May 24, 2008

I am feeling good. the medication is really helping . I just read an article about a chinese club moss. Its hurpizine.. I am taking 50 mcg twice daily.. I am trying to now take 50 mcg more . They say 200 is needed. I have a low tolerance , so if i can get to 150 daily , i will be happy.Some studies have shown it helps delay Alzh for possibly up to 12 yrs. People who take it have better memory function. They mentioned some other things too, but gave no names of anything. I know because I have done a lot of research.. I am qite excited about this. I guess time will tell. I have been writing a lot lately and feel good that I amable to doso. I hope all is well with you...Mary

Thoughts and feelings

I know from personal expierence , that if I can remain calm , and keep my mind busy with Good interesting things , I do better. Once in a while my thoughts get a little scattered, especially if I am under a lot of pressure. The medication definately helps and IS needed to delay the onslought of this disease. I am in a very good place , compared to last year...Last May I had just found out I had this . I was scared , angry , confused and trying to cope . The worst was not being able to control my thoughts. I think it was a combination of the shock of finding out I had this, trying to control my thinking , and the feelings of being inadaquate and out of control. I had bad mood swings. One minute I 'd be ok , then in a flash , I'd be lashing out at some one . I realize now , it was all a part of this. I couldn't adjust , remember. I couldn't stop blank spaces from coming into my brain when I was trying to talk . I was afraid to go places alone , as sometimes I got lost and didn't know which way to go. It was overpowering, shattering to my life . It affected me and those I loved , as they bore the brunt of my wrath at times. I knew I was having these mood swings and told my Doctor. She put me on Prozac 10 mg. daily. It helped to stabliize me . Namenda and Exelon , helped me to return to a fairly normal existance. I looked up information on the internet about vitamins , supplements and and learned more about the disease. I talked with my doctor and began taking vitamins. It was good as I felt I was helping my self and had some input to decisions .

I wanted to turn things around and try to help others , so I began to write about Alzheimers. I have written articles about the disease, poems about my feelings am in a chat group. Now I have blog Provided by my friend, Hank. It has been a rewarding experence . I am a retired nurse . Caring for others has been a life long labor of love.. "Give and ye shall receive". That is what has happened to me. I gave and I have been blessed with the ability to write and share my expierences with others . Perhaps I will help give a better understanding by writing and sharing. I sure hope so!

If you know some one who has this , try to help them by making sure they are on Namenda plus one other drugs ,such as Arceipt , or Exelon., Reminyl. Make sure they are taking vitamins.such as B12 , Folate.. Omega 3..Read to them , provide music, walk, play cards try to be understanding , have patience, and don't argue . STIMULATE THEIR MINDS. You will never what its like to have this, until you are there facing it your self.( I pray that doesn't happen) Find compassion and gain insght about the disease by reading and talking about it with others .. Always remember to try to maintain a good happy world for your loved one who has it. They are the ones who are lost and trying to cope the best they can. They are trying desperately to maintain some sense of control and order in their mind. They are slowly ,silently being robbed of the power to do so. They are dying a little each day.

PLEASE REACH OUT.. Encourage your Doctors to LEARN more about this ,, TALK wth others who have a similar problem and let your loved one know you are there for them...God Bless....MaryGrace

Stages of AZH

I hope this article will bring more understanding about what a person who has Alzheimers goes through

Common changes in MILD Alzheimers
1) Loses recent memory, judgement
2)Has trouble finding words, may substitute or make them up
3)May stop talking to avoid mistakes
or keep asking repetitive questions
4)Has a shorter attention span, less motivation to stay with an activity
5)Has trouble organizing and thinking logically
6)Easily loses way going to familar places, becomes irritable
7) Takes longer to do chores, becomes upset if rushed
8)Loses or misplaces things, forgets where things go

Common changes in MODERATE Alzheimers
1)Mixes identity of people,has trouble recognizing familiar people, objects
2)Has restless repetitive movements in late afternoon or evening
3)Can't organize thoughts or follow logical explanations
4)Has trouble following written notes or directions
5)Makes up stories to fill in memory gaps
6)Poor judgement in safety issues, may wander when left alone
7)Needs help in finding toilet or bathing , selecting clothes
8)May mistake a stranger for a loved one , fogets what is private behavior

Common changes in SEVERE Alzheimers
1) Doesn't recognize self or close family
2)Speaks gibberish or is difficult to understand, becomes mean, agressive
3)May refuse to eat , chokes, or forgets to swallow
4)Loses weight,bowl, bladder control,
skin easily tears
5)May cry when touched ,forgets how to walk ,needs help to remain steady
6)May have seizures , infections,
frequent falls
7)May moan ,groan, mumble , scream
8)Sleeps more,needs total assistance in everything as they decline. Eventually death becomes salvation

MaryGrace writes on medications

I have not written about medications given for Alzheimers since last year. Perhaps you might know someone you can share this information with.

Medications called cholinesterase
inhibitors are prescribed for mild to moderate Alzh.They help to delay symptoms from becoming worse for a period of time.

Research shows they help prevent the breakdown of Acetylcholine, which is a chemical in the brain thought to be important in memory and thinking. As the disease progersses , the brain produces less and less acetylcholine.
Eventually the medications loose their affect.

The medicatons, Arceipt, Exelon pill or patch and Reminyl all work in a similar way. They feel Switching from one of these drugs to another , will not produce different results, but the patient might tolerate one better than another.

Exelon dosage starts at 1.5mg twice a day, then in wks, 3mg twice a day, then in 4 to 6 weeks, 4.5mg twice a day,eventually 6mg twice a day.
I am not sure about the dosage of the new Exelon Patch.

Arceipt starts at 5mg daily ,then in wks increases to 5 mg twice daily. In 4 weeks increases to 10 mg Bid.

Reminyl starts at 4mg Bid (twice daily), in 4wks to 8 mg Bid , eventually 12mg Bid.

I could not take Arceipt . It made me very nausiated. I take Exelon 4.5mg Bid. I can't take 6 mg bid , as it makes me sick and feel odd.

Namenda is given for moderate to severe Alzh. It slows the progression of the disease so people can maintain daily functions longer.

Namenda regulates glutamate in the brain so excessive amounts are not released . The death of brain cells results when that happens.

Namenda can be given with cholinesterase inhibitors as they work differently.

Namenda doseage starts at 5 mg daily , gradually increases to 10mg Bid

I take Namenda 10 mg Bid and Exelon 4.5mg Bid, plus a lot of vitamins and prozac to help with depression and mood swings.

I will write about Vitamins and some antidepressant later on.

Mentally I am in a much better place than I was last year. My memory is good and I can take my medications without prompting. I CAN FIND MY CAR KEYS,(yeah) and I don't get lost when I'm driving.

We are all forgetful at times, thats part of being human. This disease robs a person of being able to control their thoughts, memories and completing daily activities. It takes a part of our life away, leaving us with feelings of frustration, fear,loss, hoplessness.

I dread what is ahead of me . I don't want to go through what I did last spring, summer and fall. I know its going to eventually happen again, and I can't stop it , nor can the millions of others who have it.

Medical advances, tests
and research are on going. More awareness of the disease is increasing,but the stigma still remains. MORE NEEDS TO BE DONE! I pray a cure will be found soon for all who have this. God Bless ,, MaryGrace