Jan the Aggressor

Her condition seems to improve somewhat, then it gets worse. She leans to the left and then she leans to the right, or she doesn't lean. It's hard to tell or know what to expect when I go to be with Jan. I have seen her be aggressive toward men and women. It's a shock to anyone that sees it as they don't expect that of Jan. I certainly don't expect it, but she has shown that same aggression towards me. Certainly can't take it personal, but when you look into her half opened eyes and you don't see anyone there, you can almost just feel her slipping away. Her gibberish has really slowed down, doesn't try to speak much at all now and she repeats fewer and fewer words that she hears from others. Everyone is trying hard to find a way to keep her comfortable as best we can. Hospice is playing a bigger role as things continue to decline. It's hard to say that because we all want to do something that helps her, but with this disease and with normal dementia, very little is available. I pray for better treatment for these type of diseases. When this type of disease strikes, their story is virtually over, no more chapters to be written. The "Dash" has been written and all that we are waiting for is for the pen to be picked up and the date to be added. God have mercy and give us a cure.

No Answers

These past few weeks have been difficult. She has been to the emergency room in hopes of discovering what was going on, but we didn't get any answers. The hospital wanted to admit her to the hospital and do more testing, but I refused. They wanted to do a MRI to see more detail of her brain. The thought was that maybe she was having a stroke. They told me that if she was having a stroke that they would not use the powerful stroke medication that they normally use due to the bleed that she experienced in February. It made no sense to do an MRI then. They recommended aspirin for treatment. They are pretty oblivious to any form of dementia in ER. They kept trying to speak with Jan and I kept telling them she can't talk due to her disease, they really didn't seems to understand.
Jan has been walking with a lean to the left side, pretty sever lean. Her doctor has changed some of her meds and now she is leaning less. She had pretty strong twitches throughout her body, but they seemed to have slowed down.
Upon visiting with her doctor we determined that she has probably had this disease about 10 years. She has been diagnosed for 6 years and 3 months. At diagnosis the report was based on mental tests and the results were hard to take at that time. With that in mind her doctor said that she easily could have had this disease 4-5 years earlier and we just didn't recognize it. that is how we get to 10 years. Life expectancy with picks disease is 2-10 years. Jans good health has carried her a long way. The problems we are having lately are probably just the effects of having the disease for 10 years. She could have a stroke, stop eating, get a infection, or her body functions could just shut down. We are in the later stages.

One of a Kind

While Jan may not be like most of the residence at her home due to the difference in the type of illness, she continues to show me that she is and always has been one of a kind. She has reached her same weight that she was in high school, so have I of course but I'm carrying the weight she has lost, so I'm carrying hers and mine. :):)
I doubt anyone who reads this walks as much as she does on any given day. It really amazes me. From the time she gets up which is 6-7:00 am. she is on that floor walking. She sits every once and a while, but she is going and sometimes going fast. She will drag me by the arm so much that I let her go and wait at the end of hall for her to come back. No this is not normal for Jan but it gives you an idea as to the compulsive nature of her disease. She is driven by that disease. When I say Jan is one of a kind I have yet to meet a family, or friends who are visiting who don't already know Jan. They all speak to her and tell me that she always greets them with a smile. If she doesn't know them she will walk up like she is suppose to greet them, sometimes she speaks gibberish's or she will repeat what they say to her.
Jan has been there 8 months and things are still a struggle as far as care is concerned. People just don't care the way they should. I try to motivate them as best I can, but it doesn't seem to help.