We were having a good morning, with both of us in good spirits. Sometimes I have problems with giving Cindy pills, particularly the large fish oil one, but this morning was promising as we both smiled at each other, our combined warmth just oozing into the closing gap between us as I approached Cindy from across the kitchen.. I held the pill up to her mouth and, with her sweet smile, she kissed it.
As a little aside, I’ve minimized the amount of pills Cindy takes to what I consider the essentials. For her medications I stopped donepezil (Aricept) long ago, with immediate improvement to side effects on muscles she was experiencing. However, I continue with memantine (Namenda) to this day, not for her memory, but for her mood. In particular, giving her memantine at night seems to help with settling her in.
Most of her vitamins now come in powdered form, mixed in with her brain health smoothie. Additionally to that she gets vitamin D3, E and folic acid pills because research indicates these are the most promising vitamins for brain health and they are small. Then there is the Omega-3 fatty acids she gets in her fish oil pill.
Both taking pills and kisses are common occurrences for Cindy; she can do either. Yet when I crossed the room with a smile she was thinking “kiss.” When I held up the pill instead her mind could not adapt in time. This reveals the Alzheimer’s mind working in slow motion. The opposite also has occurred. I go to give her a kiss to keep her spirits up while feeding her, but she opens her mouth and gives me a “wet one.”
We have a little routine while eating. I give Cindy a sip of coffee; I give her a bite of egg on toast; I take a bite of egg on toast; I take a sip of coffee; then repeat the sequence until she is done. This keeps us at a good pace for chewing and swallowing before sipping and vice-versa; but also finds Cindy occasionally sipping what must be chewed and chewing what must be sipped.
There is a cute, sweetness to all this, particularly the way she looks and smiles at me while kissing her pill. Yet there is such sad, bitterness to the way her mind functions as well. Caring for a loved one with Alzheimer’s is, after all, the ultimate in bittersweet pills.
Yes, how bittersweet it is, but you, in your writing, still manage to give your lives a touch of romance and thus bring it to ours. God bless you both.
Thanks, Christy.
How blessed you are to have such a love.
I admire both of you.
Ill be home from Virginia this coming weekend and would love to come for some tea and a visit. Send me an email for the times that are best for you folks.
XOXOXOXOOX
Afternoons, M-Th, are generally most open. Next week is Serena’s break. Cindy and I will be at our primary care physician until later in the afternoon on Wednesday; Thursday I’m going hiking.