Mental Decline & Dependency/Coping With Aging Loved Ones

Hurray for d-i-l's organizing skills. Do returning stepsons provide a source of adult conversation as well as their hands and muscles?

How wonderful for you Noddy, I can understand about the adult conversation bit. Great that some of the gardening is done, just feels good when you look out on a neatened garden doesn't it. Hopefully you can sit outside for a bit and enjoy it.

Take care X

JPB--

Mr. Noddy tends to monopolize conversation with his sons--in the form of monologues which are becoming increasingly disjointed.

Black tulip--

The weather is a bit cold here for garden sitting, but I spend much of my day in front of a Window with a View and the View is much more satisfactory.

Today is going to be another day with the Innards in Transition. Still, last night I had two three-hour stretches of solid sleep.

Last Friday Mr. Noddy totaled the car. He wasn't hurt. No one else was hurt. The only damage--aside from our car--was fifty feet of guard rail which kept him from going all the way down into a picturesque little ravine.

He was wearing a seat belt--which he doesn't always do--but he's physically and emotionally shaken and seriously considering surrendering his driver's license.

Several neighbors and family members have finally told him directly that he shouldn't be driving.

I'm a bit psychically shaken myself. The driving issue has been getting me wound up more and more tightly for several years now. If necessary, I'll do the official steps. Right now he's happily housebound--a bit restless, but Men In Transition are allowed a certain amount of restlessness.

Wow.

I am glad to hear that he is OK at least.

A car can be repaired by the insurance company.

Maybe now you can put that fear at ease.. granted.. there will be another one to take its place, but cars + scary driving are a bit more soul shaking.

Glad to hear that there were no serious injuries, Noddy. Getting Mr Noddy on board to drive less (if at all) is a definite positive but that leaves you in a bit of a bind on errands and such, right? Are your stepsons following through on the plan to give you and Mr Noddy a hand?

I could imagine, Noddy, that this might be like a "tip from heaven" for Mr. Pointer. Sometimes men need such.

Mental Decline
Oh Noddy, that's good news and bad news. But the good news trumps the bad - no injuries, plus Mr Noddy beginning to feel that maybe he shouldn't drive. Doubtless the latter will provides its own problems, but nothing like the mess that could occur if he continues to get behind the wheel.

Anyway, thank God that only the car was totaled - cars can be replaced.

Change of subject: How is the new medication working? I hope your innards are feeling better.

I had been wondering about your quiet, Noddy. Hugs.

That was definitely howl-inspiring, wasn't it.

I'm glad Mr. Noddy's physically all right. Also very glad that this may have brought home the dangers of driving to him.

Thanks, all.

I'm drafting a letter to Mr. Noddy's doctor who has the power to suggest to the Powers that Be that Mr. Noddy should not be on the road.

Meanwhile, I'm coping as best as I can.

Medical opinion is divided about the role of stress in exacerbating the symptoms of Crohn's Disease. Some say that of course stress is a factor. Others are sure there is a separation between mind and body.

I'm a recently-converted believer that mind and body are one and stress excaberates the symptoms of Crohn's.

At least this act of the domestic drama is taking place in springtime.

Again, many thanks. Your support means a great deal to me. Dementia is a lonely place for everyone involved.

Keep Holding Your Dominion Noddy - let us know when you need your friends to take the mental load... all we can do... but thinking of you. Take care. x

Oh, Noddy, I wish I had wise words.
But my thoughts are with you.

I'm sorry that the Crohn's is still giving you such problems, Noddy. It certainly seems intuitive to me that the stress would be a contributing factor. Sorry about the stress, and hope that this will be one for the silver-lining department once the driving situation is resolved...

What soz said.

Again, thanks all.

I'm taking 8 Big Blue Pills every day and am starting to see some results in spite of current stress levels. Most people find improvement is slow--and erratic.

On to survive the holiday weekend.

I'm sure that you will, Noddy. And I do hope that this weelkend will end better than just in survival!


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Mother and my aunt seem to survive my absense quite well, even don't complain (a lot) about the not so frequent visits by "my deputy" (Mrs Walter). (She does an awfull good job, though!)

Walter--

Thank you.

I've just finished the final draft of a letter to Mr. Noddy's Internist asking that he recommend Mr. Noddy's license be pulled.

Mr. Noddy has decided he's perfectly capable of driving--and at this point the law is on his side.

My Intestinal Poltergeist is performing magnificent arabesques.

Does the local doc have email or do you have to wait for the postal service?

From the few other cases of individuals with Crohn's that I know, I agree with you that stress compounds intestinal reactions in Chohn's patients (at least with the folks I can talk to about it). Getting Mr Noddy's Dr to cooperate with the driving will help relieve some stress. Although..... there's something to be said for having him in another place periodically than hovering around the house all day. Getting him to that other place could be problematic. Do any of his buddies drive by your place on their way to the coffee shop where they gather?

JPB--

Unfortunately, communication with the doctor will be by snail mail.

Mr. Noddy's coffee klatch is just a half a mile away--down a very steep, narrow, winding road. The problem will be that Mr. Noddy has no sense of time. We'll agree that I'll drive him for coffee at 11:00--and at 10:59 he'll decide to shave first. He might decide at 10:29 that he wants to go at 10:30. He might decide that he doesn't want to go at 11;00 after all--he'll wait until 4:00--by which time I'm out of both energy and patience.

He's also fond of window shopping in hardware stores.

Being the Designated Driver won't be easy--but it will be more socially responsible than having him on the road.