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The Shed 9

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posted on Jul, 19 2016 @ 04:02 PM
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Well, the restaurant visit was a washout. First time ever (well, in a lonnng time) the place was full. So we walked home again and I cooked dinner. Did a vegetarian meal. Just because it's (a) healthier and (b) I had everything on hand. Plenty of cheese, potatoes, tomatoes, pasta and so on.

It was ok. Dada was happy with it. I did the dishes and then we relaxed for a while and watched one of those movies they only telecast in summer when the ratings season isn't on. IOW, it was so bad it was laughable. But anyway, it was also cool because when I was pointing out the various flaws in it, she followed really well. I'm rapt about that. She is still having delusional episodes but they aren't constant now. They just come and go. And when I tell her that such-and-such doesn't make sense (and now I can because she's actually focusing), she just says, "Okay," and drops the delusion for a while.

That is so good to see. It's not possible to express how wonderful it is.



posted on Jul, 19 2016 @ 04:06 PM
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a reply to: Martin75

Hi Martin (chirp??),

the little smiley who's staring at the computer monitor while drinking coffee... I dug up that one mainly for you. Just seemed right for what you do every day.


And that new degree you'll need. Heck, you can do that. And you mentioned you already have a couple of others, so it'll be your... (drum roll) "third degree".



Had to fit that in somehow!


PS: and yes, Dada loves working in the garden. I believe that being connected to the raw earth is very good for her. And the forest. I always take her for walks in the forest when we're at the cottage and it's great for both of us. All those, and the wonderful air.

And yes, I have hugged a tree. It was an old, old oak and yeah... You can feel the energy if you stay there quietly for long enough. You really can.
edit on 19/7/16 by JustMike because: (no reason given)



posted on Jul, 19 2016 @ 04:11 PM
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a reply to: SyxPak
Staying safe is priority number one! Last year I fell half-way through the floor of the barn. Was not fun. Later, I slipped on a wet granite flagstone by the back door and did nasty things to my knee and hip.
That was even less fun. Crawling around in pain is not something I enjoy.

My ambition for this summer is to do some repairs to the cottage without needing a lot of repairs to myself.


ETA: and can someone else puh-leeease comment? I hate hogging the page!


edit on 19/7/16 by JustMike because: (no reason given)



posted on Jul, 19 2016 @ 04:45 PM
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a reply to: JustMike
At least you had a good night. I'm glad that she's focusing. Does that mean she's getting a little better? Is she having some new treatment? Also, what sort of delusions, if you don't mind me asking?



posted on Jul, 19 2016 @ 05:37 PM
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a reply to: JustMike
I'm Marty we need to send someone to find our missing Chirp!

TNMockingbird oh where oh where are you????

Sorry that lunch didn't work out but it sounds like it turned out to be a good day either way. Thank you for my little coffee cup! I will use him wisely, LOL. I loved the 3rd degree and plan on using that one!! I understand dada being able to connect with the dirt. I can kill anything but my mom is happiest when there is 2 inches of dirt under her nails, flower pollen on her face, and weeds in her hair. LOL

*Shhhh, the last time I hugged a tree it was to steady the walk. LOL



posted on Jul, 19 2016 @ 05:40 PM
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a reply to: Skid Mark
I think I can characterize it by saying that yes, compared to how she was a few weeks ago, she's mentally and physically better. She pays attention more, for longer periods, and she has less frequent episodes of tremors. She can do things like coloring in small sections of a picture. A few weeks ago, she was unable to focus on a task like that for more than a minute or so. Now, she can manage several minutes. And now, she is much more often aware that she has a challenge to face and she wants to do something about it. That level of self-awareness is very important.

She has a brilliant mind. I have always known that she is intellectually ahead of me and have been glad for that on many occasions. And one of the important things that medical professionals need to understand (and some don't) is that brain damage of this type does not have to mean loss of intellect. No, it causes an inability to fully express and utilize that intellect. She is still just as brilliant as she ever was, but her amazing mind is trapped: it's analogous to keeping a wonderful racehorse penned up in a small enclosure and expecting it to run like the wind; the potential is there, but it needs freedom to be fully evident.

She has a superb mind trapped inside a malfunctioning brain. But with time and patience, the right diet and lifestyle, we may be able to set it free again.

But no, there is no new treatment, from a purely medical perspective. I'm just trying to adjust things for her in some ways. Like, changes in diet (healthier food) and not dying her hair, to prevent her absorbing more of the toxic chemicals that "permanent" hair dyes contain. And also, I am moving us to a much more vegetarian diet. Sometimes we go whole days with only fruit and vegetables. Like, a main course of fresh fruit and yogurt.

However, when we saw her specialist last week, I told him of the academic studies that show a statistical link between dementia (and cancer) rates in specific occupational groups -- including hairdressers -- indicating possible effects of the products they use. Like (in the case of hairdressers) hair dyes. That raised his eyebrows, and he is the kind of medical professional who will probably now do his own research.

Some wonderful friends of mine in the US have been offering guidance and actually been the driving force in giving us hope. This is not just about one single factor (like hair dyes) but what they call the "total body burden" -- all of the things that pile up on us and that can impact our health.

