Alzheimers!!! The Unforgiving Disease! - RV-Dreams Community Forum

PIEERE · RV-Dreams Family Member

Alzheimers!!! The Unforgiving Disease!

SnowGypsy · RV-Dreams Family Member

Quality over quantity any day. I do not have Alzheimer's in my family since they go by stroke/cancer/heart attacks. Some longevity but nothing to brag about in the family tree. My inspiration was the adoption of our son with DS when he was 4 weeks old, now a 28 year old man. Because of issues with diet, we had to change some eating habits and because I was 33 years old with a baby that required much more energy than my older son, I started working toward being as healthy as I could be. I do think we have some control over our health but there is a lot of "luck of the draw" involved in some cases.

I have a friend similar to PIEERE in that the relatives put a rather grey cloud over her head when it comes to Alzheimer's but she is 72 and incredibly sharp, determined and stubborn and I think she will be OK. She just lost her husband but is putting her ducks in a row so that she can move on.

And, PIEERE, I'm not going to feel sorry for you as any thoughts I have about you revolve around wanting to see you getting out and feeling better and able to continue on your chosen journey.

I go to a forum where they were asking, "When did you start to feel old?" I was shaking my head as people in their 20s and 30s were declaring that they felt old. Seriously, how will they ever survive true old age. Well, I told them I was 60 and had just started thinking about getting old but that would be in my 80s and I was working on my plan for the next 20 years right now.

My worst issue right now is joint problems which, after looking at the family history, I inherited from a long line of sufferers of such. Looking forward to the nicer climates RVing will bring.

I have to agree on the waiting. I had a friend that constantly criticized me because our family were going to Disney World on vacation. She thought we should save for retirement and go then like they were planning to do. She did not live past 56 years old. That savings did her no good. Making memories? Priceless. Life is short.

Dog Folks · RV-Dreams Family Member

Both Pieere and Snow Gypsy have said the most important thing that many people ignore: DO it NOW!

You never know what tomorrow will bring.

Last Wednesday, I was doing well, just a last minute check to make sure the leg surgery was effective. It was not, now I am facing a possible leg amputation.

Will I let it take me off the road? Heck NO. It is going to take a lot more than that.

In the meantime, I am going to continue to travel, and live my life.

-- Edited by Dog Folks on Saturday 1st of November 2014 02:01:35 PM

Talensnana · RV-Dreams Family Member

I so agree to take advantage of NOW. We have watched too many of our friends never get to enjoy retirement because they passed away. One of our friends died suddenly the day after retirement party at 65. She was in amazing health.

Like Pierre my family has a history of Alzheimers. My mom had it, my dad had dementia and my sister died at 52 of early onset Alzheimers. My motto is to make memories. They are your most treasured possessions. Even though I may someday lose those memories to this horrible disease. My family will still have them.

The Junkman · RV-Dreams Family Member

I hear this ! Loud and clear..

I'm 49 and made the move.. Many folks won't make it to spend their retirement money.. And that is a shame..And if they do, their body may be so far gone, you can't enjoy anything..

I choose to live now and risk dying poor.. than die rich and have never lived..

BiggarView · RV-Dreams Family Member

Talensnana wrote:
...My motto is to make memories. They are your most treasured possessions. ...

Agree completely, the rest of your material possessions be of no use to you after you are gone. Live in each moment without regrets.

Regret is such a waste of >insert favorite activity here< time.

Do it now, and if that isn't possible, then make a plan to get there ASAP and adjust yout thinking accordingly.

Don't get locked into one way of thinking through a problem, every life issue has multiple solutions.

No fear!!!

Brian

SnowGypsy · RV-Dreams Family Member

First of all, Dog Folks, you'll be in my thoughts and prayers. One thing I forgot to mention is that my son with DS is at a higher risk of Alzheimer's just by having DS. Onset can be as early as the 20s. I had known this for some time but recently read that with people with DS, it progresses very quickly. That was a jolt! In the day center, he lost skills very quickly and I pulled him out after 6 months in the last one and have been working to restore what he lost. He is so psyched about the idea of full-timing. We were looking at a very high end unit online and I said "That cost a LOT of money." He went and got his glass jar that he keeps his money in and gave it to me. He was, more than a little short, but the gesture was sweet.

I have never seen anyone have enough money to do ______________ unless they were highly motivated to do it in the first place.

