In like a Lion, Out like a Lamb

SPRING HAS SPRUNG HERE!!!!!!

I cannot believe it. It is 73 degrees as I type this here in Anderson, SC. Earlier this week it was breezy and in the 50's. In just a few days it will be back to those temps before it warms again next weekend. I cannot wait until the temps stay stable. I'm ready to get back in the saddle for the Ride To Remember 2019. 

This year the old adage for March, "In like a Lion, Out like a Lamb" has been right on target as far as the weather is concerned. And for the dementia, I can say the same thing.

I mentioned in an earlier blog that I have now been put out of work on permanent disability. Frankly it stinks. I still wanted to work and tried my best to find a way, but by the first of this month is was becoming apparent that I was having trouble doing even the simplest things at work. Dementia was roaring at me, "I've got you now. I'll squash you like a bug." Truthfully I felt that it was faithfully carrying out its mission at the time. My job as an Analyst created a lot of stress and high pressure. I tried to find alternatives to my duties that I could do and still be a viable worker.

In the end my doctor and my bosses both agreed that the time had come.

Fast forward to now. I've been out of work for 2 weeks. My wife says I'm a different man. She says I am able to be more focused and a bit sharper. I will admit that I do feel a bit better too. I'm still a little bit bummed about not working now, but my focus has now turned into protecting what I have left of a brain and body. 

I'm like that lamb in the picture, I know the Lion is still there, but kinda chilling at the moment. I feel like I can lay my head down and rest for a minute, even if I'm still connected to the Lion. I know that connection will always be there unless a cure if found, but it isn't raging, trying to tear me down.

I'm also going to use this time to talk to others about my disease. Opportunities are opening up for me to do as such i.e. Alzheimers Coffee Talk Greenville, Alzheimers State House Day, Congressional Staff/Military Advisors, Local/National Company Annual Meetings just for April.

I know God still has a plan in all of this, and I just hope I can make him proud in what I do.

For now I will keep pushing on through this disease. 

For those of you reading this, please consider making a donation by following the link above. I really want a cure to be found soon so that I can have many, many more years to spend with my wife and friends. 

Until next time, #AlzSux, #EndAlz

 

Early Onset Dementia - Part Deux - After the LOOK

OK, so the shock of what you just did or didn't understand wears off. You realize that "Yep, I'm off my rocker again!"

This frustrates me so, then I wind up laughing at it, and often times my wife just rolls her eyes and chuckles. I love my wife so much. She is being my rock through this, keeping me full of hope that a cure will still be found yet. That woman is firmly built on her relationship with God and it shows in all she does.

As I start on this journey I wonder what is the next part that we will face? How soon? What do I need to be doing to prepare myself and my family? As we get older many of us start to think about what we need to do for "end of life" preparations/documentations. At 57 I thought I still had quite a few years before I need to worry about this. NOW, Well ..... the dawning of that time is upon me. Why now you ask? Don't you feel that you still have plenty of life ahead of you? Well YES! Are you saying you're feeling yourself take a turn downhill? Well NO! But for a document to be taken as valid, it has to be done while a person can show they are in their right mind. NOT THEIR LEFT!?! (just kidding).

I downloaded a free copy of some forms that you can fill out yourself, just as what to do medically, i.e. DNR and such. Now that was a wake up call! What do i want to do? How much of a lingering burden do I want to be? Truthfully, I'm not sure yet. So it sits on the computer until I can make a more informed decision.

Next thing I have to deal with .... at what point do I turn over the duties that I now do myself, such as bill paying, social media for our stores FB page, emails, federal/state forms to be filed and so forth. I won't lie. I can be a handful. Just ask my wife. That along with her having to keep the shop going can be quite a task.

AND, I still work. I am an Analyst in the Finance Department for a Fortune 500 company, the largest consumer power tools provider in the world. Yes, I'm a bit of a brainiac, which i'm not so sure is a plus or not. Sometimes this makes it harder on me. I worry that I'm "too aware" of what all is happening to me and around me. I love what I do. Having to problem solve what others have done weeks or months ago on both our side and theirs, then put it together for management to use and/or make a decision based on is exciting, thrilling sometimes.

Finally, I do spend quite a bit of my time watching TV, having fun analyzing what is going on that couldn't be happening in real life. I used to love to go to horror movies to do the same. This is one way that I find my kicks. I also like to do Sudoku, but I am finding that I'm unable to complete many of the harder puzzles found at the back of the magazine.

In the meantime, I will keep on trying to do many of the things I still enjoy. I love music and concerts, antique shopping, and bowling, though with the Hyrdrocephalus that has been cut way back.

So for those of you out there reading this that think you or someone you love may be in the beginning of "old timers" go get a physician and/or neurologist to test you. Start now. There are medicines that are a BIG help. I am on Namenda and I can tell that it is doing a great job to help me. There are other therapies, clinics and drugs out there to make this journey a WHOLE LOT easier on you and yours too. You just have to take that first step.
And Remember, #AlzSux #EndAlz