For the first time since Lynn has started his medication we are all going out for the day. Last time we tried this, before meds… he ending up throwing a fit, yelling at me and telling me to go to hell right in the store. My response, thought silent of course… was I am already there!! I was so embarrassed, as you can well imagine. I swore I would starve first, before I ever took him with me again.
So today, we have a big day planned. Needless to say I am a bit nervous. I have pack an emergency happy pill just in case *wink. I am going to keep in mind what trisinger said about the tunnel vision and see if holding his hand helps prevent the sluggish pace 10 ft behind me. Geez I feel like it is Christmas, all excited to do some real shopping and go to lunch too! Wooohoooo :) Wish me luck friends~Nikki
My husband isn't even as far along as so many others but seriously in order for him to be ready to go out I have to start urging him to move hours before. The shower, the dressing, the grooming. He still does most of these things himself but only with lots of prompts. It is actually tiring just to get him out. By the time he's ready, I'm in a sweat, feeling hurried and and not very eager to go.. So Nikki, I applaud your enthusiasm.. Have a great time today. Hope all goes well
Well it started out badly - I was in tears before I even got him dressed. Anita I had to sit back and laugh at your post as that is EXACTLY the drama I had to put up with this morning. Scrooge was trying to ruin my Christmas! LOL He just wouldn’t get dressed! I asked sweetly… then I asked calmly… then I said sweetly and calmly …we are leaving, if you want to go you better get ready…. Then I said I’m going with or with out you! Then, well ….we wont get into what I said next….*blushing*
I have found a strength here, I was NOT going to allow him to ruin my first real day out in over 2 year! I told him as calmly as I could, we were leaving and if he didn’t want to go that was fine .. I would just call his son to take him out for the day. He sulked but he DID get ready and quickly too! The rest of the day was excellent!! We went to a grand opening of a store my sis loves then we all went out to Lynn’s favorite restaurant for lunch. The kids do wonders for him and they have missed their uncle Lynn…it was a day truly blessed and enjoyed by all. Thanks for all the positive thoughts and wishes of luck, they worked! ~Nikki
Nikki, Glad you enjoyed your day. I met a friend for lunch and had a really nice time. We even laughed quite a bit. The only downer was when I got home...I had an email from my best friend in Ohio her daughter in NC has been battling a brain tumor for 3 years and she had a stroke yesterday. Her husband found her on the floor when he got home from work. She is in the hospital and asking for her Mom so my friend and her family are leaving tomorrow for NC. My friend's brother and his wife arrived from England Monday night for a visit so I don't know how that will go. I guess we should look for and be grateful for the small enjoyments that come along. i hope your night will be as pleasant as your day. God Bless,
Nikki, even with the rough start, I'm glad you had a good day out with Lynn. Good times are to be cherished now. I'm so glad the medicine helped him.
My daughters brought my husband to lunch with me and some co-workers today. He enjoyed his meal with us, but didn't even try to converse, nor did they ask him questions, knowing he couldn't answer. They included him in the broad statements and he would nod. It makes me want to cry that he can't talk any more. He thinks, but can't communicate. I can not imagine (and I have tried) what it would be like to have all my thoughts locked away and couldn't share them in any form with anyone! He lost his ability to write before he lost his ability to speak. Those main five words are all he has.
Thank you all. Mary I can almost feel how deeply this is hurting you, and no... no matter how hard I try I can't imagine it either. Heartbreaking isn't it.... ((hugs))
Val, LOL ya think?? After Lynn's evaluation we will be eligible for many different services, among them in home care, day care and respite grant. If the medication keeps working, and he doesn’t throw them out of the house! I might just be able to get out in the real world again :)
Mary - I feel what you are going through with your DH & not being able to speak much. My DH rarely talks much either, and almost never in a complete sentence. I try muting the TV, repeating what he's started, etc. to try to get it out...today I said "you just can't get it out, can you" and he said "no, it happens like that alot"...I was amazed he could say that, and also saddened for him. You know they MUST WANT TO SPEAK...I too have imagined what it might be like to lose this ability. Very very hard. My DH also lost his ability to write before losing the speaking. Cannot write at all now, even to sign his name is really hard. It's sad because when the kids (35, 30 & 24) have bdays, no signing of his name -- "dad" is not even legible. This disease is a thief of all things. I try not to focus on that often because I would miss what 'smiles' and 'laughs' he still has...I feel certain y'all can relate to this.
Nikki, Glad it worked out for you. Today I went to the store and to visit my mom who has alz in the nursing home. Freedom!!! The only place I take my husband now is to the doctor and to my daughter's house. I just can't handle him much any more.