If you are living with a person with dementia and particularly this dementia, you know that your person spends much of his day in an alternate reality. There are delusions and theories that give credence to and explain them. Hallucinations are common occupants in the world of your loved one’s with LBD. Burt’s hallucinatory companionsContinue reading “Alternate world”
Tag Archives: #delusions
Fears
Paranoia is a frequent visitor as we age. I think it’s because the old know they [ok we] are vulnerable. For those with dementia there’s a greater feeling of susceptibility. Your p.w.d. may seem unaware of having a malady, but s/he senses that there is something off. Paranoia seems like a way to protect ourselvesContinue reading “Fears”
A deep dive
In the abstract, I am fascinated by the mechanisms of Burt’s disease. In reality, the manifestations of Lewy Body are overwhelmingly sad. Trying to deduce patterns is part of my close study into all things Burt. I want to see what prompts his irrational conclusions and how his fantasies develop. There probably is no pattern,Continue reading “A deep dive”
Psychosis
Cognitive function, executive function, bradyfrenia, autonomic system, bradykinesia. There are so many impairments as Lewy bodies take over, and our loved one declines. Psychoses. There’s a scary word. And those are the hardest aspects of LBD to manage. I watch out for falls. Hold onto him for dear life sometimes to maneuver him onto aContinue reading “Psychosis”
Cyclin’
Anyone concerned over Burt’s immortal soul should take heart. This morning, he was thanking god. Repeatedly. Mostly for me; I qvell. He was fast asleep before 6 last night and up about 5 this morning. We had an excellent time as he “discovered” we were married. “You’re so nice to me.” He ate well, too.Continue reading “Cyclin’”
Aggression
“So,” she asked, trying to put it tactfully. “Is Burt ever, how do I say it, does he lash out?” Oh, yes, that famous Lewy Body aggressivity. It’s why an agency felt they had to deny services. Burt is, as I like to say, performatively belligerent. Of course, he is, but he does lash out.Continue reading “Aggression”
Perplexing
T-shirts with slogans have sprung up to agitate my Burt. It seems to have originated with a recently acquired resentment of my gym. I love my logoed gear! Burt told me a wild story about a woman (they always look just like me) who was wearing the shirt (he ran his fingers over the writingContinue reading “Perplexing”
Projections
The other morning, Burt told me that I was losing my mind. I was saddened by his matter of fact tone as much as by the message. He had some additional wisdom when he informed me that going to the gym was killing me. Delusional trains chug through our days and evenings. In the earlyContinue reading “Projections”
Doubling up
My objection to the use of the plural pronoun is documented elsewhere. This annoying (to me) linguist twist finds its way into Burt’s vocabulary by way of reduplicative paranesia. “When are they coming?,” Burt asks. “He works alone,” I say about his PT, “and he’ll be here at 4 pm.” He had two weekend aides,Continue reading “Doubling up”
this is our life 