Where Do I Begin?

Dear Sofia.

First, let me apologize for such a delayed response to your kind post.  I have just not been on this site for a while, and just this day, while going through my really-piled-up "new" e-mails, I happened upon the notice of your reply. 

Thank you for your compliment on my writing.  I do have aspirations of authoring a novel, which would actually be a facsimile of my own life.  Somehow, though, the time to really produce such a work is usurped by others in my household, and the rigors of daily life.  I'm sure you have probably felt that way too, huh?

Now, do I think my nightmare was caused by the medication?  Yes, I really do.  I think it "jolted" an area of my brain, so to speak, as that dream was very atypical for me.  Since that one, I've had another dream that was similar in its theme, but not so terrifying as the first one.  But, I plan to continue with the medication, anyway.  I might drift into a constant life of nightmare if left untreated, you know.  I would like to delay that as long as possible.

Dear Carol,

I appreciated your reply post, and I regret that this one has been so tardy.  (Please see my above post of reply to Sofia, for details.)

I do have an event to share, that I failed to include in "Sofia."  I recently experienced my second "Alzheimer's moment." 

Several family members were discussing the pros and cons of local restaurants.  We've been lamenting the very poor quality of food we have received of late, when eating out - no matter what the cost of the meal.  They bandied about a long list, then my husband summarized with his offering that, on the whole, Shiloh's was the best, all-around.

That name, Shiloh's, hit my ears, and my brain tried to assemble other information to go with it, to make me know about that restaurant (which we go to quite often), but it would not compute.  I was sitting there, knowing that I should be able to know all about it, but I only drew a very unsettling blank!  I humbly admitted my "moment," and asked them to help me by giving me a clue that might connect me.  They did, and I was past it, immediately.  But, it sadly made me wiser concerning what is to come.

My only other such incident was about three years ago, before I was taking Alzheimer's medications.  The coffee pot emptied before our guests were finished visiting.  I went to the kitchen to do my hostess duties, rinsed out the carafe, and filled it with fresh water.  I turned to pour the water into the automatic coffee-maker . . . , then found that I had no idea as to where it should be poured.  Not wanting to draw attention to myself, I "winged it," and poured it atop the basket of coffee grounds.  As you might expect, my secret was soon revealed, as watery grounds poured over the countertop and floor of the kitchen.  Many helpers filled my kitchen, as it was not possible to quickly stop the flow that continued from the coffee-maker.  My red face took me to sit in the living room, to be served my next cup of coffee prepared by some-one else.  It is truly a new place to be.

How sad and frightening these episodes must be! I'm so sorry. I'm glad you are taking the medications, and hope you can find the right kinds and doses so that the nightmares and such are no longer part of this painful journey. Keep coming back to our site, and keep up with Leah, as she is always dealing with her vacular dementia changes. They all have things in common.

Blessings,

Carol