This will be a very different post so take it or leave it!
A friend Cathy Hatley, sent me a link that was streamed live over the internet Sunday for 4 hours! So many people were watching that the site crashed, but then they got it working! I can send you the whole thing if you would like! It is called "Unlocking the code for brain healing". The speaker was Dr. Wes Youngberg, who a lifestyle medicine specialist and clinical nutritionist at Loma Linda University School of Medicine and Public Health. The research is from UCLA, Harvard, LLU, and Cleveland Clinic.
I would urge you to take all studies with a grain of salt, as we all know of well known studies that turn out to be completely false. Do your own research and thinking, and do what is right for you. But this nutshell from the seminar may have some good points in it that will make you think.
A friend of mine, Sherry Lee, and I were talking after church this week. What is it that makes it seems like dementia is now an epidemic? We all knew people in our childhood that were a little daffy, and people said they had "hardening of the arteries". But this seems much worse. Is it the environment? I have been trying to figure out how this all relates to Bob. He certainly exercised enough (at least 2 hours a day on the stationary bike or rowing machine) but maybe he exercised at the wrong time? Lack of sleep as they note, could certainly had something to do with it, but then by all rights, I should have dementia as well. Could the food he ate be at fault? He ate almost a whole box of Little Debbies (which we no longer have in the house) once or twice. Valerie caught him snitching in the middle of the night while I was at work and ratted on him!
So we will proceed with the highlights of the seminar. I was writing as fast as I could, and Bob was talking to me the whole time, and making comments, so I hope it makes sense! You will hear a lot about insulin resistance, and how it relates to the brain.
You need to avoid things that have high fructose at all costs, as it causes insulin resistance and increases the risk for Alzheimer's. Inflammation also stimulates formation of amyloid plaques. Measures of inflammation in plaque dust and the arteries are CRP studies that give some idea of the extent. The brain need some amyloid, but too much is bad and it needs to be controlled. The foods that cause the highest inflammation are 1. Refined grains 2. Processed meats 3. Sugar (candy, cake, pastries) 4. Diet soda (an Alzheimer's pantry he says). Things that help control inflammation are
1. Getting a good night's sleep (the hours before midnight are the best) 2. Get in good bright light, as it increases melatonin formation and helps you sleep better. It also gives you Vitamin D which is even better than Vitamin C as an inflammation fighter. Sleep cleanses the brain. 3. You need to control constant or chronic infections in your body--urinary tract infections, sinus infections, and tooth infections. These will all cause inflammation of the brain (and of the heart as well). Fortify your body to combat infections. 4. Do a gentle walk after you eat dinner. Your blood sugar rises dramatically after you eat, and for every minute you walk, you lower your blood sugar 1-2 points. But hard exercise such as a marathon causes blood sugar to crash, and causes the immune system to plummet. 5. Follow an optimal plant based diet. Beans and legumes are the most powerful food to lower insulin resistance and lower blood sugar for the next 24 hours. You need optimal digestion for optimal brain function. The less insulin (your body produces) the less insulin you need to use in the rest of your body and less amyloid plaques form. In other words, the more insulin you have to produce to lower blood sugar in your body, the less can be used to break down beta amyloids in the brain, and the brain becomes damaged.
The next section is about insulin resistance and information can also be found at "diabetes undone.com", "dryoungberg.com", and "Diabetes and Alzheimer's"--Ewan McNay on YouTube.
Alzheimer's is also called a Type III diabetes--diabetes of the brain. Type II diabetes is called Alzheimer's of the pancreas, and is an insulin resistant state. It is an amyloid disease like Alzheimer's. Diabetes and pre-diabetes are precursors to Alzheimer's and low grade infections cause amyloid plaques in the pancreas. A lot of adults have insulin resistance because of stress and crazy life styles. Acute stress causes the adrenal glands to produce more cortisol and the liver will also dump sugar. Insulin allows sugar to flow from the blood stream to the cells of the body. The brain needs glucose and time released carbohydrates to function. So you need to try to protect the brain from hypoglycemic coma. If the blood sugar is too low in the brain, brain cells will be injured and contribute to Alzheimer's. Low grade infections also cause amyloid plaques in the pancreas. A low grade infection is a major driver of the insulin resistance and beta cell damage. But you need to find the cause of the infection rather than throwing drugs at it! Insulin enhances the hippocampus in the brain and glucose supply to the hippocampus is a key component of memory. Also stay hydrated.
Speaking of drugs, the next risk factor is drugs and he talked a lot about them. A lot of drugs are anticholinergic, and cause memory loss. An anticholinergic agent is a substance that blocks the neurotransmitter acetylcholine in the central and peripheral nervous system. Some of the main ones he mentioned are Xanax, Abilify, Tagamet, Haldol, Zantac, Coumadin, Claritin, and Zyrtec. Some are over the counter, and others are routinely prescribed by physicians. Amazing stuff, huh?
