That old doo-wop song is ringing back in my head as I write this. No, it is nothing critical or negative. Joinging the workforce may be a financial necessity for some of us, but it is also a great way to "get back into the mainstream." Do what you love and the money will follow...

Gt,
You and your husband have been through a lot together. He is very lucky to have you in his life.

I will do some research to see what I can find in alternative medicine.

Don't apologize for a long post. It is helpful to know the history. Thank you for sharing it with us.

Vicki

Vicki, thanks for your interest in my story. This probably is not the most appropriate forum for posting it, but here we are, and you asked, so here goes.

Several years ago, my husband fought a year-long battle with diarrhea. The doctors could not find a cause, nor a successful treatment. He kept losing weight (from 165 to 130 - he's 5' 10"). Friends were asking questions about him because his complexion was getting so gray. I knew I was losing him. That's when I began my search into alternative medicine. By God's intervention, we found a chiropractor who was knowledgeable about nutritional treatment for the diarrhea. We found out that many of the drugs/treatments my husband had been taking during the previous year had practically destroyed the digestive enzymes and friendly bacteria in his digestive tract. Even though he was eating normally, his body was not assimmilating the nutrients - he was literally starving to death. It was a very difficult period in my life. (for more detail on this period, see my post of July 11 in EO Spousal Caregivers Meeting Room 11:55 a.m.)

The chiropractor we went to was really wierd, but he knew his stuff. He literally saved my husband's life. We had to make drastic changes in our diet and take several nutritional supplements and enzymes to bring it under control. During the year we went to this chiropractor, I did tons of research - read anything I could find on digestive problems, nutritional supplements, and asked lots of questions - then we struck out on our own. I don't even remember all of the things we tried. We are now in "maintenance mode" and though he still has an occasional attack, by keeping careful watch on what we eat and his health in general, we are able to keep it under control.

The other battle was with his hiatal hernia problems. As long as I've known him, he's had trouble with reflux (backing up of stomach contents.) It used to drive me nuts when I'd see him "urp" and then re-chew his food. Yuk! After a while, I just ignored it (while trying to get him to eat slower and chew his food better - how does a wife do that without him thinking you're nagging?)

After the battle with diarrhea, the reflux seemed to get worse, and he was experiencing more pain. It got so bad that some days he had to sleep in his chair - lying down was too painful.

I finally got him to go to the doctor (why do men have to be in pain before they'll go to the doctor?), and the doctor referred him to a specialist, who examined his esophagus and stomach with a tube down his throat. He found considerable bleeding and erosion of the esophagus as well as a polyp that had him concerned. He said that they sometimes become cancerous. He then explained that the digestive juices backing up into his esophagus were literally trying to "digest" the esophageal wall. Not good!

He started treatment with prilosec and another med I've forgotten the name of. These were such powerful meds that he had to alternate them - one for a month and then the other. He took these meds for about three years. After about a year, the polyp cleared up and the bleeding stopped (mostly), but there was still a lot of angry red inflammation. Besides, the side effects listed for these meds were scary (like, brain damage from long term use). Somewhere during the second year, the doctor told me that my husband would probably have to take these meds for the rest of his life. The future did not look very bright. His choices, as it seemed to me, were: (1) taking those meds forever and possibly suffering brain damage (he was very sensitive to meds), or (2) not taking them and risking suffering a ruptured esophagus and the reflux stuff getting into who knows where. Neither seemed like a very good option to me, so I went into my research mode again. Fortunately, my husband was willing to try anything I suggested (including cabbage juice, which tastes awful, but was very healing). I tried explaining to the doctor what I was doing, but he always gave me that "you can do it if you want to, but it probably won't work," look).

After a couple of years of dietary changes (again), nutritional supplements and lots of juicing, and lots and lots of prayer, we got it under control, so at his next exam I asked the doctor if he could reduce the meds he was taking. He put him on a high dosage of Zantac instead of the two meds he had to alternate. A couple of prescription refills later, the pharmacist didn't have the dosage the doctor had prescribed, so he gave us twice as many tablets at half the dosage. So we started experimenting - 2 tabs one day, only one the next and when we were sure that was working, we tried only one a day for a while, then one every other day, until he didn't need any at all.

When we went back to the doctor for his next six month exam, the doctor and the nurse looked at each other in disbelief. The inflammation was entirely gone and the esophagus looked normal except for the erosion damage that had already occurred (scar tissue). As he walked out the door, the doctor turned to me and said, "keep doing what you're doing, it seems to be working." And I praised God for once again giving me the wisdom and strength I needed to see it through. We are now in "maintenance mode" on that one too.

So, you see why this current journey is so scary for me, and why I am having so much difficulty dealing with what might be down the road. I can only deal with now. All of the meds for AD currently available (that I have read about) have possible digestive related side effects and therefore are not an option for my husband - his digestive system is just too fragile. So I go into research mode again. I read all I can get my hands on about AD and dementia, but have not found much about AD and alternative medicine. I do have a couple of books that are helpful. One advantage I do have is that my husband is not taking any drugs for other ailments as some of your LOs are. I am not knowledgeable enough to know how they might inter-relate. It's enough for me to study the synergy of herbs and nutritional supplements. So, I talk with God a lot, and ask for wisdom in the search and the treatment route we should take. God has promised to give us wisdom when we ask (James 1:5), and I depend on that promise.

Yes, I have done quite a bit of research on AD, but there is much more to be done before we can determine what might be the best options for us. Any input or sources you may have or know about, especially on alternative medicine, will be greatly appreciated.

