Started this thread for djsarge from this thread:

http://alzheimers.infopop.cc/e...361/m/3201059361/p/7

djsarge, I just came across this thread and wish I had found it earlier so I could have heard your radio broadcast on World Alzheimer's Day. How did that go for ya? Did you get a lot of response?

Are you having trouble finding your way around the message forums?

If you need help, just ask.

Glad you have gotten a few things straightened out for you.

Being a retired vet, are you on Tri-Care For Life medical benefits? Are you getting help from the VA or mostly from the Alzheimer's organization?

Hope to hear from you, take care.

Yes i amhaving trouble with this post stuff. i didnt know i wasnt post-a post that stuff in the other room, sorry. Yes i can go to the VA i am 100% service connected. The VA hospital here isnt very good. so i pay for health insur. myself.. its hard but i wont go to the va, i was treated very badly when i 1st went there.

i dont know what tri care is. i have check ever where around where i live and no one takes my health insur for home help add. they will pay for up to 35 hours a week but no more then 6 hours in a day.

I tried to get the va to help me out but the forms were to confusing for me. So i just gave up.

Hi DJ Sarg, welcome to these message boards. I'm sorry I missed your World Alzheimer Day radio show. Perhaps next year we can do some sort of hook-up and do a mini-telethon. People can call in and make pledges, like for the Labor Day Muscular Dystrophy Telethon.

We love music here. Our memory for music is one of the last memories to fade.

I'm glad you're on this site!

Iris L.

dj, I've checked your profile and perhaps we could help you further if you could give us a little more information about yourself?

I see that you have contacted your local Alzheimer's Association in your area. Are you getting the help you need? I'm glad that someone is coming in to help and check on you.

What is your situation rigt now?

What is your age? What area or state do you live in?

Have you been diagnosed with a type of dementia?

What doctors are you seeing? What medicines are you taking?

My dad served in three wars and upon retirement and reaching medicare age he started receiving Tricare for life, which is a supplement to medicare.

Is there a VA Administrations office or military base near you?

Here is a link to the US Veterans Administration:

http://www.va.gov/

Let us know how you're getting along.

Sarg, I'm absolutely enraged that you gave up, and they didn't make any outreach to you!!!

Good grief . . . you're the one that they're supposed to be helping. Of course you gave up, a mind with dementia can't handle all that VA static. But there's no way they should've let you slip away.

My fantasy is that you'll call the VA next week, and tell whoever answers the phone, what your problems are in a nutshell, especially the dementia and the poor follow-through part. Hang in there until you make a connection with someone. Let me/all of us hear how it goes, OK?

Dear DJ,

Don't you dare give up!

Keep asking for help!

Thinking of you.

Hiya Becky, yes i have called the alz group and they came out to see me. They were very kind to me. The got me all set up with the safe return program and even filled out all the forms and PAID FOR IT.

Right now i live alone, i hate it sometimes i wake up in places i dont know and freak out, and go looking for my car. Which is nuts i dont keep the car at home just for that reason.

Im 47 years old, I live in Shelbyville Indiana, 46176...

I see a nuro and interal med doc.. they want me to go to a counsler to help but i think i will pass on that. way to meany demon's in my dreams to reopen then all.

oo boy i take so meany meds, i dont think i need to eat i take so meany lol. But here is a list:
1) Namenda 10MG x2 PER DAY
2) Trazodone 100mg X1 at bed time
3) Sertaline 50mg X2 per day
4) Xanax 1mg up to two times a day
5) Plavix 75mg X1 perday
6) Aspirin 81mg one per day
7) Furosemide 20mg X1 per day
8) Pantoprazole 40mg X1 per day
9) Oxygen 2 liters
10) Lamictal 200mg X2 perday
11) Keppra 500 mg X2 per day
12) Allegra 180mg X1 per day

lordy thank gosh for the list hu. To tell you the truth i dont even know what half that stuff is for.

ok here is what they say is wrong with me, even longer list:
1) Type II diabetes mellitus with neuropathy
2) Congestive heart failure
3) Chronic lower back pain
4) Coronary artery disease
5) History of Transient ischemic attack
6) Seizure disorder
7) Anxiety disorder
8) Allergic rhinitis
9) Alzhemer's dementia

I think that about covers it.

