Some good news for once.

[Shadowprophet]

We don't often hear good news these days, so it’s become my mission to share a small but profoundly meaningful piece of happiness. For over a year, we had been battling severe sundowners with my mother. Her episodes were frequent and distressing, and, truth be told, we had almost given up hope of seeing better days.

Now, I don’t remember if I’ve ever mentioned my somewhat wealthy family member, a cousin named Kathy. Personally, I’ve always hovered around middle class, so I never really considered there was more to being wealthy than just the money. But Kathy, she knew people. She leveraged her connections and got my mom an appointment with an actual neurologist who wasn’t from Kentucky.

For the past six months, my mother has been under the care of this specialist. She’s on entirely different medications now, and it turns out that while she is experiencing some sort of neurological degeneration due to advanced aging, it’s not the same as dementia. Since starting her new medication, she hasn’t had a single episode in months. It’s been like having my mother back fully—her clarity, her personality, everything we thought we had lost.

I share this story because in today’s world, we don’t share good news as often as we should. It’s not all darkness and shadows. Sometimes, there’s light, and it’s important to recognize and celebrate it. This wonderful turnaround with my mother has brought immense joy to our family, and I hope it brings a smile to your face as well. Remember, there’s always a glimmer of hope, even in the most unexpected places.

 

[pigfarmer]

entirely different medications

I've heard that a few times - over or improperly medicated. Doctors are always lighting fast with prescription pads.

 

[Shadowprophet]

I've heard that a few times - over or improperly medicated. Doctors are always lighting fast with prescription pads.

I'm just enjoying it. Good news is so rare these days.. and yes , I forget what the name of that medicine she took her off of was, but that seems to be the most of the problems she had.

 

[Rick Hunter]

Friend, thank you so much for sharing this. If you feel comfortable sharing, find out and let us know what medicine was causing the trouble and what she is on now. I think there are bunches of people being misdiagnosed with dementia these days.

 

[Shadowprophet]

Friend, thank you so much for sharing this. If you feel comfortable sharing, find out and let us know what medicine was causing the trouble and what she is on now. I think there are bunches of people being misdiagnosed with dementia these days.

The next time I talk to Mom I'll find out and list them here , you make a good point, whatever this medicine was called , it should be noted that my.mom had a violent reaction to it. I'll find out and list them here .

 

[Shadowprophet]

The medicine that was giving her all the trouble was something called Ropinirole. . I think it promotes dopamine..

 

[pigfarmer]

My brother is suffering from exactly this right now - multiple doctors and drug interactions that are making him sick. He is paying attention, keeping records and following his doctor's orders. He's quite intelligent and fully dialed in and sees that they are going in circles re-prescribing things that have already proven to be a problem.

He has severe, debilitating RA and found he got a lot better after he refused any further treatments for it. Currently he's fine until he passes out unexpectedly without warning. Nothing like waking up in the ER twice without knowing what happened.

They still call the person who graduates medical school dead last 'doctor'

 

[Shadowprophet]

My brother is suffering from exactly this right now - multiple doctors and drug interactions that are making him sick. He is paying attention, keeping records and following his doctor's orders. He's quite intelligent and fully dialed in and sees that they are going in circles re-prescribing things that have already proven to be a problem.

He has severe, debilitating RA and found he got a lot better after he refused any further treatments for it. Currently he's fine until he passes out unexpectedly without warning. Nothing like waking up in the ER twice without knowing what happened.

They still call the person who graduates medical school dead last 'doctor'

Hey bro,

I'm really sorry to hear about your brother’s struggles. It’s incredibly frustrating when the medical system seems to go in circles without providing real solutions. It’s a positive step that he’s keeping detailed records and staying on top of things—his intelligence and diligence are crucial in navigating this maze. I hope he finds a treatment plan that truly helps without causing more issues.Your story underscores how important it is to share experiences and information. I’m glad we have this space to support each other. Hang in there, and hopefully, better days are on the horizon for your brother. Keep us posted on how he’s doing.

 

[pigfarmer]

We're up early, eh? Or you're up late

Believe it or not, at 5am I have got to run. Busy day not entirely unrelated to the subject of this thread.

 

[pigfarmer]

There has been discussion of how to 'speak elderly' around the house. You either get it or you don't.

It's not being condescending to have to speak slightly differently to older people because we do tend to get a bit more brittle and short tempered when we get to a certain point. Look, I could still crack dick jokes to my mother-in- law until she was 92 but if I went anywhere near the big desk calendar that 'has everything' written on it I'd best be careful. That was her attempt at organizing her failing mind.

It's about keeping a conversation rolling and maintaining your demeanor, moving past a point where you can see their clutch slipping so as not to provoke anger. Unfortunately we have family members who just don't get it and that causes what I call ' the whole coop to be knocked over' meaning we have a cloud of feathers, shit and a lot of squawking to no purpose.

 

[Shadowprophet]

I understand what you're saying about adjusting our communication style for older family members. It's not about being condescending but more about being considerate and aware of their needs. Just like your mother-in-law's big desk calendar, these small adjustments help maintain their dignity and manage their frustrations.

