Falling Leaves A Day in the Life - Part 2

It got a little nippy on us, didn't it? Then up to the 60s then back down to the 20s.

Monday received Part 1 of my journey through dementia. Today I'll show you the rest.

I have trouble spelling now. Even when I've written a term over and over, I sometimes misspell it. Then I check a couple of times, then I'm okay in the meantime. I also often leave off the end of a word or a whole phrase.

My writing is very slow, very slow. And this is probably some old hardwiring of my brain, but when i type, i often look at the wrong letter and enter it anyhow. I forgot how to type so it’s peck and pick.

When is the day goes on, I have my own sense of sundowning. About 20% of Alzheimer's and other dementias exhibit increased symptoms including confusion, agitation, anxiety and decreased cognitive functions as natural light dims. Mine falls cognitively around 3:00 or 4:00. I usually put my head down, but seldom fall asleep.

Then my struggle with evening TV. It seems like everyone on the news (and additional programming) is talking so quickly the words blur into each other. I suppose it's my internal processing that's slowed. I start to interpret what I’ve heard at the end of the first news story, then miss the beginning of the second, then forget the first. Doesn't make much interesting conversation.

Thanks for listening and for allowing me to be transparent. It was quite a struggle on this end. But I wanted you to see what it was like inside me so maybe you understand yourself or your loved one better.

Please remember, you are not alone.

Till next Monday…

Judi

“Honesty and transparency make you vulnerable. Be honest and transparent anyhow.”

Mother Theresa