Change your clocks tomorrow night — Saturday Oct. 31, 2009

If you want to figure it out, US DST doesn’t change on an exact date, it changes on a particular day of the month.

The clocks "move" on the first Sunday in March (ahead) and the first Sunday in November (back).

Response to question on LBD Commercial

Hi, David,

The commercial noted on your blog was for distribution around the time of the Pro Football Hall of Fame game and parade broadcast. It has been discontinued by LBDA. We’ll probably update it at some point, but don’t have any definite plans right now.

Thanks again for writing, and please keep in touch.

Regards,

Elizabeth Connor

______________________

Elizabeth Connor, MA, MSHA

Lewy Body Dementia Association

912 Killian Hill Rd.

Suite 202C

Lilburn, GA  30047

404-935-6444, ext. 2

econnor@lbda.org

www.lbda.org

Learning to Surf the Internet Gives Brain a Boost

I’ve seen this pop up in the past. Dr. Small is well known in the world of dementia research. Here is a snippet of his research:

The results suggest Internet training and searching online could potentially enhance brain function and cognition in older adults. “We found that for older people with minimal experience, performing Internet searches for even a relatively short period of time can change brain activity patterns and enhance function,” Dr. Gary Small, a professor of psychiatry at the Semel Institute for Neuroscience and Human Behavior at UCLA, said in a news release. Previous research by the UCLA team found that searching online resulted in a more than twofold increase in brain activation in older adults with prior experience, compared with those with little Internet experience. Click here for more.

And here is a link for more info about Dr. Small. Some day I may try to read one or more of his books.

David

 

 

 

 

Is it still possible to view the LBD commercial that aired Aug. 12th

caryn kaminsky

Submitted on 2009/10/22 at 12:20pm

is it still possible to view the LBD commercial that aired Aug. 12th. This website said it was removed. please advise.

thank you.
Caryn

 

Hi Caryn……..I also looked at the Lewy Body Association’s website and see that it is no longer listed. I’d suggest you go here and it will permit you to ask the Association directly. If you’d like to speak with someone directly, their direct telephone number in the National Office (Atlanta, GA) is: 404.935.6444.

Hope this helps………David

Sister Mary Joseph nodule

Pam and I learned something new today. A Sister Mary Joseph node or nodule.

We had our 6 month dental check. While there, one of the dental hygienists (Monica) told us that her mother-in-law was just diagnosed today with stage 4 pancreatic cancer. It went diagnosed since last April. She went to her family Dr. for a ‘mild’ infection around her belly button. He said it was just a staph infection and not to worry. She said her mother-in-law always alluded to her not having good hygiene. Allegedly, he never examined her on the table for it from the very beginning. Evidently he simply looked at it while she was sitting in the chair. During her most recent visit, an accompanying family member insisted that he properly examine her and to do an entire physical exam on her. Monica said that he felt something and sent her for an abdominal ultrasound which ultimately led to having a biopsy.

As a non-surgeon, I have never encountered or read anything about this kind of nodule and I imagine that this patient’s physician hadn’t either. But what isn’t acceptable to me is his/her failure to actually examine her during a physical exam. Perhaps she could have been spared the inevitable despicable agony and pain which she will probably have to endure.

Imagine feeling like you don’t keep yourself clean every time you leave your Dr. only to find out later that you have advanced cancer!

Got thirst?

I got thirsty today from working outside (not good). We trimmed, pruned, cut grass and mulched some leaves. Wow! What a great byline for the national nightly news! But it was a lot of fun. Yea, Pam and I are both aching now…………where’s that aspirin??

The last week or so has been much better. In fact, it feels like I did all summer long. I’ve never been able to achieve my baseline since becoming ill but nonetheless I’m OK with that. This LBD truly is cunning, baffling and powerful! One day they will have an answer to all the mysteriousness of the symptomatic fluctuations of Lewy Body Dementia.

So back to being thirsty. I remembered blogging about dehydration last fall. Particularly with regard to the elderly. And in the winter……not just summer (whenever we think of dehydration the most). So I thought I’d cheat and repost it again since winter is right around the corner. Hope it is helpful to someone.