I have medicare and insurance i pay for, no one has ever talked to me about that Tri care stuff. The VA here is not very friendly. I have went to and called the VA admin so much i know all the music they play when ya are on hold. I also served is three differnt wars, and i must say that changed my life forever.

I live near the reg VA office in Indianapolis. Like i said they have been of no help.

Kind-a sad that a 100% perm dis vet cant get any help from the country that prommissed to be there for us.

Any help or idea's are welcome
Thank You

Lisa, I try to keep my chin up but it gets hard to do. I have been told that some places cant help me becuase im to young and some that dont take alz persons that they are not setup for that.

I will keep on try-n but i see no light at the end of this tunnal.

Its friends like you guys that keep me going.. well and the fire department i think i am becoming one of thier best cust. The timer for cooking doesnt seem to help anymore, i forget to set it now.

ROCK ON!

O and the URL for http://208.99.70.54:8029 just enter that into the player you use or in your browser and you should be hearing Rebel Radio.. The music is on 24/7 with live DJ's mostly in the later afternoon and night. It is commercal free and they do take requestes.

ROCK ON!

Dear DJ,

If I may ask why are you waking up in places you don't know?? Are you living in an apartment now? Can you NOT find your way home??

Insist on the VA helping you! Don't give up. Find a Social Worker to get involved in your care!! And ask the Alzheimer's Assn to help you with all this too!

Keep on hanging on! I know it's difficult sometimes but don't give up! What about family?? Do you have any family that could help you with all this??

Lisa, i get very confused some times and get lost and i get tried so i just sit down and rest till i feel like walking again. i have a hard time known if its dusk or dawn. i have changed my clocks to the 24 hour clock to try to help.

No Lisa i have no family left to help out and what i do have i havent seen in years..

Yes i live in a pay by the week motel for now. It was all i could find by myself when i left my roomates place, she was getting rather abuseive to me.

To tell you the truth i get so darn mad everytime i wake up, i sure dont want to it would be nice to fade away and just disaprear off the radar.

The VA took me to court here in indiana and had them find me incompadent so now i have no control over any of my money, they only give me $175.00 a week to live on but my meds alone cost me near $60.00 a month ect.... so there isnt much room for much more anymore.

Yep i think its time to go back to bed. You all take care. Chat later.

ROCK ON!

Xanax can make the dementia worse.......

Hiya SnowyLynne, thank you i didnt kNOW that i can fix that one.. THANK YOU!

ROCK ON

DJ,

Please, go back to the VA and get a social worker involved in your care. Call the AD Assn again and ask them to help you with the VA stuff!!!

Thinking of you.

Please, be careful. You take a lot of meds! Is a doctor monitoring all this???

Yes i know i take way to much meds. i dont know what half of them are for. I dont think my doctor know what they are for some times, lol. I fuge a little and try to cut out what dont look that needed like that silly nose spray, i have a cold not allarges.

I unlike some doctors dont think there is a pill for everything, some times you just have to deal with it and let it run it course.

I have a question that maybe some one might be able to answer. i can count ok but i cant remeber how much i have counted to add it up or keep track of where i am at. like if i had say 3 $20's and say 1 $10 and a few ones. by the time i add up the 20's i forget how much i have counted. I know i have over paid some places but some times i get so frustated i just hand the money to the casher and let them count it. GGgrrrr that makes me feel ... nm

Lordy here i am again withing a book. Sorry.

ROCK ON!

djsarg, I solved that problem by always using a debit card. Now I don't have to figure out if I got the right change. You can use them for everything these days from buying a hamburger to renting a car in Germany...done both so I know. Well I didn't rent the car my husband did, but we used a debit card to do it.

Dear DJ,

Don't ever stop writing! We're here.