Is your brain spinning with all this "nursey" information? I hope you found even one thing to help. That is, if you lasted through the whole thing!
To your optimum health of brain and body,
Betty
Monday, May 23, 2016
Saturday, May 7, 2016
I don't quite know how to start, so I will just jump right in. The purpose of this blog is to portray our experiences honestly as we go through this journey, so today you are going to see a lot of conflicting emotions.
I have been going to see different dementia care facilities, some with a friend that also goes to the support group, and then I go to see some on my own. One of the ones we went to see had a waiting list of about a year, and a flat rate of $9000 a month. Most start at between 5 and 6 thousand a month, and the cost increases when the level of care increases. We take notes from each one, and then compare our findings.
Then a couple of weeks ago, I took Bob for his 6 month checkup with the primary care physician. He had been up all night for a couple of nights straight, and we must have looked like something the cat (which we don't have) dragged in! We were discussing his condition, as he has recently seemed to be in a downhill slide. There are now issues with safety and incontinence. She recommended that I start thinking about permanent placement. I told her I was going to have to take this slowly, both for my sake, and his sake, while I wrap my mind around it. My thought process at this point is to start a day stay, then a 24/7 respite care when I need it. That would give us a chance to see how he (and I) do. I came home from the doctor's office and was sitting at the table crying and he came over and was comforting me. He said, "Bett, who is giving you trouble? Just let me know and I will take care of them for you." Flashes of the old Bob shining through!
A new friend I have made from yoga class told me recently that her mother is in a dementia care facility called Brookdale Shawnee, and the staff there was wonderful, and she had no complaints at all, which is amazing! It is about 2 miles from us, and I was driving by it one day, so on a whim, I stopped and went in. The marketing manager who would normally give tours was out to lunch, so they went and got the director, and she immediately dropped what she was doing, and gave this person who dropped in a grand tour. Her office is a desk out in a hallway, so she is right there overseeing everything. I was most impressed. AND they had just started a day stay program and we would be the second participants! I felt like that was a sign that we were in the right place at the right time.
In the past month I have also gone to see a recommended elder care attorney to rewrite our existing will and trust. It had bugged me, as I knew I recognized his name from somewhere. We had just started the interview when he slapped his head and said, "I know Bob Woolford! We were in Centurians together!" Centurians is an organization where your employer (in Bob's case, the hospital) sponsors you, and you work together with others in the city for a period of a year to do community service. It becomes a tight knit group, and they get well acquainted during that time. I had heard Bob talk about this man! So right away, I felt more at ease, and he did a wonderful job.
I am also going to a seminar next week with another elder care attorney. Then the next week I go to our stockbroker and financial planner and he has enlisted yet another elder care attorney to walk us through any questions. Our stockbroker has served us for years, and is on the hospital foundation board. Bob used to take care of all the investment dealings, and they had become personal friends. Yet another huge plus! We had talked about getting long term care insurance many times over the years, and did not for several reasons. Do I now recommend it? I am not sure. There are many pros and cons.
Yesterday was his first day in the day stay at Brookdale Shawnee. I was like a new mother when I took him, feeling like saying "Take good care of my baby!" I had told him he was going to a meeting, as he always thinks he needs to go to a meeting at the hospital. I left him and then went to lunch with a special friend and sister-in-love, Arlene Magruder. Bob loves her because she has gray hair and reminds him of his grandma. She can get him to do anything! Maybe I should let my hair go gray! Sorry, I am not ready for that! Anyway, after lunch, I went home to relax. I looked at Facebook, and there was a personal message from the head elder at our church who is also a chaplain. He was visiting someone at Brookdale, and saw Bob. He asked how Bob was doing, and if he was a full time resident there now. I told him, no, it was just a day stay, and asked him to tell me how Bob was doing! He said he was eating lunch and was seemed very comfortable. I took the opportunity to ask what he thought of the facility. He answered back that the director was a gem, and that I had made a good choice for a difficult situation. Then I was able to relax even more! When I went to pick him up, they were just dispersing after a musical program. He was helping little ladies (with gray hair!) out of their chairs. He told me he was in charge of this program, and it wasn't over, so he couldn't leave yet!
Arlene recently sent me a link that talks about Alzheimer's and the stages of grief. They are just like the stages of grief for the dying process in Elisabeth Kubler-Ross's book, "On Death and Dying".
1. Denial 2. Anger 3. Guilt 4. Depression or sadness 5. Acceptance, where the loved ones ultimately acknowledge the diagnosis. During this phase, many times people can find meaning in caring for their loved one. They learn to enjoy the remaining time together. (The link says).
Am I in the acceptance phase yet? I don't know. Our vows said that we would cherish each other "in sickness and in health, as long as we both shall live." I know that I have to take care of myself so I can take care of him, but then guilt sets in and I feel like I am betraying his trust in me.
Another friend told me recently that crosses are given to selected persons only who are strong enough to carry them. Sometimes I don't feel very strong! I am not asking for pity, I am only sharing these feelings. I hope you can see the common thread throughout this blog. It isn't just coincidence that is making the good things happen--it is the hand of God leading me.