Signs and Symptoms of Winter Dehydration in the Elderly and 8 Ways to Avoid Them

It’s Winter! Dehydrated? How could I be? Dehydration can occur anytime of the year. We think of summer time as being a time to avoid the sun as well as heat stroke and heat exhaustion. Here are some tips to keep you and your elderly loved ones well hydrated this winter. And to better health!

Dehydration can kill. It is crucial for anyone to stay properly hydrated but it is even more important for seniors who have other comorbidities as well as dementia like diseases. One of the reasons that the dehydration threat is higher for seniors is because of thinner skin that comes with aging. The thinner skin makes a person more prone to losing fluid. Another issue that makes seniors more open to fluid loss is their medications, some medicines can cause you to become easily dehydrated.

A wide array of medical issues can lead to dehydration. Considering that our bodies are made up of 50% to 65% water, this element is critical to virtually all our physical functions. Every organ and system of the body depends on water, so a shortage of fluid can naturally lead to serious health consequences. Dehydration is one of the most frequent causes of hospitalization among people over the age of 65. Worse, at least one study has found that about one-half of those hospitalized for dehydration died within a year of admission. Older people are at greatest risk for dehydration because the mechanism that normally triggers thirst becomes less sensitive with age. In addition, as we age, a lower percentage of our body weight is water, so dehydration can occur more rapidly. Those elderly individuals most vulnerable to dehydration live alone, especially when they are ill. In addition to fluid lost from fever from flu, or diarrhea from a stomach virus, sickness usually interferes with normal eating and drinking patterns.   We lose water in many ways.

1. Breathing results in humidified air leaving the body
2. Diarrhea is the most common reason a person loses excess water. A significant amount of water can be lost with each bowel movement. Worldwide, dehydration from diarrhea accounts for many of the deaths in children.
3. Vomiting can also be a cause of fluid loss; as well, it makes it difficult to replace water by drinking it.
4. The body can lose significant amounts of water when it tries to cool itself by sweating. Whether the body is hot because of the environment (for example, working in a warm environment), intense exercising in a hot environment, or because a fever is present due to an infection, the body loses a significant amount of water in the form of sweat to cool itself. Depending upon weather conditions, a brisk walk will generate up to 16 ounces of sweat (a pound of water).
5. In people with diabetes, elevated blood sugar levels cause sugar to spill into the urine and water then follows. Significant dehydration can occur. For this reason, frequent urination and excessive thirst are among the symptoms of diabetes.
6. Burn victims become dehydrated because water seeps into the damaged skin. Other inflammatory diseases of the skin are also associated with fluid loss.
7. The inability to drink adequately is the other potential cause of dehydration. Whether it is the lack of availability of water or the lack of strength to drink adequate amounts, this, coupled with routine or extraordinary water losses, can compound the degree of dehydration.
8. One common side effect of many medicines is increased frequency of urination. You need to compensate for these additional lost fluids by drinking more than usual. Medications that often cause this problem are diuretics, blood pressure drugs, antihistamines and psychiatric drugs.
9. The aging process can diminish our natural sense of thirst, but if you also suffer from incontinence, you may be reluctant to drink fluids throughout the day. Sipping often in small amounts is essential to avoid becoming dehydrated.

The body’s initial signs and symptoms of dehydration are:

• Thirst
• Decreased urine output. The urine will become concentrated and more yellow in color.
• Fatigue
• Headache
• Dry nasal passages
• Dry, cracked lips dry mouth the eyes stop making tears sweating may stop muscle cramps nausea and vomiting lightheadedness (especially when standing). weakness will occur as the brain and other body organs receive less blood.
• Coma and organ failure will occur if the dehydration remains untreated.
• Irritability & confusion in the elderly should also be heeded immediately.