Getting a debit card sounds like a good idea??

What about the VA and getting the AD Assn involved and getting a Social Worker to help you??

Howdy Cheri very lovely name. I so silly not to have thought about using a debit card. I have two in my wallet. I dont think i have ever used them. Thank You.
Rock On!

hiya Lisa, i spent the whole day on the phone with the VA hospital and the Indinaoplis Reg VA admin. They make me tried, feel like the life was sucked out of me. The Hospital told me they would have to call me back and that if they couldnt get me in within 30 days they would send me a letter to go see a outside doctor. Now this is the iceing on the cake ok, but the letter will only AUTHOR the doctor to do EMG treatment. So i think all that means is i can go say hiya to a doctor that cant do anything for me.

Im sorry my frustation level has peaked today. I did go look at a realy nice house today. That kind of made up for all the other drama. You know you all are the best! I mean that, very kind and understanding, non-judgemental. Well im tired see ya all in the morning. Take Care and Stay Safe!

ROCK ON!

Hiya, Gosh its been raining all day and night here. Good weather if you are a duck i guess.

Spent another half day of wasted time tryn to get the VA to help me. I sent the Ways and Means Chairman for the Department of Vet Affairs a email today asking for his office to assist me. I also sent a email to my congresman and sentor explaining the problem i am having with the VA. I did get a auto responce from each of them, now its wait and see i guess.

I got to go to Indianapolis yesterday and go window shoppping with my GUS and his friend. Had a geat time and i didnt even buy anything. It was nice to get out and about with My Gus (he is just 18 but wow he is a great kid.) Gus has been looking out and tryn to help as much as he can. But he is a teenager and a male (lol) so he keeps busy girl chasing.

Grrr darn it i forgot to take my bed times meds lastnight. Now what i guess i can call mama in the morning and see what she thinks i should do. I would call my EX-room mate but i dont need to hear her bull, just when i think i can trust her again she goes right back to being a mean butt.

Looks like i will have to stay here in this motel hotel what ever they call these places for awhile longer. I thought i had two good room mates that were going to shair the house with me in exchange for free rent and power ect.. but that didnt turn out guess i should be glad they changed thier minds now rather then after i moved in there hu.

I wish the sun would come up, i feel safer when its light out, i just get to darn comfused when its dark. Nothiing looks the same i get all turned around, panic and wwwweeeeeeeeeeee there i go walking to god knows where.

Okies coffee is ready if anyone would like to join me. Have a great day and better weekend!

ROCK ON!

Lisa or Becky would it please be possible to chat with one of you though a email. I need to ask a question that i realy dont want to post in here. Seem to be having some a small problem with the posting here. let me know and i will give you may email. sorry if that is againt the rules if so please dissreguard if it is not allowed. Thank You

ROCK ON!

Dear DJ,

I'm so sorry for all you are going through! Yes, you can send me your e-mail and I'll e-mail back.

I don't go in the chat rooms anymore because I can't keep up. It's too fast paced for me.

Have you ever tried just going to the va hosp and asking to see a Social Worker? You may have to wait but perhaps they would see you that day?!

Lisa, my email addy is djsarg@yahoo.com. Thank You.
ROCK ON!

djsarg,

Sorry it has taken me so long to get back here, but I've had a lot going on with my mom.

It does look like you have a lot of health problems to deal with and meds to take.

You can go to this site and type your meds, supplements or medical condition into the search box at the top and they have a wealth of information.

http://www.drugs.com/

You can also do a drug supplement interaction check here. Just type in one of your meds and it will lead you to make a list and check for how they interact with each other.

http://www.drugs.com/drug_interactions.php

Also, not sure about this, you'll have to check, but see if you have an American Legion or Veterans Ombudsman organization in your area.

Looks like you have an American Legion in Shelbyville. Contact them and see what they can do to help.

1125 Miller Ave
Shelbyville, IN 46176-2357
(317) 398-2358

Here is the email address for Ombudsman association. Email them and see if they have one locally thay may be able to help in some way.

mailto:info@ombudsassociation.org

Do you have any social workers helping you?

