Tonight's picture was taken on July 29, 2008. Six days after he was diagnosed. That day, Mattie had a bone biopsy and thankfully was totally knocked out for the procedure. Of course each sedation, had consequences. As you can see Mattie wanted this bandage off of his arm and the bandage adhesives became another problem to manage. Over time, I became an absolute expert at taking off bandages with the use of rubbing alcohol.
Quote of the day: Alzheimer’s is a disease for which there is no effective treatment whatsoever. To be clear, there is no pharmaceutical agent, no magic pill that a doctor can prescribe that will have any significant effect on the progressive downhill course of this disease. ~ David Perlmutter
If life is not challenging enough, today I am dealing with my dad's Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS). Not the diarrhea version but the constipation one. My mom hates all the diarrhea, and I am not in love with it, but I will take it over my dad's constipation any day. Constipation with him is like a national crisis. Literally everything in our house stops in order to manage him. He moans, complains, and is solely focused on his bloating, cramping, and asking when is he going to go to the bathroom. The answer is I DON'T KNOW!
Yes I track my dad's daily bowel movements. I have to, because he can't and in 2020, I took him to the emergency room in Los Angeles because he did not have a bowel movement for a week and he landed up with an impacted colon. In other words, he was hospitalized for a week!
My dad has had IBS for decades, but what is new now is the cycling in of constipation. Of course having moderate stage dementia doesn't help on any level. We regulate what he eats, so I think what is causing the problems are the snacks and lunches he eats at his memory care center. I have asked them to remove all dairy produces and grains. But nonetheless, he is still being affected.
Truly all of this can make me insane and I realize Peter is on overload with this. We have NO life whatsoever. I am running a nursing home full time, I have lost myself, and my ability to have relationships with anyone at this point. It is grueling, exhausting, and with no end in sight.
Today I was hopeful that after I got my dad ready, I would be able to take Sunny for a walk. But in usual fashion here, the next crisis developed and I am once again unable to walk Sunny. It is very discouraging. I have administered a laxative suppository for my dad but now three hours later, it has no effect. So we wait. We were going to go out for dinner, but clearly this isn't possible given the situation.
I just sent Peter to the grocery store and will cook dinner. Another chore in the long line of chores.
I snapped this photo at noon. I honestly don't understand why they insist on getting up so early, if after breakfast, they both sleep. Unfortunately once I am up, there is no sleeping for me, as I have tons to do and to get done.
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