Jane Pauley show and my realization...... - Alzheimer's Disease & Dementia Message Board

LuvMyLilDoggie · 02-28-2005, 12:43 PM

I watched Jane Pauley's show today. It was about Alzheimer's. Very interesting to hear the stories of people, young and old, who are going through this. David Hyde Pierce was on there and told his story too. His mom's dad had alzheimer's. His grandma died of a stroke before his grandpa died. Then his dad got alzheimers and his mom later came down with pancreatic cancer and died from that before his dad died.

They talked about the caregivers too and the stress it puts on families. They talked about the fact that caregivers come down with illnesses of their own (due to the stress of caring for a loved one) at a much higher rate than average.

Some of the things that were said on the show got me to thinking. One guy was 51 years old with alzheimer's. He joked about how his wife wouldn't let him go to the grocery store anymore because he turned a 1 hour trip into 5 hours at the store. My dad does that when he goes with me. I tell him to get whatever he wants. I see something I know he likes and ask him if he wants it. He always says "get whatever Bo (that's my son) likes." I've kind of had it in the back of my mind for a while that maybe dad's confused about what he likes and just can't seem to make up his mind.

When watching that show today, I thought about something that happened yesterday. My son, my dad and I were sitting in the living room watching tv. My son had a box of cinnamon Altoids. He asked my dad if he wanted some Altoids. Dad took one which surprised me. He has always hated cinnamon so I said to him "I thought you didn't like cinnamon." He said "I don't" and ate it. Didn't even flinch! He loves sweets and I usually buy something he likes and something I know he doesn't like so the rest of us can have something sweet too. Well, I guess that explains where the cinnamon rolls went a few days ago.

What I'm wondering is if he's confused about what he likes and doesn't like or is it his sense of taste that's going. My son didn't tell him the altoids were cinnamon.

I know his sense of smell is shot but I won't go into that.

Have a great day everyone!

Barb

Martha H · 02-28-2005, 12:54 PM

That's very interesting, Barb. I think the sense of smell and taste do go. Mom eats some bizarre combinations. Like a roll with butter and barbecue sauce.

She cannot smell perfume at all, and thus greatly overuses it, luckily she doesn't have any left that is stronger than 'body spray' I think it's called.

OMIGOSH I suddenly realize that this explains how she doesn't get herself really clean and then DOES NOT NOTICE!

Shopping : On their way home from the Senior Center Mom almost always buys one of two items, and her Aide just lets her, I guess she gave up arguing. Bananas (I have to throw out the ones that get bad) and Rye Bread ..this never gets bad in our house.

Love, and welcome to the newcomers. This is the right place for help!

Too bad I was at work when Jane Pauley's show came on.

Love,
Martha

angel_bear · 02-28-2005, 01:25 PM

Yep gal's, I tend to agree with you there.

MIL often puts strange combinations of food together, and BEWARE if you look sideways at it and she catches you! LOL ....

Roast Beef, French Salad dressing and mayonnaise
Chopped up onion, cabbage, capsicum in cheese and mayonnaise
cheese and peanut butter sandwiches

**ewwwwwwwww**

Returning home: Loves stopping in at the Bakery and getting a treat (vanilla slice, custard tart), sometimes bread, always goes to the vegie shop around the corner and get's fruit, fruit and more fruit. When there is too many fruit flies, we quietly chuck it out.

Smells: She can't smell off milk anymore, and there's usually 'something' in the fridge that smells wrong. You mention it, and she shrugs ...

Eating: If I put a little bit of food on her plate, she eats it all and is 'stuffed'. If I put a lot of food on her plate, she eats it all and is 'stuffed'. She seems to realise that if all the food is gone, then she must be full. If I do a buffet, she get's a bit confused, eats a bit and is 'stuffed' then eats more and 'is stuffed' .. and just keeps eating and eating until others at the table stop ...

They seem to have a mirror pattern eh?

Hugs ... we need more patience
Sally

Pat_S · 02-28-2005, 02:47 PM

I think some of it (the grocery store) is because they just can't process information. We know just what we like or what we need, but it becomes an overwhelming decision for them.

Whenever I go to a restaurant with my dad, he usually gets exactly what I get, and let's me order for him. The servers think it's a virtue to rattle off all the specials and options as fast as they can, but he just can't understand anything they're saying. Makes me want to throttle them. :-)

LuvMyLilDoggie · 02-28-2005, 03:23 PM

Wow! My dad does the same thing at the restaurant. He and I have always had pretty much the same likes amd dislikes (not many of those!) as far as food is concerned. I'll ask him what he's having and he'll say he doesn't know yet. Then when the waiter comes, I order and then he orders the same thing. So when he's with me, I try to be careful and order something I know he and I both like.

On another note, today has been a rough day. My son brought the mail in and gave everything to my dad. He opened the electric bill and off he went. He thinks that bill is too high for one month. He says he's going to have to pay the bills because I don't do it. I do, of course, but no sense arguing. And his credit card bills from when he was with my sister keep coming and he keeps hiding those. So when we get the phone calls (I intercept when I'm home), he tells them they're not his bills because he cut up his credit cards a long time ago. He thinks that because the credit cards are gone, there shouldn't be any bills. I'm sure I'm not telling you all something that you haven't experienced with your loved ones. But I learned something-something I've heard but not always put to use. If I just let him talk and not reason with him, life is better.

I have a terribly sore throat and am barely able to talk today. I have all the aches and pains like the flu. I had a fever last night but it's gone today. I wish I could say the same for the sore throat and cough. Those are much worse. I don't feel like eating. Everything except cereal (no milk) turns my stomach and as usual, dad always acts up at the worst times.

Wishing you all well....

Barb