You do sound like you are in better spirits and do have people helping as much as they can. I'm glad you are not totally alone.

Let us know what happens.

dj,

Just found one more you might try:

Veterans of Foreign Affairs

National Service Officers Helpline: (1-800-vfw-1899)

OK, don't know exactly what this is but I found this.

Clubs-Veterans of Foreign Wars - Shelbyville

1622 East State Road 44, Shelbyville, IN 46176 Map
317 398-0812

I know all this can be overwhelming, but do the best you can to help yourself and fight for what you deserve. It makes me so sad for all of us who have so much trouble getting all the medical help quickly that we need.

Thank You Becky, i had a siz today and broke off one tooth and part of two others. Im waiting for a ride to the VA Hosp ER surely they will have to take me. I am 100% service connected during time of war, i still know how to get there attition im sure they dont want me thouring a fit in the er..
Let ya know how it goes.

ROCK ON!

Hey sarg, what's up with the seizures . . . from a head trauma in war?

You know what you need? I mean, realistically? You need an Advocate. You know what I mean? One person, who will fight the battles for you. Rich people get attorneys to do that for them. In our case, we get a social worker, someone who takes their job seriously and wants to help you get what you need.

How to find one? Ask everybody, I suppose. Somewhere out there, there are people just dying to be your advocate.

We can't keep being our own advocate, not with dementia growing in our brains.

Hello Alan, yes i was injuried, a jaws of life cuter broke off and hit me. I am going to call Denisa from the Alz association here in indiana. She has been here to my place to check on me. I think i will call her mionday and ask her who could best help me. They have a boat load of contacts and things. I think that might me my best bet.

Okies im off to bed. Have A great Weekend.

ROCK ON

Wow been a long last few days. I had forgot how much it takes out of ya fighting with the VA. Its been a give and take kind of thing with them this last week, I give they take, lol sorry i had to say that.

I called and called and called till they couldnt avoid me anymore. each time i called i just asked to talk to the next person up on the food chain. I must have left a nasty msg for the right person. The VA out a Feild Rep. That poor dude didnt see what happened.

Im sorry friday when i had my sez and broke three teeth and they told me it would 7 to 10 bus days for them to send me a letter to tell me they couldnt get me in within 90 days.

ok, i guess i missed the part how that was going to help with the pain. You can only push someone so far with out a good old fashing .. nm

But anyhow after countless calls to my coungress person, senters, email to the chiar of the ways and means comitity and oo the call to Fox news . They foundly heard me.

The VA rep (remember this is olny words nothing is for sure with them till it happens) told me the VA WILL GET ME THE HELP I NEED AND EARNED, they will be paying for all that home health care 24/7 however it will take a little bit to get it all that pappers filled out but they are taking care of it

But till then they are taking care of that expence, they are also getting me out of this motel i hate it here. People all the time coming to the door wanting things.

But that light wasnt a train it was the light at the end of the tunnel the real deal.

I NEED TO MAKE IT VERY CLEAR TO YOU ALL, I WOULD HAVE NEVER HAD THE BACK BONE TO STAND UP FOR WHATS MINE WITHOUT YOU! lol, Gus just rode his bike over her to make sure i took my meds... Gus is a great kid (just turned 18). Looking back over the last few months when i thought i was all alone in this nightmear but that wasnt so i had all of you my gus and a handful of true friends.

I was on the air today for a 3 hour set a very good friend was tuned in and even made a few requests that was a real big deal to me. We worked togethere for over a year and half now she has her own station.

OK darn it i done it again, done wrote a book. The Bottom line is the VA is helping me now i feel lots better about my future and have came to see im not alone in this at all. HUgss Kiss ^5's all around.

Hey dj,

I'm sorry I've been out of the loop for a few days. I fell while riding my bike and my leg got really swollen and I had to go to the hospital.

Then, My daughter came in town to visit.

