Our (U.'s and mine as well) ophthalmologist did it - momentarily still in the hospital (which you know), from next week onwards in his praxis (which is situated together with those of a couple other doctors besides that hospital and gets new operation rooms finished by then; kind of a policlinic).
I'm releaved to hear that everything went well. Thanks for letting us know, Walter.
Glad to hear the good news, but the roller coaster of feelings is tiresome. A hug, Walter.
Very glad for the good news.
I'll never really get used to this roller coasting feeling. But we've had to learn and accept that after a good period the next bad isn't far away ....
Since the doctor said a couple of times "wonderful, wonderful" when looking in mother's eye and obviously wasn't referring to the blue-yellow-red colours around it. I've ask him to see that as well: it really was!
He had sewed the lens on the retina and you hardly could notice the seam. (And explaines why she'd been in the operation room for a rather long period yesterday.)
All is well, those minor blood clots will disaapear within days (she had had such before as well) ... and mother really is quite happy ... waiting now that she gets news glasses.
That's very good news, Walter!
Such good news to see first thing in the morning! I'm glad it all went well, Walter.
To be honest: it took a load from my wife's and my mind! (Especially thinking that mother perhaps had to get a new lens !)
A very interesting report in today's The Guardian:
Moving to a new home for the first time since 1940s
(My mother lives in our house all her life but the first five years = since 1925.)
Mental decline and dependency
I have been reading with the greatest interest the posts in this thread. When I see how hard it is for so many people to cope with the demands of mental deterioration in loved ones, I am extremely thankful that we live in a life-care community.
We are in the Independent Living section, and Assisted Living services are available as needed, with a full nursing home on the premises. Significant Other is suffering from slowly increasing dementia plus severe macular degeneration and very severe (beyond the help of hearing aids) deafness, and so far I have been able to cope. But I expect I'll need physical help eventually, as it becomes harder and harder for him to move around. (He has had to begin using a walker just within the last few weeks.)
The worst problem at the moment, from a practical viewpoint, is his reluctance to let me go out on errands without him. Unfortunately, his physical frailty prevents him from going out with me.
Putting my mother in a nursing home, even though she had her own really large room there, was a horrible experience. I doubt that she ever really forgave me; I know my nieces and nephews were very angry about it. However, she became unable to remember how to get from the restaurant on the lower level of her senior apartment to her own unit, and the management would never have let her continue to live there.
Walter--
I'm glad your mother's eye surgery went well. How is your aunt coping?
Tomkitten--
You have my sympathy. Mr. Noddy is edging his way downhill. Physically, he's aging. Mentally, he's fraying.
One of the worst parts of this decline is that I've always considered myself a patient and understanding person--which I am, providing that my patience isn't tested all day, every day. There are days when I am not a Good Woman.
Could your husband be worried that you might not come back from errands? Would a cell phone be of any comfort--or is his hearing too poor? Could he hear a loud kitchen timer?
Believe me, you have my sympathy.
Mental decline and dependency
Thank you, Noddy, for your sympathy and suggestions. Both are very welcome. And I'm truly sorry about Mr Noddy.
Unfortunately, Bob becomes agitated when I am away from him, imagining all sorts of horrors happening to me. Our doctor has suggested Aricept, but with Bob's very bad heart I'm not sure it would be such a good idea.
I read, on an Alzheimer's site, that it makes things easier if one remembers that the 15th repetition of a question, or other abnormal behavior, isn't the person talking/acting, but the disease. That has helped me a lot. I pass it on for what it's worth.
Well, your own health is in question, tomkitten, you do need breaks...
I read the other day that marijuana may help with
Alzheimer and dementia in general. But, of course, instead of promoting the smoking of pot for its beneficial effects, they are waiting until a profit-making pill is produced.
Noddy24 wrote: How is your aunt coping?
More or less as usual - she doesn't really tell how she feels (and what she feels), but looks better, too.
Mental decline and dependency
Ossobucco - I'm lucky in that our retirement community is very large, so can - and does - support a really nice small library in-house. Years ago I joined the Library Committee which means I have a two-hour stint every Monday doing all the things for free that I used to do for a living. Bob is used to that though it does make him uncomfortable if I'm even a few minutes late coming back upstairs. He can tolerate the hour or so I spend (every 2-3 months) helping select new purchases, but when I go with the Book Selection Committee to do the actual buying at a nearby bookstore he gets very distressed.
Anyway, it adds up to a real treat for me once a week.
Otherwise, since he sleeps a lot, I can read and knit and listen to tapes, so the real pressures are the constant awareness of his condition, and the shift of all responsibilities for decision-making from shared to my shoulders alone. It could all be a lot worse, and I'm thankful that we made the move here 13 years ago.
