"This is a story about my mom and our journey with Alzheimer's disease."
Transcript
My name is Samantha Burton, and this is a story about my mom and our journey with Alzheimer's disease. My mom’s 76 years old. Been living on her own since dad died six years ago. She’s active, loves to be outside… gardening and walking her dog.
But I’m worried. Mom’s forgetting things. She has been for a while, and I’ve been afraid to admit it. Last week, we were at the park with the dog, and she kept asking me if we’d remembered to feed him. Every five or ten minutes… Did we feed the dog his lunch? And she’s forgetting names, dates, places. And the mood swings. She’s so irritable. It’s just not like her. She’s always been so happy and pleasant.
So I started doing some research. Looking online. I think she has Alzheimer's disease. So I called my sister, but she thought I was just overreacting. She said mom was just getting old. I tried to tell mom one night at dinner. She got really defensive. Insisted that she was fine. And I let it go.
Then the basketball game. One of my twins plays for her high school team and mom wanted to cheer her on. Mom stood up as if to yell, but said nothing and sat back down. I think she forgot Miranda’s name. I had another talk with mom that night. I showed her this notepad that I had been keeping. I used it to write down things she’d forgotten, her bad moods. We talked for an hour. We decided to go together to see Dr. Womack, our family doctor. I’m really scared to go – but I also feel a little better. But it’s time for some answers.
Comments
I don't really have anyone to talk to. I Live alone.
I live alone also and don't have a lot of conversation with people since my wife died of Alzheimer's in November
My mother died from alzheimer's disease 4 years ago, and her sister, my aunt , died from it too, and my mom had 5 aunts on her father's side and all 5 died from alzheimer's. My gene test shows that I had the abnormal allele that causes alzheimer's , apoe episilon 4. One of my children also has the abnormal allele. the rest refuse to be tested, I don't blame them. I wish I didn't know either. But it explains my behavior. Thank you for these videos, it helped me tremendously.
We know that it can be difficult to see a friend or family member suffering from Alzheimer's Disease, Barry. Talk to your support system about how to handle difficult moments.
its hard sometimes
My mother in law dies of alzheimer. Everything was beautiful with dementia she was ok for a while until she started to forgeting us.he did not recognize us for moments' turn very agressive she did not recognaized us. At the beginning we were always on the streets having fun but eventually she got confuse and turned very agressive and forgot that we were family. Eventually she turned dangerous. At the end she got a brain clot and die peacefully under the care of Hospice.....its very scare to get that disease specially because youu know how is going to be the end....exercise every day oxygen is great for the brain' go back to your old math book' learn it again'go for a walk' read books' buy games and invite your friends so everybody can have fan y still using your brain while playing. GOOD LUCK.
Thank you for sharing your story. Talking about your experience with Alzheimer's Disease helps others know that they are not alone.
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