So, I'll e-mail you tonight.

Glad to hear the va is finally going to help!

quote:

I NEED TO MAKE IT VERY CLEAR TO YOU ALL, I WOULD HAVE NEVER HAD THE BACK BONE TO STAND UP FOR WHATS MINE WITHOUT YOU!

Alright!! Outta the way people, the Sarg is back!!!

OK Sarge, you know what you have to do now, don't you? Find people who are hurting just like you were, and help them do what you're doing.

Lisa, what's the danged deal?? Do you know why your leg swelled so badly?

WAY TO GO SARG!!! It always makes us feel better when we continue to fight and take steps to help ourselves, even if they are baby ones.

Keep fighting and keep us posted how things are going.

Yes it felt great to have a back bone for a few but when it was all said and done i felt so bad that i caused trouble for the va people. Thats just not me, i dont like making people mad at me. I guess sometimes you have to, i hope i dont have to do it again.

But it feels great to know they are doing thier jobs now and help is on the way. I was so very worried i wouldnt get the help i need so i can stay home not IN a home you know. I thought and thought about it. I knew if i didnt step up that i might not be able to get the help before it was to late.

Lisa, Alan, Becky i know i have never and will never meet you but THANK YOU FOR YOUR HELP AND SUPPORT!

ROCK ON!

DJ,

I e-mailed you this am.

I'm so proud that you stood up for yourself! Don't worry about people not liking you. You need their help and they need to do their jobs!

Keep hanging on!

Alan,

As for my leg, I went to the ER and they said I have a huge internal hematoma! Wow, does it hurt and my leg is huge!

Went to the doc yesterday and he told me to stay off it for several days. How do I stay off my leg and take care of myself??? And, listen for Mom while Dad goes to walk in the mall???

Hey sarg, I hear what you're saying about the emotional cost you've had to pay. It went against your nature, but you stuck to it, and you did what you set out to do. That, my friend, is the embodiment of bravery.

What helps me is to think of people in terms of their role in my life. For instance, there's a stern way that's often needed with clerical level people who don't want to help you, right? But, we wouldn't want you talking to your mother that way!

Lisa, "internal hematoma" is doctor talk for "Wow, that's a big bruise!" isn't it?

Seems like you need a crutch for getting around? One on the hurt side, so you could keep weight off your foot.

Hey DJ,

Keep on hanging on! You're my hero!

Alan,
I can't walk with a crutch or anything because it/they make me fall down. I've been walking on my toes! Wow, huge leg, it really hurts!

I'm sorry that your leg is contused, Lisa. I hope it heals pretty quickly!

DJSarg, I'm glad the VA finally came through for you! It's true, the squeaky wheel gets the grease.

Have you seen our Music thread, Let's Talk about Music? http://alzheimers.infopop.cc/e...?r=63510691#63510691

Iris L.

Well i spent my wensday night at the ER. I went to Indy to see a friend of course i dont drive anymore. While there i became Ill, was having real bad chest pain couldnt harly breathe ect.... so my friend took me to the ER. My friend had to be be at work early so i told her to go on back to shelbbyville and i would call.

BIG MISTAKE, i became disorentaed , confused, sceard to the point of shaken and crying (i know men dont cry). I asked the SO VERY KIND AND UNDERSTANDING nunrse to please stay in the room with me when the doctors would come in. She sure did and wrote down notes so i could remember later.

Im telling you she was a angel sent to me that night. She even stayed after her shift was over to sit their with me and confort me. A true angel in my book. All turned out ok they sent me home with some meds to help me calm down as it was only a a panic attack. So im fine.

I ask for her name and called the nursing manger today and told her i wanted to give that kind nurse the credit she earned. It was hard to express how i felt but i think she got the point. She told me that it was great to get these kind of calls as most calls are people compaining. I told her that i would love for her to let that nurse i called and realy felt great to be cared for by that angel of a nurse.

ROCK ON!

Sarg, I've been with people when they had panic attacks, and it looks like they are dying. What did you get for them, xanax or ativan?