It's important to keep conversations smooth and avoid topics that might trigger stress or confusion. Some people might not grasp this nuance, and it can lead to unnecessary tension and chaos, like your 'whole coop being knocked over.' Finding the balance is key to keeping harmony in the household.

Sometimes, when we're impatient, it's not the elder we're impatient with—it's ourselves. We need to remember they've paid their dues, and their experiences have shaped them in ways we might never fully understand. With any kind of luck, we'll never have to. Being patient and respectful is the least we can do to honor their journey.

 

[pigfarmer]

it's not the elder we're impatient with—it's ourselves

Meh. I may sound a bit callous but have been through this one too many times and have on the menu right now. My milk of human kindness is nearing it's expiration date.

I can get impatient and frustrated with difficult elderly people for the same reasons as anybody else, they can be a******s too sometimes. So can dogs BTW - that was a surprise but I've encountered a few. I avoid treating them like children and if that means telling them to 'cut the ****' once in a while so be it.

My aunt had a series of strokes that absolutely scrambled her egg. Waaaaaay beyond what I can write here but I found out there was a significant part of her personality still at work. She was sill in there somewhere. It's a bit like people in comas - don't just assume they aren't hearing and understanding you.

 

[pigfarmer]

There's a corollary to situations like these I'm sure we can relate to:

Family members who sit on the sidelines and direct, bark orders but never actually do anything themselves. They add nothing useful.

Cleaning out someone else's s****y underwear has a way of focusing one's attention, Zoom babble from people does not.

 

[Shadowprophet]

There's a corollary to situations like these I'm sure we can relate to:

Family members who sit on the sidelines and direct, bark orders but never actually do anything themselves. They add nothing useful.

Cleaning out someone else's s****y underwear has a way of focusing one's attention, Zoom babble from people does not.

I wanted to share a thought with you. The kindness we extend to others often has a deeper impact on us than we might realize. When people rely on you and trust you, it’s a sign that you have something truly valuable, even if it doesn’t always feel that way. It’s understandable that things can get tough, and it’s okay to feel overwhelmed. No matter what path we take or how difficult things become, there will always be challenges. Reflecting on our experiences and seeking introspection is a way of showing that we care deeply.It’s natural to question why things are so hard, but the very fact that we question is a reminder of how much we care. Sometimes, we need that reminder to help us through the tough moments.Hang in there, and always remember, no matter how tough things get, we have both survived way worse.

Take care my brother from another mother..

 

[Rick Hunter]

There's a corollary to situations like these I'm sure we can relate to:

Family members who sit on the sidelines and direct, bark orders but never actually do anything themselves. They add nothing useful.

Cleaning out someone else's s****y underwear has a way of focusing one's attention, Zoom babble from people does not.

I have tons of respect for people who are caretakers for disabled and/or elderly. You couldn't pay me enough to do that kind of work. I would work three jobs to afford to pay someone else to do it for my parents if they get to that point. If I knew in advance that my mind was going and my daughter was going to have to deal with an elderly infant version of me, I might just go ahead and voluntarily check out early so she wouldn't have to deal with that.

 

[nivek]

Some other good news, my niece who lives in Tennessee has had a baby, a healthy baby boy...I'm a Great Uncle for the first time lol...

...

 

[Shadowprophet]

Some other good news, my niece who lives in Tennessee has had a baby, a healthy baby boy...I'm a Great Uncle for the first time lol...

...

As a great uncle you already know , Uncle is a special position. It's very akin to a stepdad. In generalized ways. It's a special honor you get to carry forever. Make certain to make a huge impression on the little one this Christmas, congratulations brother. There is no greater gift outside of the immediate family.
Emojis don't seem to work for me , it's a phone keyboard issue so ( genuine smiley face)

 

[nivek]

Make certain to make a huge impression on the little one this Christmas

Yes indeed, for him and for his mom at Christmas and also next month...My wife and I are traveling along with my mom to Tennessee next month to see the baby...

...

 

[pigfarmer]

I used to work with a man who could rock a thousand dollar suit, he really knows how to shoot those cuffs. He also has a thick NY accent of some sort ten feet thick and was the wellspring of cliches.

He said once in a meeting that 'sometimes you just gotta call somebody's baby ugly' . Oh God, he was a gift that kept giving.

We have a very recent addition to the family and of course, all little babies are cute but that phrase keeps bouncing off the back of my teeth .........

 

[Shadowprophet]

It's 9:18 I'm dog tired , but I've fell down a rabbit hole. Neal gaimen .. that guy is a literal super genius . His work has my mind tied in a knot.. it's wonderful.. in short , Neal gaiman is known for the sandman series of comics , but he's done a lot of other work. He's known as a genius and , truly he is , but every creation he's ever made is taken from mythology of some sort. The deal is at the same time his world is really developed , so you see a new character , who did he rip that off from? He leaves bread crumb clues , the only thing I couldn't figure out was in his mythology his pantheon was the Endless. It made no sense to me. Where did he come up with the idea? Did he create it? Of course not he's Neal gaiman.. it was a mystery. The. I was studying the seferott , ancient Jewish mysticism.. (you know , as one does ). And I realized , in the old Jewish manuscripts, the sefer yazata , God is referred to as Ein Sof , which translates to..


The endless
And there we have it folks .. this is indeed how I wind down to go to sleep at night