Lynn,
thanks for the welcome.

Just got on and found your posts. Welcome to our group. You will find it helpful, I'm sure.

I am so glad you are beginning to post. There are few persons experiencing the illness that post, and I am very interested in hearing your perspective of what is happening.

There is a book by Dr. Thomas Graboys called LIFE IN THE BALANCE that explores his experience with the illness. It is a good read and I recommend it.

Smiles, Nan
Husband, Del, (74) diagnosed with PDD last summer. Has had severe symptoms for the past 5+ years. Now in later stages.

BayouCajun:

Were you living in St. Tammany during Katrina? And then moved to TN?

What an experience THAT was, and we weren't even in the flooded areas. We were in Covington, which got it less than Slidell.

I am impressed that you are facing this head-on with the goal of making it easier for your family rather than being in denial.

Gail,

Are you in MT? there must be a story there….maybe we can start a Louisiana off topic post? Louisiana can be a lot of fun….we have to remember the fun...

Yes I was in Covington. I had just moved in to my new brides house. I had just sold my house on hyw 433 in Slidell on July 5th…it had 14.5 feet of water pass under and thru it, of course it was 12 feet in the air….we had over a dozen trees down in Covington, not much damage…

But, my job was outsourced to India a year later, so we moved to TN.

So, to continue my story…I was performing still at the top of my game for almost a year after moving to TN….then big problems…I was working a big project at work and my wife and I was rehabbing a house to flip…and I just fell apart…sleep, cognition, pain and a whole lot more….

then I spent the next three years trying to save my job…and keeping my part time business going...while sacrificing my life and just about all interaction with those around me….

I am sure all of you caregivers experience something like that…..the patient tries to maintain the pace of life they were used to and can't do it….and the priorities we pick are not understood by those around us….and I am sure we don't the priorities right often…and now I am beginning to see why…

I will tell you…yesterday was a rough day….between side effects of aricept and the overwhelming realizations of all of this…thanks….you all are great...

BC, I suppose that it is possible you won't recognize people at some point, but I wanted to point out that that isn't typical of LBD. Most people with this form of dementia don't lose their memories of people or names. It happens, I suppose, but not as common as in other forms. No one in my local support group has had that problem. We are often asked by outsiders, "Does he still know who you are?" And the answer for all of us, is "Yes." Coy had a couple of days early on where I had to explain who I was and he didn't recognize his daughter, but that was 2 days out of eight years. You may not, at some point, remember what you had for lunch or even that you had lunch, but you are still likely to remember your son and other people in your life.

OTOH, Capgras Delusion is quite common in LBD, where the person thinks his/her spouse is an impostor, at least off and on. It's a delusional symptom rather than memory loss.

I have a lot of fears, and a lot to learn, I forget what I am doing, I start the motion to do something and forget what I wanted to do….sometimes something as simple as moving my finger to click something on a web page…forget what I was going to click and why….just totally lost in intent….with my finger in the air….

it has been reassuring so far….that I have never been lost as to where I am….I might forget why I am there….but not where….

We just bought a new GPS today….my last one was stolen in front of my house….trying to think ahead…

I know I will get some good info at the seminar on monday at mayo….

that is reassuring about that aspect….remember two weeks ago…I knew nothing about LBD….so AD is different in that aspect in big way?

I was really having a hard time thinking that was the slightest chance that I had seen my son for the last time that I would recognize him…again, I have a lot to learn….THANKS….what a relief….

Bayou, Frank was dx 6yrs ago and at the very beginning he didn't recognize some people, but once on meds, he has always known family members and he's usually the one that comes up with names from the past. He does, at times, thinks there are 3 of me but again, the meds have made that less of an issue.

I appreciate your postings, it will help us to know what our LO is experience. Thank you and all the best to you and your family

Gerry