As for men not crying, what can I tell you, but that I've cried more in the last year or two, than my whole adult life combined. Tears and rage, the two emotions I can't always control. Lovely.

I love nurses. You know, the only reason for hospital admission is for the 24-hour nursing care. You can see a doctor daily as an out-patient.

Hi Alan good to hear from you. I cry all the time, every time i have to ask the cashier to count my money to the post's i make here. I am having so much trouble with my counting and spelling words it get a little to much some times.

To be upfront with you alan its been a real BAD night so far and its not looking up so far. Im so frusrated with things i just want to scream. The day started out great but went down real fast. I thought about calling the hot line but its a friday night people are out of work for the holday weekend and dont need to be enterrupted just becuase i had a bad day.

I dont know about the admission thing all i know is she was a great nurse who made me feel safe when i needed it. i didnt ask for anything to take for it they gave me a couple shots that seemed to help alot, ran a few blood tests to make sure it wasnt my heart and that was about it. I dont much care to go see my doctors anymore i dont need to hear more from them or more tests.

Sorry having a bad night and in one of those i hate the world moods.

Dear DJ,

Sorry you are having a rough evening. Please, call the helpline @ 800-272-3900. That's what it is there for. Ask to speak with a social worker!

Call NOW!!

Thinking of you.

I agree with Lisa djsarg, it's not called a 24/7 help hotline for nothin. Call them if you feel out of control or overwhelmed, if of nothing else, just to have a real live caring person to vent to.

Take care, take deep breaths and keep breathing.

quote:

To be upfront with you alan its been a real BAD night so far and its not looking up so far. Im so frustrated with things I just want to scream. The day started out great but went down real fast. I thought about calling the hot line but its a friday night people are out of work for the holiday weekend and dont need to be enterrupted just because I had a bad day.

Sarg, can I tell you a counseling secret? Not everyone can understand, but I'm sure you can: That place you're in right now, where it's dark and all your attention is focused to the inside? That's where we go to learn.

Now, it might work best for you to learn on your own. Or, you can try the hotline thing --- just having someone listen to us helps a great deal.

DJ Sarg, I don't have any family members close by either. People like us have to rely on professional helpers. Call the 24 hour Helpline. They will help you in a crisis. They helped me. Keep the number in your wallet. (1-800-272-3900)

Iris L.

I had a good day, was invited to a nice birthday party, ate way to much.

But thats not what i stopped in about i have been thinking (i know thats not a good thing for me, lol jk) I am thinking about opening a radio station for us and whoever might what to tune in, however they would need a computer and net to do so.

The cost is less then $10. a month (which i already pay anyhow), i already have the programs, the music and the computer to do it.

I could have it up and running in about two days, it will take me a few weeks to get the requestable streamer up though. O a requestable streamer is where you go to the stations web page look though the playlist (about 22,000 songs and effects) pick what ya want and it will play it in the order it was requested.

If you all want to have that for us i need nothing at all from you but your input, no strings, no money, just fun and relaxing. No silly chat room if i am at the computer you all could IM me on yahoo and i will just slip the tune right in the playlist.

Its up to you all. All i have right now is a URL (stream) set for 64kbs 44.1hz with 50 seats. all that means if you have a net other then dial up you can tune in up to 50 ppl at a time.

You all think about it and let me know, I think it would be nice and hey who knows when there might be a live dj on, psssttt i know a few who would love to guest dj for us.

Balls in your court let me know.

A one, a two, a one two three four - GO!!!

Sarg, you just might become my hero.

Went to a neighborhood fishfry(catfish)ate too much more than I have at any one time in several years.I just don't eat much anymore but I did Sat..........PHEW!!!!

Hey Sarg,

Let's get rockin!

What do I need to do?

okies ya all done the hard part.. Lisa and Alan now this is what i need from you guys.. ya ready? Pick A Name for it.

i will send you all the url monday tuesday at the lastest.. so ya can tune in..

ROCK ON!