philoshop Posted June 14, 2019 Share Posted June 14, 2019 My Dad was diagnosed a couple of years ago with Alzheimer's. He's 79 YO, BTW, and has always been a very outgoing and gregarious person.Now he's very quiet as he retreats into his own world. I see him 2 or 3 times a week so I've definitely seen all the little changes. What blew me away was last month when I took him to the local auto wrecking yard to look for a hubcap for his truck. We didn't find a hubcap, and we were almost a half mile back in. On the walk out he stood right in front of me and said, "Son. There's a very good chance that I won't remember your name in the near future, but I'll never forget who you are and what you mean to me." I almost lost it right there. If anyone else is dealing with this horrible disease in their family, let me know how you deal with it, please. My toolkit with this kind of chit is very limited. 8 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
moog5050 Posted June 14, 2019 Share Posted June 14, 2019 Praying for you Philo. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hunter007 Posted June 14, 2019 Share Posted June 14, 2019 (edited) 19 minutes ago, philoshop said: My Dad was diagnosed a couple of years ago with Alzheimer's. He's 79 YO, BTW, and has always been a very outgoing and gregarious person.Now he's very quiet as he retreats into his own world. I see him 2 or 3 times a week so I've definitely seen all the little changes. What blew me away was last month when I took him to the local auto wrecking yard to look for a hubcap for his truck. We didn't find a hubcap, and we were almost a half mile back in. On the walk out he stood right in front of me and said, "Son. There's a very good chance that I won't remember your name in the near future, but I'll never forget who you are and what you mean to me." I almost lost it right there. If anyone else is dealing with this horrible disease in their family, let me know how you deal with it, please. My toolkit with this kind of chit is very limited. My aunt and grandfather had it but at a earlier age I guess now they have better tests for it . Stay positive it can be a very slow disease before it gets really bad and I think now they have better drugs to slow it down . You have to think positive don't panic , it may not be a problem for many many years . Everyone is different. Edited June 14, 2019 by Hawk914 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lawdwaz Posted June 14, 2019 Share Posted June 14, 2019 No first hand experience with the disease but have seen TONS of it from friends and clients in my past life. It's a terrible thing of course and all I can add is prayers and hope. Enjoy these days especially this Sunday........ 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
philoshop Posted June 14, 2019 Author Share Posted June 14, 2019 25 minutes ago, moog5050 said: Praying for you Philo. Thank you my friend! I pray daily for my Dad, and of course for my Mom who watches it creep in like a weird fog on a daily basis. It's a horrible disease. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
moog5050 Posted June 14, 2019 Share Posted June 14, 2019 1 minute ago, philoshop said: Thank you my friend! I pray daily for my Dad, and of course for my Mom who watches it creep in like a weird fog on a daily basis. It's a horrible disease. Enjoy every minute with him Philo no matter his state of recognition. You know the true man not the man ravaged by something out of his control. Just love him and pray. That’s all you can do. 5 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
philoshop Posted June 14, 2019 Author Share Posted June 14, 2019 18 minutes ago, Lawdwaz said: No first hand experience with the disease but have seen TONS of it from friends and clients in my past life. It's a terrible thing of course and all I can add is prayers and hope. Enjoy these days especially this Sunday........ Big party planned for this Sunday!! I'm not even sure my Dad will understand why there's a party, but even my leftist brother from New Hampshire is making the trip. 6 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sodfather Posted June 14, 2019 Share Posted June 14, 2019 Sorry to hear that I have known people who’s family members experience this. Stay strong prayers sent 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GreenDrake Posted June 14, 2019 Share Posted June 14, 2019 I am sorry to hear that. Let him know he is loved but more importantly let him know that are loved by him. Too often we forget to give them the satisfaction of knowing the love they give us. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
philoshop Posted June 14, 2019 Author Share Posted June 14, 2019 17 minutes ago, moog5050 said: Enjoy every minute with him Philo no matter his state of recognition. You know the true man not the man ravaged by something out of his control. Just love him and pray. That’s all you can do. I spend as much time as I can with both of my parents. I know that that time is likely short. I was offered a very lucrative position at a horse ranch in Lexington, KY doing custom carpentry so their uber-rich clients could see how well their horses live. It was a substantial six figure job and I turned it down because it would have meant being away from my parents at a time when they need me.They've cared about me for the sixty years that I've been here, I owe them. Some people think that sentiment is stupid. I don't. 8 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Swamp_bucks Posted June 14, 2019 Share Posted June 14, 2019 47 minutes ago, philoshop said: My Dad was diagnosed a couple of years ago with Alzheimer's. He's 79 YO, BTW, and has always been a very outgoing and gregarious person.Now he's very quiet as he retreats into his own world. I see him 2 or 3 times a week so I've definitely seen all the little changes. What blew me away was last month when I took him to the local auto wrecking yard to look for a hubcap for his truck. We didn't find a hubcap, and we were almost a half mile back in. On the walk out he stood right in front of me and said, "Son. There's a very good chance that I won't remember your name in the near future, but I'll never forget who you are and what you mean to me." I almost lost it right there. If anyone else is dealing with this horrible disease in their family, let me know how you deal with it, please. My toolkit with this kind of chit is very limited. Sorry to hear about your dad its not easy. My father just got diagnosed with dimentia 58yrs old not the same as your father but its still hard to watch him slowly become less of himself. Im in the same boat very little info. Praying for you and your family and just enjoy the time you havr with him. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nytracker Posted June 14, 2019 Share Posted June 14, 2019 Sorry my friend . Enjoy every minute and I hope the disease progresses very slow . The disease took my grandmother 20 years ago. There has been many advancements in treatment since we went through it . I pray they find a cure. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
