kathryn is having some new issues. They are 33 - 45.
Here is a copy of the list I sent you earlier with some changes. 1. Does not know our address or phone number. 2. Does remember how to answer the phone. 3. Cannot prepare anything to eat. Does eat with no problem. (Has started to have problem cutting food) 4. Trouble telling the time. 5. Cannot tell you what day it is or date. 6. Can’t remember 1 minute ago. 7. Puts things where they are safe and never to be seen again. 8. Can’t handle money. 9. No longer knows where the bathroom is in our own home. 10. Has trouble remembering history . (this has been for some time now) 11. Can no longer dress properly half the time. Puts panties on out side of pants. Now has trouble getting leg or arm in right side. 12. Some times I wake up during the night and she is just sitting on the side of the bed. 13. Puts toilet tissue in waste can. 14. Seems able to handle toilet ok but I am but not 100% sure about this now. 15. I remind her to go to the bathroom every couple of hours. 16. Recognizes good friends. 17. Sometimes puts on shoes that do not match or just one shoe. 18. Sometimes sits and rocks. 19. Cries for no reason that I can see. 20. Has trouble remembering what to do when going to the bathroom. 21. Has trouble with all task. 22. Loves to see friends and eat out with them. But unable to take part in conversation. 23. Follows me around the house. I think I have become a security blanket. 24. Walking with very short and slow steps and always behind me. 25. Unable to make even a simply choice. 26. Can not follow the simplest of instructions or task. 27. Has trouble with water temp. 28. Does not remember to use soap when bathing. 29. Does not want to be left along (I think this is a need to feel secure). 30. Sometimes brushes her teeth using her finger as a tooth brush. When I hand her the tooth brush she says “oh goody” and will us it. 31. Does not clean her bottom after going to the bathroom. Forgets to flush the tolet about half the time. 32. When she needs to go to the bathroom she will ask me where to go. If I take her in the bathroom she will now ask me where to pee and when I show her she will point to the toilet and ask me if that is it .If the lid is down she will not recognize it either. NEW ISSUES 33. Does not remember how to answer the phone now. 34. Kathryn is beginning to having urinary incontinence. 4 or 5 times at night in the bathroom she went on the floor with her close on and once at Walmart of couple of days ago. 35. She is also having no trouble sleeping and is awake a lot more at night. 36. She seems to experience emotions less. 37. She is unable to get out more than a few words of what she wants to say and is unable to complete her sentences. 38. Her answers tend to be “ok” most of the time now. 39. She now requires help dressing and undressing. She will ware two different shoes and when she looks at them doesn’t seem to know they are different. 40. I asked her if she knew who’s house we were at and she said “no” and was upset by not knowing. I assured her it was ours and it made her happy. 41. She thinks there always other people in the house and is concerned about undressing in front of them. I am not sure if she thinks the people on TV are real or if she is imagining them. She is always asking me who else is here. 42. She threw up yesterday and couldn’t remember having done it. She said she feels fine but sometimes she seems to be having trouble swallowing. 43. She doesn’t clean herself after going to the bathroom everyday around three I get her shower ready and either I give her a shower are some days she will do it herself. I have to tell her to use the soap and shampoo but once I get her going she does ok. 44. She brushes her teeth when I do no problem but if she goes in to brush by herself she may use her finger instead of a tooth brush or use a toothbrush and no tooth paste. 45. We stayed overnight in a hotel last week and it was very upsetting to Kathryn. I had trouble getting her to relax and come to bed.
JimB the vomiting and trouble swallowing may be related and she may be "aspirating". If the vomit is not sour and she does not have an aftertaste in her mouth, I would bet that is what it is. I have had personal experience with this and you do not have an upset stomach. The food or liquids — lodges in "pockets" and won't go down. This causes a lot of discomfort and you can do nothing except stop eating and drinking until it passes. Sometimes I will rub my throat and always go away from the table and try to relax. Usually it will pass but occasionally it will come up. I think stress sometimes can cause this or also a narrowing of the esophagus. In dementia it may be the "swallowing reflux muscles." In my case the surgeon "stretched my esophagus and told me if that didn't take care of it - to come back and he would "stretch it some more". I think it would be a good idea to make sure she is sitting up when eating or drinking - if possible.