My sister mentioned today that she has heard coconut oil mentioned three or four times the last week in relation to alzheimers. She said it was mentioned on the Today Show as well as her local news. I did a search on the site and couldn't find it altho I do remember it being discussed.
Tomorrow wlll be the third anniversary of Claude's passing and I have forgotten a lot of what went on in those chaotic years. I do remember giving him the "MCT Gold". In fact, I still have a bottle on the shelf.
my sister in law was here and the first thing she said was have you tried coconut oil? evidentally one of the talk shows had a segment about it. i just LOL'd and said our group was the guinea pigs to try it a couple years ago! we had over 640 posts about it. some had a fair response to its use like the dr and others saw some positive change or none at all and some 'the runs' from it by using too much! check it out for yourself.
I have seen many post about it cause a report came out a few weeks ago regarding coconut oil and the doctor who uses it on her husband. As we found here - some it helps, and most it doesn't. I found a post on the internet from a guy in Australia whose doctor gave him cymbalta which improved his cognition considerably. He does say he doesn't know how long the improvement will stay, but is thankful for any at all.
I have had my husband on tumeric/curcurim for a couple years now. Not long ago Alzheimer's Weekly had an article on it and how they are starting studies in the US. I started it after reading a South Korean study (not double blind though). Neurologist said 'try it, can't hurt'.
Gotta tell ya all, that unless there's a bona fide proven treatment out there to reverse this disease, I've just about had it with the "maybe's", "possibilities", "better than nothing's". Just more dashed hopes and more money down the drain and a spouse who doesn't want to take any of it with no results (unless you count diarrhea as a result (not)). We are all so starved for hope. I almost don't even look at anything anymore. What's the point? He may improve for a while but the disease still rages on. Prolonging the agony holds no appeal for me, and I suspect, not for him, either. I know that sounds so cynical, but....
mothert, you took the words right out of my mouth. What good is it if they regain some or improve for a while; just to go sliding down again with maybe the aggression again (I really don’t want to go through THAT again). Cynical? No. Just how I also feel.
Our experience with coconut/MCT oil was definitely a positive one. I started my husband on it in December 2008 shortly after it was first discussed here. Several weeks later my son-in-law commented that “the vacant look is gone.” Several of my husband’s friends commented to my son on my husband’s increased alertness. My son started on MCT oil himself, carried copies of Dr. Newport’s article in his car and even gave several people bottles of MCT oil to try. The same question 50 times a day stopped and has never resumed. I could not use it myself because of an ongoing problem with diarrhea.
Yes, there has been some deterioration (more physically) but we have continued using it for over three years now and would not consider stopping.
hark hark, there is another good side, in late stages when they are bedbound and constipation becomes such an issue due to no activity, coconut oil again comes to the rescue:) divvi
Well, we are the last in the world to get any news of anything that might help AD...just today, they talked about Coconut oil as being a "temporary " help for memory loss...I'm thinking, whether we should try it...I don't think i could handle diarrhea... I'm thinking like Elaine...what's the point if it's not a cure..only to end up sliding down again..
So, divvi, there will actually come a day that I'll be missing those incontinent days? I will surely remember the coconut oil when that day comes. Thanks again for all your wisdom, divvi, you are such an inspiration. Btw, I ordered those rubber pants and for some reason I ordered the ones with snaps - guess I thought if they were full of you-know-what, it would be easier to deal with if I could just unsnap and remove them. Now, I'm thinking that the pull on would be the best choice. Perhaps I'll just order another pair that pull on and keep the others for another day.
mothert, nobody on this forum wished for non incontinent days more than me:) but yes now the story is the reverse, once they become unable to walk much the opposite occurs and constipation becomes the nemesis.AND the good news is you can choose the day to tackle it by using laxative as a planner:) haha its easier to deal with of course because the ordeal is usually contained to a specific area aka hospital bed and lots of throw away pads. but neverless the days of cleaning commodes and white carpets are in the past for me mercifully. we will always remember those times and feel for those dealing with this. the snaps may be more convenient to off/on but it may also allow for leaks and an easy way for them to get them off, so i would agree the pullons are more prudent. if they are bedbound and unable to remove then yes, so save them just in case- divvi