left field Posted June 14, 2019 Share Posted June 14, 2019 I watched my MiL fade away. A brilliant mind that blew away in the wind like so much chaff. The day she died, we cried and celebrated. I’m sorry I don’t have better or kinder words. It’s a horrible disease. Best of luck. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
philoshop Posted June 14, 2019 Author Share Posted June 14, 2019 Let me just say this to temper the sympathy: as much as I love my parents, and I dearly do, they've become senior "helicopter parents". I'm the oldest of four children (I'm 60) and I'm the only one who's unmarried. They drive me nuts at times. I deal with it by turning my phone off occasionally. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fletch Posted June 14, 2019 Share Posted June 14, 2019 It’s a hard thing. I’ve had 3 grandparents suffer through it. My grandmother when I was still just a youngster. 8-9 years old. Now my moms husband is starting to go through it. I just try to remember them before. And help them all I can now. I’m hoping they find a cure soon because I’m a prime candidate Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rachunter Posted June 14, 2019 Share Posted June 14, 2019 sorry to hear we've been dealing with this nasty disease for a few years with my father[77yrs old] it's brutal watching a man I love and respect deteriorate.He kept falling and each time it seemed to make thing worse.We finally had to put him in a nursing home for his own safety.My mom past away last year and he already forgot who she was.At first I got mad but now understand it's the nature of the beast.I was going up to see him every day but it's to heartbreaking.Today he asked who the woman was that came to see him.It was my sister. They seem to have good days and bad days.Enjoy as much time as you can with him.I find that pictures really light him up somedays he know everyone other days I have to remind him.Another thing I noticed is he remembers the past more then the present. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rachunter Posted June 14, 2019 Share Posted June 14, 2019 4 minutes ago, philoshop said: Let me just say this to temper the sympathy: as much as I love my parents, and I dearly do, they've become senior "helicopter parents". I'm the oldest of four children (I'm 60) and I'm the only one who's unmarried. They drive me nuts at times. I deal with it by turning my phone off occasionally. You sound like me lol I miss those crazy phone calls from my mom. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
grampy Posted June 15, 2019 Share Posted June 15, 2019 Really seems to be a lot of this now days? We've dealt with it in our family, and close friends family too. Will keep you and your parents in my thoughts and prayers philo. Surely he is a great Dad. And you my friend are a great Son. God bless you all. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
philoshop Posted June 15, 2019 Author Share Posted June 15, 2019 20 minutes ago, rachunter said: You sound like me lol I miss those crazy phone calls from my mom. Sometimes I just don't want to be asked every hour throughout the day if I've eaten breakfast, or lunch, or dinner and if I've had my vitamins: and whether or not my underwear is clean. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hunter007 Posted June 15, 2019 Share Posted June 15, 2019 (edited) 3 minutes ago, philoshop said: Sometimes I just don't want to be asked every hour throughout the day if I've eaten breakfast, or lunch, or dinner and if I've had my vitamins: and whether or not my underwear is clean. My aunt use to keep asking everyone when we went over if they wanted coffee I remember. Before she really lost it all took over 10 years . Edited June 15, 2019 by Hawk914 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rachunter Posted June 15, 2019 Share Posted June 15, 2019 4 minutes ago, philoshop said: Sometimes I just don't want to be asked every hour throughout the day if I've eaten breakfast, or lunch, or dinner and if I've had my vitamins: and whether or not my underwear is clean. yup I never heard the end of it if I didn't call when I got up to my house.Then every other day until I came back. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The_Real_TCIII Posted June 15, 2019 Share Posted June 15, 2019 We are going through it with my mother in law and it is heartbreaking,I’m sorry to hear about your dadSent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Pro 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jeremy K Posted June 15, 2019 Share Posted June 15, 2019 My dad was just diagnosed with the early stages , he's being proactive about ,he goes to a clinic where they do testing and he is currently trying different medications. 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Merlot Posted June 15, 2019 Share Posted June 15, 2019 1 hour ago, philoshop said: My Dad was diagnosed a couple of years ago with Alzheimer's. He's 79 YO, BTW, and has always been a very outgoing and gregarious person.Now he's very quiet as he retreats into his own world. I see him 2 or 3 times a week so I've definitely seen all the little changes. What blew me away was last month when I took him to the local auto wrecking yard to look for a hubcap for his truck. We didn't find a hubcap, and we were almost a half mile back in. On the walk out he stood right in front of me and said, "Son. There's a very good chance that I won't remember your name in the near future, but I'll never forget who you are and what you mean to me." I almost lost it right there. If anyone else is dealing with this horrible disease in their family, let me know how you deal with it, please. My toolkit with this kind of chit is very limited. Terrible disease...one day at a time is all I can offer. It helped us out when our father went through this. Ten year journey for us. Hang in there. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
philoshop Posted June 15, 2019 Author Share Posted June 15, 2019 It's just so hard being helpless against such an insidious disease. I spend a lot of time with my folks, often when I would rather be doing something else. When Mom asks about my underwear, though, the visit is over. ;-) 1 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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