Here are some easy remedies and ways to prevent dehydration:

1. As is often the case in medicine, prevention is the important first step in the treatment of dehydration.
2. Fluid replacement is the treatment for dehydration. This can include: water, juice, soups and clear broths, Popsicles, Jell-O, ice cream, milk, puddings, decaffeinated beverages, Kool-Aid, nutritional drink supplements (Ensure, Boost, Sustacal, Resource and instant breakfast drinks), and replacement fluids that may contain electrolytes (Pedialyte, Gatorade, Powerade, etc.)
3. Reduce or eliminate dehydrating beverages such as coffee, tea and soft drinks (unless decaffeinated). But even decaffeinated drinks can contribute to dehydration. Beware of alcohol intake too. Alcoholic beverages increase risk of dehydration because the body requires additional water to metabolize alcohol and it also acts as a diuretic.
4. If you drink the unhealthy beverages, you need to add even more water to you daily total. The dehydration caused by those drinks must be compensated for by increasing the water.
5. Eat lots of fruits and vegetables. Most have a high water content.
6. Drink water all day long in small amounts. It is not good to suddenly gulp down 64 ounces of water. You can fill a 24-32 ounce tumbler in the morning, refill it by late morning and refill again for the afternoon. Consume that by 5 PM. Most people need to start limiting fluids 1-3 hours before bedtime.
7. Individuals with vomiting and diarrhea can try to alter their diet and use medications to control symptoms to minimize water loss. Acetaminophen or ibuprofen may be used to control fever.
8. If an individual becomes confused or lethargic; if there is persistent, uncontrolled fever, vomiting, or diarrhea; or if there are any other specific concerns, then medical care should be accessed. Call 911 for any patient with altered mental status – confusion, lethargy, or coma.

Remember that the lack of a sense of thirst is not a reliable indicator of the need for water. You need water long before you feel thirsty.

Warmly………….David

Guest Blogger for Caregivers

Expectations. An expectant mental attitude.

Are expectations inborn or are they acquired? When a newborn baby cries, are they expecting to have their cry answered? Or, are they crying merely out of a need? Regardless of the basis of the cry, in most instances, the cry is met with food or comfort. From that point on, we could presume that expectation has become acquired. As that child grows, they are taught to expect recognition on their birthday…and on holidays when gifts are given. Awards in school become an expectation for good performance or behavior. Throughout life, targeted marketing ratchets up the ante by heightening the expectations as the child grows into an adult.

Sooner or later, a situation comes along that dashes those expectations and leaves, in its place, disappointment. A friend doesn’t call. An important date on the calendar is ignored. A special favor isn’t acknowledged. A sacrifice isn’t appreciated.

We, as caregivers, face a different type of expectation and disappointment. We care for our loved one, whether spouse, parent or other close relationship. We expect others to care, too. That expectation brings a reality to view. Not everyone cares in the same way.

Some prefer to bury their heads in the sand, choosing not to acknowledge the changes in physical and mental abilities of a loved one. Maybe it’s the pain of loss. Maybe it’s a lack of compassion. Maybe it’s self-interest.

Others prefer to seize the opportunity to nurture the loved one and oversee every need that might arise. Maybe it’s out of a sense of guilt. Or, it could be a sense of obligation. Then, there’s always the possibility of an altruistic devotion.

Somewhere along the line, those who provide the care need help either physically or emotionally. We look to others when the task (please note the word “burden” is not used here since this is a task of love rather than a burden) becomes very heavy. Daily, we see the loss and feel its toll deeply.

Yet, we can’t expect others to share our emotions because those emotions are unique to us, just as the reasons for caring are unique. When we do expect the same dedication from others, we set ourselves up for disappointment. It becomes necessary to accept that we are in no way responsible for the choices and actions, or lack thereof, of any other adult. Free choice. Freedom of choice. Regrets. Everything that comes into play now will continue into the future. Still, we have no control over anyone but ourselves.

Lynn in Florida

MY FORGETTER

What a way to use humor in dementia. Thanks to Kat.

 

Hello Dave

Knew you’d love this, could relate; perhaps poem for your blog someday?  Hope you’re doing well, hugs, kat

   Sent: Wednesday, October 14, 2009 12:07 AM

Subject: Fw: MY FORGETTER

 

Forgetter Be Forgotten

My forgetter’s getting better,
But my rememberer is broke
To you that may seem funny
But, to me, that is no joke

For when I’m ‘here’ I’m wondering
If I really should be ‘there’
And, when I try to think it through,
I haven’t got a prayer!

Oft times I walk into a room,
Say ‘what am I here for?’
I wrack my brain, but all in vain!
A zero, is my score.

At times I put something away
Where it is safe, but, Gee!
The person it is safest from
Is, generally, me!

When shopping I may see someone,
Say ‘Hi’ and have a chat,
Then, when the person walks away
I ask myself, ‘who the hell was that?’

