Just wanted to share something positive (we don't get to do this very often)....
8 or 9 months ago Robert and I hung a curtain rod in our bedroom. Robert insisted on doing it. It took over 4 hours to hang one rod. I thought I was going to lose my mind.
Today after about 6 months on Exelon and Namenda, he has hung 3 sets of blinds and 2 curtain rods in our living room without me even being there. It is truly amazing how different he is on the medication!!!!
My grandfather is in the final stages of AD. He is expected to die anyday. He has pneumonia. It's possible he will rally and hang on for much longer but the doctors are not giving much hope. So, I know what lies ahead.
I am just praying and hoping that these positive benefits last for years and years. I know tomorrow I could wake up and he could be worse, but today I'm counting my blessings!!!!
Leighanne, it is great to hear that Robert is doing so well. My husband has been on Reminyl for 5 years and over 3 years ago Ebixa was added. He totally renovated our fixer upper house purchased just prior to the diagnosis, did all the plumbing, tile work, cabinetry etc. in the first 3 years. He still tries to do what he can - it takes him much longer and I have to hold my tongue when things don't turn out just right but it's good he still wants to accomplish something. In the last year there has been a decline and he keeps saying how lucky we are that he did all this work when he was still "in good shape- I couldn't do it now". Encourage Robert to do all he can. He will feel so good about it. Now to your grandfather, my thoughts are with you. I hope he does not have to suffer for too long.
Leihanne and inge - my my - you have just given me a very much needed boost. My wonderful loving husband has just been on Galantamine Hydrobromide (Aricept gave him awful diarrhea.) He has been on 4 mg twice a day for about 4 months. The doctor has now started him on 8 mg twice a day. We also will be putting him on Namenda (we are waiting for it to come). I am hoping with these medications he will come back a bit. I do encourage Art to do as much as possible but it has been a bit hard. He goes to daycare 5 days a week because I work full time but they keep him pretty active there. On weekends I take him to the gym where he does his weights workout - at night he helps with folding clothes or cleaning the house.
I'm praying these pills help him. I don't want to sound dumb but I absolutely feel there is a cure around the corner. Do you think I'm crazy? Everyday they are finding out more and more about this horrible disease. Why can't our husbands be cured, right?
Everytime we see our neurologist, who is at the forefront of all the drug trials, he says exciting things are happening. He says that for the first time in his 40 years of practicing medicine, he sees hope in the new drug trials. I just wonder if it will be in time to save our LO's.
I am also praying that my Grandpa gets to go "Home" soon. He is suffering so much. He has pneumonia now and that is what has sent him downhill. He was a preacher and a carpenter. I didn't know him very well before AD. He is of the old school thought that women should tend to the girls. He never had much to do with us granddaughters. I don't think he knew what to do with us.
I always felt like I disappointed him somehow. But, I do thank God for him. If it wasn't for him raising my mother to be the Christian parent that she was/is, I may never have come to know the Lord and my children may never have come to know Him either.
I am also hoping for a cure. My main hope is that the medicine Robert is on now will sustain him until a cure is found. If I can't have that then I pray that a cure will be found before my children even have to wonder if they inherited the genetic markers for this terrible disease.
Yes, Leighanne, I also thank God for your grandfather and your mom that they carried on the Word of God for you and your children to know Christ for His grace, mercy, and strength to fight this fight knowing when we are weak it is in His strength that we live and survive. Yes, your grandfather passed on something to you that will never die. I also praise God for your LO's improvement on namenda and exelon. My LO was on aricept followed by namenda for 4 yrs. Last Friday the neuroligist switched him to namenda and exelon patch. As Joan's LO dr. , our Dr. said there is all sorts of things in the works for AD. I pray for a good result, but as you, I pray more for a cure especially before our kids possibly get it. My children are 36 and 32. A preacher and a carpenter!!!! That sounds like an awesome copy or model of someone long ago. That is so cool , God will bless your grandfather . May his suffering go away in the precious name of Jesus.