Dementia |
Post Reply | Page 12> |
Author | |||
Jimmy
Revolutionary Joined: 16 Apr 2008 Location: NJ Status: Offline Points: 3702 |
Post Options
Thanks(0)
Posted: 24 Nov 2017 at 1:03am |
||
I am very sad to check into this forum to let everyone know that I have been diagnosed with dementia. I am 60 years old, and I have sustained many, many head injuries during my lifetime. I played rugby as a young man, as well as football (Americans call it soccer). I also fulfilled my obligatory service in the R.A.F.
The trouble with head injuries is that they don't go away. You can regain consciousness in recovery, but the damage you suffer remains for a lifetime. Brain cells don't come back to life once they die, and if you destroy as many as I have, this sort of condition takes over. My discovery of this condition came from an injury I suffered in mid October of this year. I was walking my dog at night and tripped over an uneven sidewalk plank. I was knocked unconscious and I also cracked my cheek bone, as my face struck the broken sidewalk with the force of my fallen body. The emergency ward at the hospital gave me a CT-Scan, and it was revealed that I sustained damage. My general practitioner Dr. sent me for an additional CT-Scan to look at the extent of my brain trauma. He didn't like the results, so he referred me to a neurologist, who diagnosed that I have the condition of dementia. I started taking medication for it in the last couple of days, and I am scared to death of losing my life from this condition, just as Malcolm Young and David Cassidy did last week (they were also in their 60's). My Dr's told me to stay active, physically and mentally......I'll do that! I won't go down without a fight!
|
|||
One man gathers what another man spills
|
|||
Sponsored Links | |||
Jimbo
Honor Roll Joined: 19 Apr 2008 Location: Florida Status: Online Points: 56960 |
Post Options
Thanks(1)
|
||
Wow. That's shocking to hear, Jimmy.
All I can say is to take care of yourself the best you can and keep a positive outlook. They are constantly working on new treatments. Hopefully your condition is in the early enough stages that something will be found before it gets too bad. Best of luck to you!!! |
|||
...the ads take aim and lay their claim to the heart and the soul of the spender
Jackson Browne - The Pretender C'mon, man! Joe Biden - 46th President of the United States |
|||
DarkRealmStar
Junior Executive Joined: 30 Jul 2013 Location: Undisclosed Status: Offline Points: 3181 |
Post Options
Thanks(1)
|
||
Oh my God, Jimmy, I am so shocked and saddened. As Jimbo said, there are new discoveries being made and medications to help. I certainly hope your condition does not progress and you will be active and productive. My positive thoughts and prayers are with you.
|
|||
aka ron
Honor Roll Joined: 11 Apr 2009 Location: WI Status: Offline Points: 33539 |
Post Options
Thanks(1)
|
||
That sounds really scary, Jimmy. Best of luck to you and yours.
|
|||
Thor
Revolutionary Joined: 16 Apr 2008 Location: Rockaway, NJ Status: Offline Points: 63905 |
Post Options
Thanks(1)
|
||
Oh, Jimmy! I'm sorry to hear this. Best of luck to you!
|
|||
Ad nauseous
Revolutionary Joined: 15 Apr 2008 Location: Connecticut Status: Offline Points: 23601 |
Post Options
Thanks(1)
|
||
! I'm sorry to hear that! This is shocking news! Hopefully it's not severe.
|
|||
One good thing about TV-you could always turn it off
|
|||
Jimmy
Revolutionary Joined: 16 Apr 2008 Location: NJ Status: Offline Points: 3702 |
Post Options
Thanks(0)
|
||
Thanks everybody. My Dr's are telling me the same thing; remain physically and mentally active. I'm doing that without a doubt. I walk between 4.5 to 5 miles daily, and I still enjoy reading, but now I'm doing some of the on-line puzzles. I'm really lousy at computer games, I was never any good at those things when Atari came out back in the 80's, and I'm still not very good, but I'll still give it a go!
|
|||
One man gathers what another man spills
|
|||
PaWolf
Revolutionary Hoary Ol' Chestnut... doncha know.... Joined: 15 Apr 2008 Location: GreatWhiteNorth Status: Offline Points: 40769 |
Post Options
Thanks(1)
|
||
Hi Jimmie
What unfortunate news - I'm sure your family will hold you close and treasure each day going forward. There are a LOT of online support groups for both YOU and YOUR FAMILY. I would suggest they all take a few moments to learn about what's available for all. Good stuff, lots of things to do, habits to acquire. Communication is a good thing - keep on talking and typing. My father has dementia and I'm his caretaker. The duty can be tough, but it is a privilege.