Yes, my forgetter’s getting better
While my rememberer is broke,
And it’s driving me plumb crazy
And that isn’t any joke.

 

LIVE, LOVE & LAUGH A LOT

Donna says, “I really hope that I am helping and not hurting him”

COMMENT from Donna on the “I’m forgetting to eat” post.

Submitted on 2009/10/12 at 12:54pm

David,
I thank you for sharing!  I was researching DLB for information for my siblings when I came across your posting.  We lost our mother a year ago.  She had Alzheimers, but breast cancer is what took her Sept 2008.  Before she passed, our father was diagnosed with Lewy Body.  Since then, my husband and I have moved in with dad, so he wouldn’t be alone at night.  We all live realatively close to dad (all but one of 5 within 7 miles).  My husband and I both work full time, he is retired from the military and now teaches, I am in the Air National Guard working full time.
I see the fog that my dad is in, and it kills me that he is alone for the better part of the day.  I have done some research to educate me on what my dad is experiencing.  I am hoping that my siblings will step up to the plate and spend some time with dad, understand what he is going thru to help him.  When my dad halucinates, at night, I always anounce myself before I go into his room, and then I ask him to ask the people to leave, he usually says they are gone, only once has he said they are right there, when I say it is time to leave so we can go back to sleep.  Then I reasure dad that I have check the house and all the doors are locked and we are the only ones left in the house. I really hope that I am helping and not hurting him. Yesterday was the Race for the Cure, which my husband and I participated in.  Before we got back to dads house, he called and stated that he couldn’t find mother, but that she was there 5 minutes ago.  It really hurt for me to tell him that she has
been gone for over a year.
I have rambled enough.  Thank you for your explaniation of the fog that I have seen my father in.  God Bless you and keep you safe, I have added you to my prayer list as well.
Donna K

Hi Donna…………….I am sorry about your father. If it were me, I think I’d want you to do the same thing. Simple reassurance is a marvelous treatment! Even if the hallucinations persist when you go into the room, I would suggest that you don’t argue. Sometimes simple distracting comments help.

Warmly…..David

Shooting the Moon and Christmas

Such a simple thing. I’m crocheting on a basic easy easy dishcloth which has a multiple of 5 stitches using 2 of the most basic moves of all. Today, for some reason, I’m having a little bit of trouble keeping them lined up. It’s almost like there’s a small magical ghost who switches one around on me and I don’t catch it. Then after going for awhile, I realize something’s wrong and I say, “how did that happen?” To a degree that’s common in all thinks in life…….small mistakes we all make. But to have the little ghost move stitches around on ya about every 5 minutes is frustrating. Today isn’t a good day for TV either. Can’t seem to follow a simple movie……got the characters mixed up in my head this morning. But I still have hands which move, eyes to watch and some good functioning parts of my brain for which I am thankful.

Now I just don’t understand some things in life. Like shooting a rocket into the moon to see if there is hydrogen and water. Can you believe it? I’m ashamed to say that I don’t even remember why we went to the moon in the first place and all of our subsequent visits since then. And to shoot the moon—$79 million!! We did it for free when I was a kid. Just imagine what we could do with that extra money here on earth. Of course I’m thinking of humanitarian ways. But the way things are going, they’d probably just use it to give congressional leaders a raise…0we just can’t win. Right?

Now the other thing. I received an email from the American Family Association which leads you to this page:

Would you be willing to boycott stores which refuse to allow the word "Christmas" to be displayed?

Christians celebrate Christmas as the birthday of Christ. Yet there are those companies which feel that a public recognition of the birthday of Christ is not appropriate. Why? Because a few people may be offended!
Would you be willing to boycott retailers which refuse to allow the word Christmas to be displayed in their stores? Give us your answer. We will forward the results to those retailers which refuse to allow Christmas to be displayed in their stores or promotions.

And another one of their websites One company says ‘Yes’ to Christmas, and one says ‘No’. They mention both Sears and GAP. What a difference between the 2 of them on their stances.

I’ll be curious to know how many sign the petition and which company will they choose.

Warmly……….David

Only in America ……do we leave cars worth thousands of dollars in the driveway and put our useless junk in the garage.

 

A picture from the San Diego zoo on our last vacation before I got sick.