Prayers appreciated!
Betty
I have been going to see different dementia care facilities, some with a friend that also goes to the support group, and then I go to see some on my own. One of the ones we went to see had a waiting list of about a year, and a flat rate of $9000 a month. Most start at between 5 and 6 thousand a month, and the cost increases when the level of care increases. We take notes from each one, and then compare our findings.
Then a couple of weeks ago, I took Bob for his 6 month checkup with the primary care physician. He had been up all night for a couple of nights straight, and we must have looked like something the cat (which we don't have) dragged in! We were discussing his condition, as he has recently seemed to be in a downhill slide. There are now issues with safety and incontinence. She recommended that I start thinking about permanent placement. I told her I was going to have to take this slowly, both for my sake, and his sake, while I wrap my mind around it. My thought process at this point is to start a day stay, then a 24/7 respite care when I need it. That would give us a chance to see how he (and I) do. I came home from the doctor's office and was sitting at the table crying and he came over and was comforting me. He said, "Bett, who is giving you trouble? Just let me know and I will take care of them for you." Flashes of the old Bob shining through!
A new friend I have made from yoga class told me recently that her mother is in a dementia care facility called Brookdale Shawnee, and the staff there was wonderful, and she had no complaints at all, which is amazing! It is about 2 miles from us, and I was driving by it one day, so on a whim, I stopped and went in. The marketing manager who would normally give tours was out to lunch, so they went and got the director, and she immediately dropped what she was doing, and gave this person who dropped in a grand tour. Her office is a desk out in a hallway, so she is right there overseeing everything. I was most impressed. AND they had just started a day stay program and we would be the second participants! I felt like that was a sign that we were in the right place at the right time.
In the past month I have also gone to see a recommended elder care attorney to rewrite our existing will and trust. It had bugged me, as I knew I recognized his name from somewhere. We had just started the interview when he slapped his head and said, "I know Bob Woolford! We were in Centurians together!" Centurians is an organization where your employer (in Bob's case, the hospital) sponsors you, and you work together with others in the city for a period of a year to do community service. It becomes a tight knit group, and they get well acquainted during that time. I had heard Bob talk about this man! So right away, I felt more at ease, and he did a wonderful job.
I am also going to a seminar next week with another elder care attorney. Then the next week I go to our stockbroker and financial planner and he has enlisted yet another elder care attorney to walk us through any questions. Our stockbroker has served us for years, and is on the hospital foundation board. Bob used to take care of all the investment dealings, and they had become personal friends. Yet another huge plus! We had talked about getting long term care insurance many times over the years, and did not for several reasons. Do I now recommend it? I am not sure. There are many pros and cons.
Yesterday was his first day in the day stay at Brookdale Shawnee. I was like a new mother when I took him, feeling like saying "Take good care of my baby!" I had told him he was going to a meeting, as he always thinks he needs to go to a meeting at the hospital. I left him and then went to lunch with a special friend and sister-in-love, Arlene Magruder. Bob loves her because she has gray hair and reminds him of his grandma. She can get him to do anything! Maybe I should let my hair go gray! Sorry, I am not ready for that! Anyway, after lunch, I went home to relax. I looked at Facebook, and there was a personal message from the head elder at our church who is also a chaplain. He was visiting someone at Brookdale, and saw Bob. He asked how Bob was doing, and if he was a full time resident there now. I told him, no, it was just a day stay, and asked him to tell me how Bob was doing! He said he was eating lunch and was seemed very comfortable. I took the opportunity to ask what he thought of the facility. He answered back that the director was a gem, and that I had made a good choice for a difficult situation. Then I was able to relax even more! When I went to pick him up, they were just dispersing after a musical program. He was helping little ladies (with gray hair!) out of their chairs. He told me he was in charge of this program, and it wasn't over, so he couldn't leave yet!
Arlene recently sent me a link that talks about Alzheimer's and the stages of grief. They are just like the stages of grief for the dying process in Elisabeth Kubler-Ross's book, "On Death and Dying".
1. Denial 2. Anger 3. Guilt 4. Depression or sadness 5. Acceptance, where the loved ones ultimately acknowledge the diagnosis. During this phase, many times people can find meaning in caring for their loved one. They learn to enjoy the remaining time together. (The link says).
Am I in the acceptance phase yet? I don't know. Our vows said that we would cherish each other "in sickness and in health, as long as we both shall live." I know that I have to take care of myself so I can take care of him, but then guilt sets in and I feel like I am betraying his trust in me.
Another friend told me recently that crosses are given to selected persons only who are strong enough to carry them. Sometimes I don't feel very strong! I am not asking for pity, I am only sharing these feelings. I hope you can see the common thread throughout this blog. It isn't just coincidence that is making the good things happen--it is the hand of God leading me.
Prayers appreciated!
Betty
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