My vow of silence lasted one and one half days. It was terminated sooner than I had hoped but did serve the purpose of calming me down. Also, as Gregory regained his health, his daily functioning improved somewhat. Another lesson learned for the future.
Then I got the same flu he had (not a bad) and was forced to take care of myself a little more than taking care of him. I did get him to sit on the toilet every two hours (with success) and prepared his meals. I was forced to "calm down" even more by my being ill.
After the first day of silence, I decided that perhaps a next step would be ONE WORD AT A TIME. Since complex directions, statements, or questions confuse him, maybe one word communications would help. It didn't.
As he was leaving the bathroom and I was in bed not feeling well, I said, "Light." meaning please turn off the bathroom light. He was not able to connect the word "Light" with the room he was in. So I added, "Bathroom." Still no connection. Led to "Bathroom light." Still no connection with asking him to turn off the light as he was leaving the bathroom. So I finally gave up on the "One Word" concept and asked, "Please turn off the bathroom light?" He did.
The one word thing about Alzheimer's? "Insidious" and it always wins no matter how closely you follow or create the rules!
Showing posts with label Rules. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Rules. Show all posts
Tuesday, March 19, 2013
Tuesday, July 31, 2012
Arising to Panic
We have gotten used to arising in panic.
Late hours of the night or wee hours of the morning.
"There. Look. What is that?"
"Nothing, you are just dreaming. Nothing to worry about. Go back to sleep."
"Are you sure. Are you sure."
"Yes, everything is OK," stroking his cheek, holding his hand.
We both settle down and fall back to sleep.
In the beginning these events used to disturb me and I could not get back to sleep. Now they have become expected and for some reason that makes them easier with which to deal.
Telling Gregory that "You're only dreaming" is easier and kinder than addressing the fact that he has begun to hallucinate. I am not sure what he is seeing, and to him it is real ... but I can be calm and assure him that everything is under control. He is able to trust me and fall back asleep.
There is the possibility that he wakes and is not able to separate his dream from reality. If this is the case we may not have hallucination but something none-the-less real for him. Again, calm support and comforting does the trick.
More difficult, but still now expected and therefore tolerable, is when he knocks an imaginary something off my sleeping shoulder bringing me fully awake quickly. Sometimes picking something out of my hair is either a service or an hallucination, but either way I react calmly.
To me it is the unexpected and unknown that freaks me out. Once I can rely on something, even if it isn't pretty, I can better deal with it. Once I can begin, at least, to understand what is happening or what might be going on in his mind, I can better deal with it.
A third aspect in better dealing is to not allow myself to worry about the future. I know it will get worse. I know the "rules" and "understandings" will change, but that is tomorrow. Tonight I'll just get back to sleep, holding my honey's hand, and sending him thoughts of love.
Late hours of the night or wee hours of the morning.
"There. Look. What is that?"
"Nothing, you are just dreaming. Nothing to worry about. Go back to sleep."
"Are you sure. Are you sure."
"Yes, everything is OK," stroking his cheek, holding his hand.
We both settle down and fall back to sleep.
In the beginning these events used to disturb me and I could not get back to sleep. Now they have become expected and for some reason that makes them easier with which to deal.
Telling Gregory that "You're only dreaming" is easier and kinder than addressing the fact that he has begun to hallucinate. I am not sure what he is seeing, and to him it is real ... but I can be calm and assure him that everything is under control. He is able to trust me and fall back asleep.
There is the possibility that he wakes and is not able to separate his dream from reality. If this is the case we may not have hallucination but something none-the-less real for him. Again, calm support and comforting does the trick.
More difficult, but still now expected and therefore tolerable, is when he knocks an imaginary something off my sleeping shoulder bringing me fully awake quickly. Sometimes picking something out of my hair is either a service or an hallucination, but either way I react calmly.
To me it is the unexpected and unknown that freaks me out. Once I can rely on something, even if it isn't pretty, I can better deal with it. Once I can begin, at least, to understand what is happening or what might be going on in his mind, I can better deal with it.
A third aspect in better dealing is to not allow myself to worry about the future. I know it will get worse. I know the "rules" and "understandings" will change, but that is tomorrow. Tonight I'll just get back to sleep, holding my honey's hand, and sending him thoughts of love.
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