Some day I think we will know more about brain disease and I think we will discover that many people who are thought to have LB or Alz actually have any number of brain diseases/disorders that have a different set of symptoms than LB or Alz.

Even in this later stage that Mom is in - she has shown great insight into something and even into the disease. Or she will show big signs of having good short term memory. She will remember a brand new acquaintenance's name, what they do, she will ask about a recent dental problem that one of her children has experienced.

Whatever Mom actually does have has been horrible and continues to worsen - She does not and has never "fit" into many of the parameters of these two "biggy" diseases.

Many of you will know what I mean. Some of you will think I'm in denial or am suffering from wishful thinking - but I assure you that I am not, as whatever Mom has it is not 'better' than LB or Alz - it's just different.

I pray for all people who love and care for anyone with any type of dementia. The disease eats-away at everyone. My own mind never rests from it. And I know it won't until Mom moves on to higher ground.

Patti

Patti, is it possible that your Mom might have vascular dementia? Many times with this type, the arteries expand for a short period letting more blood flow to the brain. This mimics an improvement. Then, when it shuts back down, you are back to square one.

Patti,

"My own mind never rests from it."
Right there is the killer for the caregiver.
As the loved ones brain goes into decline and back our own brains hang on to any hopeful change only to be slapped back down when delines show themselves again.
There is no way to "forget" this illness. I wish I did know some tricks to do this forgetting my lo for even a couple of minutes. When I do snatch some time in the day for me, I still think about the loved one at home. It is permanentally imprinted in my mind along with knowing this is not going to get better.
If you ever find a way to get rest for your mind please share with me. May God bless you and keep you, and cause His face to shine upon you. Sandra22

Imalene, I know what you mean. My mother never really fit into a classic pattern of Alzheiemer's, but then I am not sure there really is one. It seems like everyone's brain disfunction is in a different area, and at a different pace. I have come to think that there is no classic Alzheimer's disease. I was somewhat interested in having an autopsy for my mother for this reason, but that didn't fit into her wishes to donate her body to the medical school, so I just have to live with the questions.

I have been told that there are big differences in behavior depending on if a LO is kept at home, or is in some other living situation. Also, their temprament prior to the disease has some play in it as well.

Really, so many questions we don't understand.

Since there are really no "RULES" in LB or AD (everyone is effected differently from it), it's hard to know for sure.

I certianly know how you feel and I don't think it is denial at all.

We have the same thing with BF's Mom sometimes. My duaghter lived with us for a year and then moved out. The whole time that my duaghter lived with us BF's Mom could never remember her name, she called her everything but her actual name (Tanya, Joshua, Sonya, and the list goes on.. her name is TOSHA). It used to drive my daughter nuts (but she understood as well). We never made a big deal about it to BF's Mom I would just say "Tosha", to reinforce her real name and go on. My daughter moved out and didn't come back to even visit for about 3 months..

When my daughter walked into the house BF's Mom looked up and said Hi Tosha how are you? that was the first time she EVER got her name right. Since I wasn't expecting her to visit on that day I hadn't told her that she was coming or hadn't mentioned her name at all in a few days..

My daughter has since moved to another state and was gone from the house for almost a year. So no contact what so ever with BF's Mom. My daughter came in for Christmas this year, walked into BF's Mom's room where she was watching TV to say hi and visit with her for a few minutes. I asked her if she knew who that was standing there and she said yes it's Tosha.. just two minutes before that she didn't have a clue who I was and she sees me everyday.. hasn't seen my daughter in almost a year (and my daughter had changed her hair color) and she instantly knew who she was.

Sometimes it just amazes me.. confuses me and astounds me..