Thanks, all, for listening. Sorry this post is so long.

GT

Hoping you will read the "Howard Hotlines", as they were my WAY of sharing.

Janie

Gt,
Your strong faith in God, seems to have helped you in the past as well as the present. Tell us how you almost lost you're husband twice before.

Have you done a lot of research on Alz. ?

Janie,
Thanks for sharing the information on
"Howard Hotlines." I will read that as soon as I leave this site.

Thanks, Janie.

Vicki

quote:

---

Originally posted by Sugarlips:

Right after Mom died I had this urge to go up to people in stores or wherever, and say
"be nice to your loved one. You don't know how much more time you will have with them."
Life is precious. Do things with family and friends that you can look back on fondly.

Vicki

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Hi, Vicki -- Reading what you wrote reminded me of something I had posted almost a year and a half ago on the "Howard Hotlines" I used to do for Daddy. Just wanted to share it with you as it seems we feel the same way.
http://community.webtv.net/JANIE-R/HowardHotline2122000/index.html

Love,
Janie

You are so right, EA and Vicki. You are never the same after caregiving someone who is facing death, even if you win the battle (that round anyway). I am very fortunate - I have been given a second and a third chance to enjoy and appreciate my husband, though sometimes it seems as though we have been living on a yo-yo. But we will continue to fight this current battle together. Everyone tells me that this one cannot be won, but then, I've been told that "there's nothing more we can do" twice before. And, with God's help and endless research, we have them both under control. But it is a constant battle to keep them there. So, I continue to research and talk with God about it. It is wonderful to know that God is in control of everything, and if He chooses to show me how to bring this one under control, I will be grateful. If not, I will trust Him to know what is best for me.

GT

EA, you are so right. After caregiving you really are a different person. Your values change. Things that used to annoy me simply don't matter any longer.

Right after Mom died I had this urge to go up to people in stores or wherever, and say
"be nice to your loved one. You don't know how much more time you will have with them."
Life is precious. Do things with family and friends that you can look back on fondly.

Vicki

Getting your life back is not simple at all. In the first place you are a different person then you were before so your old life no longer fits. You have to shop around a bit and find a life that fits better.

EA,
What a great idea! We could also have courses on how to get your life back after your caregiving days are over. It sounds like a simple proposition but it can be very difficult.

Now if we all lived closer to each other we could start the Home cookin' resturant and bakery with a green house attached.

Janie,
I say, go for it girl! Ask about a job at the bakery. I think you would be very good in that kind of job. If you like what you are doing you are usually good at it as well. Let us know what happens.

Vicki

Oh yes there are still a lot of things I have not done yet. some of them I never plan to do but then again there are few things I did that I planned to do. One thing I do know from my experience in my past is, that it is amazing how much we can take and still keep on ticking. Howevcer this never means we should not take care of ourselves. the better care we take of ourselves the better the chances are, when we tick we tick on time and without a skip.

Holy cow, Edyth Ann - is there anything you HAVEN'T done?

I appreciate the advice. I love to bake and fiddle around in the kitchen, so I actually HAD considered checking out the bakery dept. at our local grocery.

Thanks again,
Janie "Nothin' says lovin' like something from the oven"

Janie,

I recieved more training at the bakery then I recieved at many of my other jobs from my distant past. However there have been times when we hired someone and did not have much time for official training. It really has not changed much since I was in the work force pre-Milly.

The main thing I looked for was to find a job at a place that felt familar to me and that had a friendly atitude. I had been shopping at this grocery store for many years and I knew the people (especially those in management) to be friendly, nice people.

It amazed me once I started work how I did not seem to suffer from the new job jitters. I was not out to set the world on fire. I kept myself flexable and simply told me I was able to do what hours they needed me to cover. I use to bake all my own bread (as well as butcher and clean my own chickens, but this is a whole nother story) so I was coimfortable in a bakery. I did not set any goals or plans. I did not concern myself with how much I would make and just went with the flow.

EA, when you were placed in the bakery department at the grocery, did you have to have much "training" or whatever? I ask because this is something I've considered and haven't gotten up the "nerve" to go there and ask.

Janie

Well folks I do not know about the Do0-Wop songs as I am only 16. However i do know about the dificulties of re-entering the "other" world after the role of CG is over. I was finding it awful hard to leave the house and to get out and meet others.

I applied for and got a job (they hired me on the spot) at the local grocery store. They placed me in the bakery/deli dept. I found the job was the best way for me to re-enter the "other" world. It took awhile but eventually I became more at ease and shed my tendency to withdraw. I will never be what I use to be, I am the new and improved me and only 16 at that.

Oh Casey and Sugarlips!! I was JUST KIDDIN', GUYS!

Right now, I am "LMAO".

Even though we all know I am but a delicate flower and much, much too young to know about the 50's or 60's.

Janie

quote:

---

Originally posted by JanieR:
Also, Rich, what do you mean by
DO-WOP SONG?? I'm sure most of us here are too young to even know what you're referring to. GANG????

Janie

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With all do-wop songs, it's hard to actually write out the lyrics...Here is a link to a Real Audio recording of a snippet from Amazon.com. It was originally recorded by The Silhouettes...

Get a Job!

Enjoy!

Doo-wop song. Yes, I remember the song and doo-wog songs in general. In the 1950's many groups had back up singers singing doo-wop. Sort of like Dianna Ross and The Supreme's.
I guess that makes me older than dirt?

I am singing a little doo-wop right now, can you hear it?

Vicki