'Thank you' to who ever suggested writing on a bit of paper that Monique did not know she had Alzheimer's but just a slight memory problem. Typed it out in my best french with the aid of wordspell fr. and handed it to the new male neurologist as we entered his office. He was a bit ****ed off that we were changing from the female neurologist in the same practice as it meant he had to wade thorough all the notes first....
Turned out to be a really nice man.. Was subtly doing the memory test without making it seem like it - then asked if she had children? The resulting blank from this followed by "where were they living?" No idea! Once we established we have 2 made him just give it up and not put Monique through the agony of 'failing'.... He then changed her tranquilisers to a brand he prefers and then spent some time assertaining our personal situation - any other family around and seemed to have an awareness of this forum - when I said I knew the prognosis because of visiting it daily ... or was being polite. I got the feeling he was more concerned for me than for Monique. He then dictated a letter - report - to the GP on a little dictaphone, in our presence, without using the dreaded A word and suggested we needed more backup!
That visit left Monique angry and upset and since then she does not wake/or is it get up, till around 4 in the afternoon... I felt very optimistic that the system was going to 'clock in' and give me added support.........
This visit was followed by a trip to the GP who does the monitoring - very concerned and good with her... Gave me some gentle enemas for the imagined constipation and a prescription to have a nurse in for 3 days and buckets of Lactulous which Bruce recommended a while ago... Another paper for me to get social workers in to help get her up around noon - he is concerned that monique gets used to 'strangers' in the house and not just me doing the helping bit for when things get worse.... a friendly handshake and walked to the front door...
Finding Aide Soignantes - people to help wash and dress someone is really not easy..Spent a day on the telephone and none available...Interestingly if a nurse baths and dresses Monique the state pays - if an Aide Soignantes - does it, I pay... So although there appears to be no problems over the drugs - gave me extra for when she is sad-depressed - the actual system does not seem to be any better than the UK......... time will tell.
The 'showers' are a major success.. Cost an arm and a leg and 2 months to get finished but look great and Monique has now had a shower in each one. I got fittings with a big shower head at the top and a hand shower lower down and a thermostatic control so I just switch it on and the correct temperature comes out... and she seems to take to it like a duck to .......... Not every day and not without persuasion but a major step forward.
Just felt like writing this so excuse the verbosity...
Michael
Turned out to be a really nice man.. Was subtly doing the memory test without making it seem like it - then asked if she had children? The resulting blank from this followed by "where were they living?" No idea! Once we established we have 2 made him just give it up and not put Monique through the agony of 'failing'.... He then changed her tranquilisers to a brand he prefers and then spent some time assertaining our personal situation - any other family around and seemed to have an awareness of this forum - when I said I knew the prognosis because of visiting it daily ... or was being polite. I got the feeling he was more concerned for me than for Monique. He then dictated a letter - report - to the GP on a little dictaphone, in our presence, without using the dreaded A word and suggested we needed more backup!
That visit left Monique angry and upset and since then she does not wake/or is it get up, till around 4 in the afternoon... I felt very optimistic that the system was going to 'clock in' and give me added support.........
This visit was followed by a trip to the GP who does the monitoring - very concerned and good with her... Gave me some gentle enemas for the imagined constipation and a prescription to have a nurse in for 3 days and buckets of Lactulous which Bruce recommended a while ago... Another paper for me to get social workers in to help get her up around noon - he is concerned that monique gets used to 'strangers' in the house and not just me doing the helping bit for when things get worse.... a friendly handshake and walked to the front door...
Finding Aide Soignantes - people to help wash and dress someone is really not easy..Spent a day on the telephone and none available...Interestingly if a nurse baths and dresses Monique the state pays - if an Aide Soignantes - does it, I pay... So although there appears to be no problems over the drugs - gave me extra for when she is sad-depressed - the actual system does not seem to be any better than the UK......... time will tell.
The 'showers' are a major success.. Cost an arm and a leg and 2 months to get finished but look great and Monique has now had a shower in each one. I got fittings with a big shower head at the top and a hand shower lower down and a thermostatic control so I just switch it on and the correct temperature comes out... and she seems to take to it like a duck to .......... Not every day and not without persuasion but a major step forward.
Just felt like writing this so excuse the verbosity...
Michael