Terry Pratchett – Living With Alzheimer's

[Brucie]

There are two programmes coming on BBC TWO on 4th February and 11th February.

They look as if they will make fascinating watching and learning.

Perhaps we can try to place as many of our comments in this single thread as possible, when the programme time comes along [or before]. When we concentrate our posts about programmes such as it seems these will be, it provides great feedback for the Alzheimer's Society, for the programme makers, and for new visitors coming to read about it here.

Details of the programmes:

FIRST PROGRAMME

Terry Pratchett – Living With Alzheimer's:
Wednesday 4 February
9.00-10.00pm BBC TWO
www.bbc.co.uk/headroom

Bestselling author Sir Terry Pratchett is 60 years old and has early-onset Alzheimer's disease – but he is committed to tackling this terrifying illness head on.

In the first of a two-part series as part of BBC Headroom, BBC Two's documentary strand focusing on mental health and wellbeing, Terry confronts his uncertain future and faces living in a world, ultimately, without words.

Following Terry's progress through his first year with Alzheimer's, he explores some cutting-edge science and often quite weird treatments. He also reveals what it's like to be diagnosed with the disease and how it is already affecting both his personal and public life.

More information about both programmes: http://www.bbc.co.uk/pressoffice/pro...zheimers.shtml

[jenniferpa]

I'm going to be very interested in what he makes of what I assume, from the description in the link above, is the embrel treatment (that's the injection in the spinal column).

I do wish I could get this programme over here, but I guess I'll have to wait for it.

[Natalie08]

Hi

There is more information too on www.alzheimers.org.uk/headroom

[Brucie]

Don't forget this programme is on tonight, with a second one next week

[Grannie G]

There was a Poster showing it in my GP`s surgery this morning.

[Skye]

BBC i-player:

http://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode...ers_Episode_1/

[Tender Face]

Probably need to reflect a little more but my first reaction is:

Hmmmmmmm .............

Karen, x

[andyshoestring]

Hi, I've just watched Terry Pratchett on the BBC and it has helped me make the decision to tell mum that she has Alzheimer's. As Terry say "you can't fight the demon until you say it's name"...and I suppose it will open the door to more support for me as I am her sole carer.

I'm new to the forum so will come here more often and chaat!

[Tender Face]

... and interesting how many people on TP are currently viewing this thread .......

http://www.alzheimers.org.uk/talking...ad.php?t=11576

[sad nell]

i watched terry patchett, it all seemed a bit sureal to me, is this the same desease my trev has,one sentence terry made connected with me, but one bottle of wine later cannot fot the life of me remember what it was, this desease effects everyone so differently, i apreciate alzhiemers been brought to the publics attention but this programme did not show day to day living with ad as it really is, i am still gratfull that terry has decided to make this public but it is a sanotised version of ad

[beech mount]

If it got people watching who know nothing of AZ and makes them think and ask questions,it is good,i liked his positive atitude.
John.

[Grannie G]

We watched Terry Pratchett together. Well I watched Terry Pratchett and my husband spent 40 minutes trying to put a tie on.

I found it hard to relate to Terry. I felt he was putting on a very brave face, trying to make light of the his dementia, and only showing his real face when the dementia took over.

[Margarita]

I have just watch it .

Is there another program about it follow on ?

As it ended with terry saying about how there an injection for AZ, how Terry wanted to try it out .


I was amazed to see how terry had such a good brain scan that told him about PCT how it affects his sight then effecting ability to tie his tie, reading writing .


Also about giving the Ant the AZ gene and them curing it .

I found it all very interesting. Very Informative .

[Brucie]

Originally Posted by Grannie G

I found it hard to relate to Terry.

me too, because his experience, because of the variant he has, is so different from Jan's.

I know nothing of Terry or his books, but I found the programme moving, because here was a very intelligent person [and others on there too], trying to make sense of it all. Occasional electric sparks of humour [mole!] were great. I felt, rather than heard, a clock ticking for him.

Don't forget the second part, next week.

[lesmisralbles]

I did watch most of it.
I lost interest, half way through, so did Ron.

This was TerryX, talking about alzheimers.
This was not Ron or I, talking about Alzheimers.
Big, BIG difference.
We live in the real world.

Barb & Ron XX