month and each month following to keep things down. So, it’s on the monthly to-do list now. We’ll see how this rolls out with another monitor on his computer. His laptop monitor just doesn’t quite adapt to the size he needs to reads a little more easily.

5.27.26

3 Positives:
Cut and assembled 3 bday card fronts yesterday. 23 cards now ready for final assembly and envelopes.
Made a chicken enchilada casserole for dinner. It was yummy with just the right amount of spice
Bloodwork results came back — numbers look a little better.

Our Journey Notes:
T is feeling a bit better. Still trying to find the right med(s) for his allergies. His cough has loosened up a lot and isn’t as dry (from the cold). He has a bit more energy as well in the mornings. Not a lot in the evenings — he spent most of his evening chilling in the living room (sleeping) before I called it a night for both of us.

I still have lots of fatigue and a few other things going on, but overall, feeling a bit more human. Should be hearing from the dr sometime today or tomorrow about the bloodwork results (numbers were a little more in the “I’m comfortable with them” range). I hope it’s sooner rather than later as I need to refill this prescription or have it switched to a new dosage as I’m nearly out of pills and need to change the dosage on the vitamins. Requested a new scrip for the migraine meds yesterday. Hoping to get that filled by Friday. MRI next week and the Dexa scan the week after.

what is your message?

3 Positives:
2 cards finished — I like the second one better
T’s feeling a little better than the day before
cutting die arrived just in the nick of time

Our Journey Notes:
T’s eye appointment didn’t go quite as hoped. No discussion about future procedures other than a return appointment to clip another stitch or two in the left eye as the needle flap lift (last week) didn’t stay open. Dr asked T to continue to do the massage technique and its likely that he’ll have to continue to do it for the long term to keep the pressure down in that eye until they get this flap to work correctly. He has another appointment next week to clip another stitch or two to see if that will help. (The big question is how many stitches did he put in? He’s already clipped 3 in this eye if not more)

the “heart” of gratitude

3 Positives:
attending graduation ceremony for a grandson
time in the studio – changes in the build are working
sleep

Our Journey Notes:
MRI is now on the calendar for early next month. Let’s hope we get a few answers and not more questions. Grateful I’ll be able to see the results shortly after they are read by the radiologist.

T has his post-op tomorrow. He’s hoping the dr will discuss next steps regarding the cataract in his good eye during his visit. Fingers crossed on that.

opportunities abound

3 Positives:
The tarp on the garden stayed in place last night.
Chili and cornbread for dinner last night… comfort food on a cold day
changed gears on a new holiday decor project and I think the outcome will be better

Our Journey Notes:
Spent yesterday morning at the clinic. Came away with appointments for some additional testing all of that will be completed by the 10th of June. Waiting on a callback for the MRI appointment. Migraine yesterday — didn’t help keep things on track for the rest of the day. Neuro referral on hold for the time being.

T is anxious for his eye appointment on Friday. I think he’d rather it was today or tomorrow.

be your best you!

3 Positives:
T’s procedure was a success
time in the studio – all but 2 cards finished
we tasted our first watermelon of the season yesterday (YUM) and put 2 1-gallon bags of sliced strawberries into the freezer for smoothies.

Our Journey Notes:
T’s eye pressures are now in the acceptable range – hoping they’ll stay that way after the yesterday’s needle flap lift. Ted said this eye wasn’t as easy as the right. His eye hurt a little after the numbing meds wore off. Now to focus on the cataract in the right eye.

I got him to switch audio book services yesterday – he’s now listening to a new book. I put his other service on pause for 90 days to see which he likes better. He still has access to the other books until he can download them from the new service. Glad they carry that author as well as a couple more of his favorites and it’s a little cheaper and he can download several books a month without any additional expense.


Some things just evade me… the memory is gone unless reminded, but even then, I still don’t remember the time or day of the happening often. It’s definitely happening more frequently. Thankful for friends and family who let it pass after a correction. Another thing to add to the list for the neuro. As Mom used to say, “getting old isn’t for sissies.” I have creaks and pops where I didn’t have them before. The knees don’t like the stairs, especially in the morning or late evenings. The pain across the middle of my back is here to stay it seems and those tingles down the legs when I put my head a certain way… still there.

be kind to yourself

3 Positives:
chose another book to read
assembled the wreath, it could use a little more greenery
got an appointment with the PCP for next week

Our Journey Notes:
I have an early in the morning appointment with my pcp next week. Long list to discuss.

T has his next flap lift procedure tomorrow afternoon. He’s taken the full day off from work and has plans to get a few more things checked off his “prepping for an earlier than planned retirement” list before and after the procedure. We’ll see how things go on the after list — I have a feeling he might want to take a long rest — he’ll be fully awake for this one, just the eye numbed and for a short time. Hoping it goes as planned and while his vision won’t improve with this procedure, we can start planning for the next one – hopefully a full lens replacement for the new cataract that has grown in his good eye since all this procedure stuff got under way last fall.

find the good…

3 Positives:
2 coats of paint on all but the ceiling in the master bath
T noticed that things were a bit brighter in there (that’s a good thing)
Got a little reading time in

Our Journey Notes:
T’s been having more bad eye days than good this past week. He’s pulled out the walking stick and is using it quite a bit in the house, but isn’t taking it outside except for on the deck. The cataract is really impacting his right (good) eye with some significant blurriness and more. Let’s hope that will be scheduled within a couple of weeks of his next procedure in May.

I’ve got to rethink a few things — and hope that tweaking a few things will be helpful. The lists are still working pretty well — including adding a priority to some items on the short and long lists. I did skip a few things last week, and need to move those things to the top of the list for this week. Hoping the “tweaks” work in my favor.


a digital memory from the past

3 Positives:
Painting started – 1/2 done
First of the month bills paid
Carry-out for dinner – it was just the right thing

Our Journey Notes:
Lack of or loss of short term memory is back on my front page. UGH! This morning has been a bit rough already. Hoping to finish up a couple of things this morning and then maybe work on a multi-step project and see if I can follow the steps – and keep things moving in the right direction today.