I do believe that just marking time with empty hours causes more health issues to develop than not.

-- Edited by SnowGypsy on Saturday 1st of November 2014 03:51:08 PM

Camper Chronicles · RV-Dreams Family Member

I have Alzheimer's on big sides of my family. Lost my great grandfather, my aunt, and my grandfather to this very nasty disease. I completely agree that there is no time to waste...but I will also say you need to exercise your brain just like any other part of your body. Staying active both mentally and physically is the key and I am very mcih looking forward to both of of those things I. My new life on the road.

Diana and Jim · RV-Dreams Family Member

Time and again, Diana and I hear this. People wait until it is too late, and they can't follow their dreams. Or they can, but say they should have done it 10 years sooner. How many times have you all heard that one? I've lost count. Life is indeed short. Carpe diem!

Jim (and Diana)

The Bear II · RV-Dreams Family Member

After taking care of my Dad for the last 10 years of his life while suffering from Alzheimers, I saw improvement in his cognitive ability by making sure he was hydrated and had a monthly Folic Acid shot plus Vitamin D daily. Low Folic Acid levels and dehydration really affected his cognitive ability.

Another help was Coconut Oil- I would give him two tablespoons of coconut oil in his breakfast and dinner. The improvement was so noticeable that the caregivers at the adult day care center (where I took him daily while I was at work) commented on how much more "with it" he seemed.

One other tip... there is a condition which mimics alzheimers or dementia and will go undiagnosed especially in men. It is Hydrocephalus known as "Water on the Brain". Unlike alzheimers, Hydrocephalus is curable.

Here's some information about it---- www.medicinenet.com/hydrocephalus/article.htm

Just wanted to share some tips based on my experiences with my Dad.

It was a joy to have him with us. He travelled with us in the RV whenever we would take it out. He was still able to enjoy some quality of life until at the age of 93 his body finally gave up.

bigboomer · RV-Dreams Family Member

Pieere,

Well said and great advise. Sue and I cared for her mom for 15 years and the last 4 with Alzheimer's. We were lucky in the sense that she passed in our home and did not have to make the dreadful decision to put her in a home other than ours. This is one reason we decided back about 14 years ago that we would target 55 as the time to take advantage of the opportunities we built and go FT. Well 2 years ago at the ripe old age of 51 we said why wait? 2 plus years later we are loving it and this year I am packing it in after 35 years in the glass business and heading for greener pastures and do something else other than the 3 am to 7 pm grind everyday plus traveling 250 miles a day to and from work.

There is a whole big world out there and it does not wait for us to explore....

SnowGypsy · RV-Dreams Family Member

One of the positives about Alzheimer's getting out in the news and people more or less understanding it is that it is easier for loved ones to take people that have it out in public and such and not have to be a recluse. I had a friend and her husband had Alzheimer's and one day we were sitting on the porch and she said "Jim is up. He might come out in his boxer shorts." I said "Oh, I've seen men in boxer shorts before." And, we continued on with our conversation. I think it is better today than 50 years ago because people are better informed and sadly, so many people have different things causing them issues so really everyone can just get out there and live their lives. People were really much more judgmental when I was child and ignorant of what is now accepted. There were a lot of people that you just never saw.

rodeojoe · RV-Dreams Family Member

Live in the moment, always! We don't know if we have many years left to do it. I am always for getting it done NOW and my husband is always someday but he is finally realizing that someday doesn't come along unless you plan for it and you take action!

PIEERE · RV-Dreams Family Member

rodeojoe wrote:
Live in the moment, always! We don't know if we have many years left to do it. I am always for getting it done NOW and my husband is always someday but he is finally realizing that someday doesn't come along unless you plan for it and you take action!

blankstare My only sister joined the Lord this past December! I made it past the grieving; but anger at this horrific disease has not subsided!

Some day never comes if one keeps putting it off, and am happy I started it back in 1994 at 47; with an older brother who died in Nov. 2006; we sure had some great times traveling between my working! I continued on the tradition until just 3 months before my 61st birthday I had a severe heart attack which took me off the road in July 2012. I'm still not in a rocking chair yet, but it sure has slowed me down very much. smile smile

SuzieQ · RV-Dreams Family Member

It got my mother. Dad lost his best friend (married 60 yrs) when it got her. One of the brightest, most energetic people you would ever want to know. A wonderful leader and businesswoman. There's a reason why they call it "the long good-bye".