There is no question that she is more lucid now than she was a couple of weeks ago. The brain has remarkable abilities to heal and readjust (and generally speaking, it does so better in women than in men), so if we can reduce this total body burden, then her brain has a better chance to recover and adapt.

edit on 19/7/16 by JustMike because: typos etc.


ETA: forgot to mention. You asked about what sort of delusions. I don't want to go into details because it concerns specific people she or we know. Suffice to say that she believes that this or that person said a particular thing to her, though it's physically impossible that they did. These delusions tend to repeat over and over. In her case, the same ones sometimes came up more than 20 times a day. Two or three times every hour (sometimes more) for 12 hours or longer, some days with no let up at all. Lately, it has been far, far less.

Delusions like this are part of the person's way of coping. They have trouble making sense of the reality around them, so their mind pulls up various scenarios from the past (associated with people or places they knew) and adapts them to whatever is going on in the present. Hallucinations work the same way, but fortunately she doesn't get those very often these days.

Just to explain, delusions derive purely from what a person believes. Hallucinations involve the person being convinced that they have seen or heard something that is totally real to them, though physically it doesn't exist. Sometimes the line between the two is blurred.

edit on 19/7/16 by JustMike because: (no reason given)



posted on Jul, 19 2016 @ 06:03 PM
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a reply to: JustMike
It's good that she's getting better. Keep trying new things. Does she like puzzles and brain games? Can she still do those? You might try getting her to do them if she doesn't already.

Your doctor sounds like he's worthy of the profession, having an open mind and actually doing his own research.



posted on Jul, 19 2016 @ 06:23 PM
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a reply to: JustMike

Hello Mike,

I am happy to hear Dada is getting better. It's hard to see the love of your life not well. Your one amazing person. You eye in life has a great meaning. I can saw your a rare kind soul.



posted on Jul, 19 2016 @ 06:25 PM
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a reply to: Skid Mark
I am trying to get her to do crosswords, because she had always liked them. And lately, coloring pictures in a coloring book. But today, for example, I also tried some questioning. I told her what day it was and asked her what tomorrow is. She was able to answer correctly and also name all the following days in the week. So, her fundamental memory-based ability was working well. (It's a "listing" process. We learn the days of the week and can then "read" them like a list.)

But then I gave her a more complex question: "If tomorrow is Wednesday July 20th, what is today?" She wasn't able to figure that one out. It's actually a far more difficult task as it requires more abstract reasoning. But she still tried to do it, and that's a great sign.



posted on Jul, 19 2016 @ 06:30 PM
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a reply to: Skid Mark

Well now I just got home and I have a note from Edie. She said "Michael your wonderful and you treat me like a queen but I cannot be with you anymore, it is not you your the best person I have ever met. I have had a change of heart about my ex boyfriend. He does not have a job or a place to live."

"I do not want you hurt by this. I fell in love with you but it's not fair for me to be in love with you and I still have feelings with my ex. Please don't contact me as it would be too hard to face you after this. Go be free again."

Edie

Yikes well that is sad. Another closed chapter in he book of life.



posted on Jul, 19 2016 @ 06:32 PM
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a reply to: JustMike
I hope you come across something that works. The brain does have a way of rerouting around damage sometimes. Just keep her mentally stimulated.



posted on Jul, 19 2016 @ 06:33 PM
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a reply to: Quantum12
I'm so sorry, man. That sucks.



posted on Jul, 19 2016 @ 06:34 PM
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a reply to: Skid Mark

I was a little suprised, we had plans tonight too. Well if it's meant to be she will return.



posted on Jul, 19 2016 @ 06:36 PM
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a reply to: Quantum12
I hope that she does. Just give her time.



posted on Jul, 19 2016 @ 06:41 PM
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a reply to: Skid Mark

Yes I will not call or text her. I respect she was honest and that is brave. Let her go back to her ex and see what happens. I will never compare notes. If one day she happens to return or sees me at the beach I will still honnor her as a good person. We are human. I am not mad at her just sad.



posted on Jul, 19 2016 @ 06:43 PM
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a reply to: Martin75
Thank you, Marty. Sorry I mixed you up with Chirp. I plead general-purpose shtoopidity.

I know what you mean about steadying the walk. Done that on occasion, too.



posted on Jul, 19 2016 @ 06:44 PM
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a reply to: Quantum12
[[[HUGS]]] Oh Quant! What in the world? Had you had any problems? Has she been talking to her ex? Oh, I'm so very sorry!!!! Did your ex cause problems this past weekend?



posted on Jul, 19 2016 @ 06:44 PM
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a reply to: Quantum12
I've sent you a PM.


Annnd... Goodnight, all. Pushing towards 2 am here. Sleep time. Catch you again soon.



posted on Jul, 19 2016 @ 06:45 PM
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a reply to: JustMike
No worries!!!! Our nicknames get confusing sometimes. LOL
So glad to hear the good reports about Dada!!! Does music or smells help with memory?



posted on Jul, 19 2016 @ 06:50 PM
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a reply to: Martin75

No problems. I knew all about her ex and I even went to her house to get her cloths one day and I met him. She evicted him from her home and I think she felt so bad for him. I don't know. All I know is she the free to do what she wants. I can't stop her. I would not want to call and be weak and beg her. I begged my ex before.

I will just think of the greatest month I had with her well 3 weeks. Thank you for caring!
edit on 7 19 2016 by Quantum12 because: (no reason given)



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