This website is so awesme, and the feedback you provide is invaluable. One thing that is so apparent is that your comments make people think! Regardless how absurd, controversial or stupid the posts may be, it makes one aware of all the complications of this disease, and opens your mind to different possibilities. I have learnt that Alzworld is unique, with no help button to push, no popup menus, and very little GPS guidance. It is a fly by the seat of your pants experience, and the more you try to understand it, the more you get confused and become part of the alzworld....but thank you all for your valuable comments and concerns. It helps to know that others are living the same life I am, particularly those that are still young, and in the prime of their lives. I often play the devil's advcate, and try to elicit true feelings from people, and to gain more insight than a sugar coated response. Be patient with me...I am still learning the ramifications of this horrible disease, and keep hoping that the diagnosis was a mistake...
phranque, I think all of us, in the early stages, hope the diagnosis was a mistake. Then we get a double whammy from something they do or say and know it's real. You're so right about this website. What in the world would we do without Joan and this site?
Be patient with you if you're being a devil's advocate? Hmmm. You may want to warn us that's what you're doing. We're MOSTLY nonjudgmental and understanding, but as you just found out, some of us do have a 'hot button' or two, and you might accidentally elicit some "true feelings" you're not ready for. ;-)
I'm sorry phranque ........ I do not believe this particular website is one where *playing devil's advocate* is either right or appropriate. This website is one where much raw emotion is displayed, true feelings are are spoken of and people are desperately seeking help ......... please do not play with such open wounds.
On this site, we truly feel each other's pain. Because we are fellow travelers on the same miserable road, we tend to "let it all hang out." Such openness and honesty is based on the assumption that we don't play games with each other's feelings.
phranque....We are glad you are here but after getting to know us better you will find that we all write what is on our mind. We have are comics, our serious posters, our drama queens, our financial advisers, our flirts, and all of them I love. Stay with us, you'll be glad you did.
Barbara..sorry if I offended you. I am still new at this, and do not express my true feelings very accurately at times. I am a man, and these are all things that we are taught not to talk about... I always try to look at both sides of the coin, and then judge accordingly before making a decision. I never mean to hurt anyone, and my heart is torn up just reading about this disease...I often hope I will wake up soon, and find that I am only dreaming
Hey phranque! I'm a husband to taking care of my 73 yr old dearwife who is in stage 6, verging on #7. Her symptoms started in 1996 and have just gotton progressively worse. It is the hardest job I have ever had and it is very helpful to lbe able to come here and talk. Most of us don't get to talk much adult talk at home and the opinions we get are so good. I started visiting on the Alxheimer's Message board but have been here a few months. The others here are very nice and helpful. Stay with us. Bill E.
Phranque, welcome, relax, breathe, and listen to the wisdom of those who are ahead of us on this very difficult road. You will learn to share, tough for a man, I know, lol, but this is the most loyal, supportive, self-taught, heartbroken, exhausted, frustrated and sometimes silly group you'd ever want to meet. So my friend, welcome. We're glad you found us.