|
|||
X <sig.nature>
"What we do for ourselves dies with us, What we do for others is and remains immortal." - Albert Pike |
|||
Jimbo
Honor Roll Joined: 19 Apr 2008 Location: Florida Status: Online Points: 56960 |
Post Options
Thanks(1)
|
||
Try FreeCell Solitaire. It's addictive AND mentally challenging. If you have a tablet or smartphone you can download one of hundreds of apps or you can get the software for a regular computer, etc. Or play online. Fun game. If you really want a challenge, try Spider Solitaire. |
|||
...the ads take aim and lay their claim to the heart and the soul of the spender
Jackson Browne - The Pretender C'mon, man! Joe Biden - 46th President of the United States |
|||
PaWolf
Revolutionary Hoary Ol' Chestnut... doncha know.... Joined: 15 Apr 2008 Location: GreatWhiteNorth Status: Offline Points: 40769 |
Post Options
Thanks(1)
|
||
Seconded! What a great piece of advice, ol'mule. My father's favorite game for probably the last 10 years has been FreeCell and it does help. Spider Solitaire is more complex but as much fun. The main thing is to NOT get discouraged - keep on trying and you will amaze yourself and I swear Dad comes out a session a little sharper,
|
|||
X <sig.nature>
"What we do for ourselves dies with us, What we do for others is and remains immortal." - Albert Pike |
|||
Jimbo
Honor Roll Joined: 19 Apr 2008 Location: Florida Status: Online Points: 56960 |
Post Options
Thanks(1)
|
||
I started playing FreeCell well over ten years ago and still play it almost every day at least once per day. I have an app on my tablet.
Never tire of playing it. |
|||
...the ads take aim and lay their claim to the heart and the soul of the spender
Jackson Browne - The Pretender C'mon, man! Joe Biden - 46th President of the United States |
|||
Jimmy
Revolutionary Joined: 16 Apr 2008 Location: NJ Status: Offline Points: 3702 |
Post Options
Thanks(0)
|
||
Jimbo & Pa Wolf, thank you so much! I will get that app asap! sounds fun! btw......I am still working as well. My boss says that as long as I can do it, the kitchen is still my home away from home! Help like this, and advise like this is such a blessing!
|
|||
One man gathers what another man spills
|
|||
Ad Endless Nauseum
Junior Executive Joined: 11 Oct 2008 Location: San Diego Status: Offline Points: 1044 |
Post Options
Thanks(1)
|
||
Try the crossword puzzles in the daily newspaper. The NY Times puzzle is the only use I have for that paper these days. The rest is useful as bird cage liner, or fish wrap, IMHO. If you get too good at solving them, switch from pencil to pen! You can clip and keep them handy for when you feel like doing them.
|
|||
"Si vis pacem, para bellum"
Defense de fumer et de cracher A message brought to you by this station and the Ad Council. |
|||
Jimbo
Honor Roll Joined: 19 Apr 2008 Location: Florida Status: Online Points: 56960 |
Post Options
Thanks(1)
|
||
Just have a little patience if it takes awhile to get to where you start winning games now & then. Some games are easier to win than others because sometimes the cards get randomly dealt better than other times. It all just depends on "the luck of the draw" as the saying goes. BTW, there are some good instructional videos on YouTube. |
|||
...the ads take aim and lay their claim to the heart and the soul of the spender
Jackson Browne - The Pretender C'mon, man! Joe Biden - 46th President of the United States |
|||
Jimbo
Honor Roll Joined: 19 Apr 2008 Location: Florida Status: Online Points: 56960 |
Post Options
Thanks(0)
|
||
Crossword puzzles are great mental exercise, too. I used to be a crossword puzzle addict. I would also do what you suggested re: clipping them out to do later. I eventually accumulated a stack of undone crossword puzzles that I ended up tossing into the recycling bin... As for using a pen, I never used anything BUT pen. Pencils are for wimps. I did keep a white out pen in hand to cover over the occasional mistake. But I never used a pencil!!! |
|||
...the ads take aim and lay their claim to the heart and the soul of the spender
Jackson Browne - The Pretender C'mon, man! Joe Biden - 46th President of the United States |
|||
Big Momma
Honor Roll I donated. Joined: 17 Apr 2008 Location: New Hampshire Status: Offline Points: 4920 |
Post Options
Thanks(1)
|
||
Dear Jimmy, I am so sad to hear this! My mom has dementia, and there are so many things they can do now. Concentrate on the things that are familiar to you, rutine will be very important. Jimbo's suggestion is excellent. Your family and friends can help too, just by talking about shared memories.
I will be thinking of you and praying. Please keep us posted. |
|||
Thor
Revolutionary Joined: 16 Apr 2008 Location: Rockaway, NJ Status: Offline Points: 63905 |
Post Options
Thanks(1)
|
||
Yes! I used to do those all the time. Crossword puzzles are more than just knowing the words; they're also about working a puzzle, thinking ahead, racking your brain, etc. Or is that "wracking"? Hey, that'd be a good crossword puzzle problem. Anyway, Jimmy, I wholeheartedly concur about doing crossword puzzles. |
|||
aka ron
Honor Roll Joined: 11 Apr 2009 Location: WI Status: Offline Points: 33539 |
Post Options
Thanks(0)
|
||
My dad suddenly just lost it on his final trip to Florida in 2005, his girlfriend and my sisters decided he needed to be protected from himself. He drank a lot, I should pay more attention to the things that will make me live longer.
|
|||
Jimbo
Honor Roll Joined: 19 Apr 2008 Location: Florida Status: Online Points: 56960 |
Post Options
Thanks(0)
|
||
The cool thing about doing crossword puzzles (paper ones, not online) is that it's no sin to look up the answer to something that has you stumped. I used to keep a world Atlas and a thesaurus handy. If I'd had a set of encyclopedias, I'd have used them, too. If I could not figure out an answer after really busting my brain trying, I'd go ahead and look it up. Great way to increase your knowledge of language, world geography and literature. |
|||
...the ads take aim and lay their claim to the heart and the soul of the spender
Jackson Browne - The Pretender C'mon, man! Joe Biden - 46th President of the United States |
|||
Jimbo
Honor Roll Joined: 19 Apr 2008 Location: Florida Status: Online Points: 56960 |
Post Options
Thanks(0)
|
||
Sorry to hear that. Hope it wasn't too traumatic. One thing I'm thankful for is that my mom was mostly mentally intact all the way up to the end. I could still have a conversation with her a week before she died. |
|||
...the ads take aim and lay their claim to the heart and the soul of the spender
Jackson Browne - The Pretender C'mon, man! Joe Biden - 46th President of the United States |
|||
Thor
Revolutionary Joined: 16 Apr 2008 Location: Rockaway, NJ Status: Offline Points: 63905 |
Post Options
Thanks(0)
|
||
What's your M.O.? Do you do sections at a time, or do you first try to fill in all the "across", and then all the "down"? I do it that way so that I can get to the more fun (and sometimes more difficult) stuff, i.e. filling the rest in. |
|||
Jimbo
Honor Roll Joined: 19 Apr 2008 Location: Florida Status: Online Points: 56960 |
Post Options
Thanks(0)
|
||
I do it pretty much the same way. I'll fill in all the easy across answers first, then all the easy down answers. After that, start doing the more difficult ones. I never use pencil, though. Pen only. If I screw up something which I cannot alter the letter(s) to the correct one(s), I'll go ahead and very carefully use a white out pen, then after it dries, rub my fingertip over it to smudge it up a bit so the bright white doesn't show up so much. |
|||
...the ads take aim and lay their claim to the heart and the soul of the spender
Jackson Browne - The Pretender C'mon, man! Joe Biden - 46th President of the United States |
|||
Thor
Revolutionary Joined: 16 Apr 2008 Location: Rockaway, NJ Status: Offline Points: 63905 |
Post Options
Thanks(0)
|
||
Pen or pencil is fine. Even on-line puzzles are OK, as long as they're not the kind that give instant feedback.
Haven't done one in awhile, though. |
|||
Jimbo
Honor Roll Joined: 19 Apr 2008 Location: Florida Status: Online Points: 56960 |
Post Options
Thanks(0)
|
||
One thing I used to do, as a "reward" to myself for finishing one and getting it all right, was to draw a jagged edged box like this one... ... around the puzzle. If I didn't finish it, I was not allowed to draw it around the puzzle. |
|||
...the ads take aim and lay their claim to the heart and the soul of the spender
Jackson Browne - The Pretender C'mon, man! Joe Biden - 46th President of the United States |
|||
Ad Endless Nauseum
Junior Executive Joined: 11 Oct 2008 Location: San Diego Status: Offline Points: 1044 |
Post Options
Thanks(0)
|
||
Good Lord! Jimbo, Thor, and I, all agreeing with each other! Feels good I have used pen for decades, pencil only when I run out of ink. One of the last things I bought from Radio Shack before they mostly went out of business was a digital crossword game. Not bad, good price, but whoever wrote the puzzles was not someone I've run into before. I prefer paper also. |
|||
"Si vis pacem, para bellum"
Defense de fumer et de cracher A message brought to you by this station and the Ad Council. |
|||
Post Reply | Page 12> |
Tweet
|
Forum Jump | Forum Permissions You cannot post new topics in this forum You cannot reply to topics in this forum You cannot delete your posts in this forum You cannot edit your posts in this forum You cannot create polls in this forum You cannot vote in polls in this forum |