Sudden Memory Loss in the Elderly?

I'm not a doctor.  I don't even play one on TV.

But when my ailing Mom started to have cognitive problems, her mental health issues were SUBSTANTIALLY more upsetting to me than her physical health.

I can't describe it.  It's not even something you think about unless you experience this yourself with a loved one.  I guess we get afraid of our parents forgetting who we are.  Physical ailments can be treated - but memory loss is just on another level of scariness.

But, literally overnight one day at the home my Mom and I shared while I was taking care of her, I noticed my Mom's memory kinda "left."  She hadn't had any dramatic memory loss to date - just typical forgetting words or forgot where she placed something.  But all of a sudden one day my Mom lost the ability to work the tv remote she's been using for years.   "How do I change the channel?" she would ask me as she held out the remote for me to operate for her.

Later that night, she looked down confused at all her pills, trying to figure out which pills she needed to take, even though they were separated in her regular pill container labeled with AM and PM, and she had had the same routine for taking her pills for years. 

More and more throughout the next two days she would be very confused on how to work things or do things, where before she didn't have these memory or cognitive issues.  It was very frightening for both of us.

I deeply cried to a friend of mine about my concerns for her and I, and he all of a sudden asked me if my Mom had a urinary tract infection.

Through my tears, "uh,  what?"

He was a psychologist by trade and told me that elderly people sometimes have sudden memory loss when they have a urinary tract infection.

Really?

Turns out he was right!   And I was saved from feeling like I was losing my Mom and she was saved from being so confused.

Wanted to share this in case /all of a sudden/ an elderly relative gets confused with daily activities (where they hadn't had any major confusion before).    

My Mom knew something wasn't right, either.  She would say, "aren't you worried?!"

Well, YES.   

My Mom being funny in the ER for a different visit

Taking her to the doctor and him remedying her urinary tract infection led to her gaining back her cognitive issues and resolving the confusion she was experiencing.

I hope this helps at least ONE person! 

I Am Who I Am

You know, I'd like to think that this is true, but lately, I only apologize for who I am. 

I tried to make changes, I did!  No one else did.

I apologized for being the way I am; no one else did.

I am who I am, tho.

• People confuse curiosity for jealousy; 
• Confuse worrying about their safety to having to "check in;" 
• Confuse wishing others care about your whereabouts for being too needy;
• Confuse worrying late at night because of drunk drivers for being a bitch;
• Confused wishing for contact and communication to being smothering.

I am who I am.

I can't help the way I was brought up; the way I truly am.  I feel so badly that the way I am pushes people away.  But I'm not given any slack for being me.  I'm only being beaten up mentally and emotionally for being, well, Me.

I don't think it's right to lose self esteem because I can't change who I am.  And ironically, I worked on myself!

But I guess it wasn't enough.

I am the way I am because of the way I was raised; because of what I saw with my eyes my entire life.

I tried to change.  More than I ever did before!

And I asked for help, even.  But I wasn't given help.  Instead, I was ridiculed, and people just got upset with me for how I acted instead of helping and understanding.   :(

I am not suppose to apologize for who I am, but when people don't love you because of the way you are, what are you suppose to do with that information?

My self esteem is SHOT.

And I freaking hate it that this has happened.

I am a decent human being with some issues, but I don't think I should be punished for the way I am.  I can't help it; and I even tried and improved!

Instead, it gets thrown in my face of all the "bad" things this person thinks I am.  Really?  Can't remember the good times?  Can't remember the fun times? 

I'm shattered by your words and actions....

What's the Difference When it Comes to Memory?

For those of us with older parents (or those of us getting older ourselves), memory lapses always make us wonder and worry if it's the onset of Alzheimers or not.  It's a very, very tough thing to see our parents with dementia.  But is it leading to Alzheimers?  Or is it just part of getting older?

BTW, my Mom was given some meds that helped her dementia/memory.  I highly recommend talking to your parents' doctors if memory/dementia is causing you both stress.  It really helped her memory, and it helped my concerns for her.

I used to get more stressed about her dementia than her physical ailments. :(  I can't even explain it, really.  I guess, with her advanced heart disease and advanced emphysema, she could at least be home by herself during the day when I worked.  With mental issues, I wouldn't have been able to leave her home alone while I worked (and a nursing home was not an option as she NEVER ever wanted to go to one). 
  
In the meantime, I hope this memory comparison is helpful:

 (CLICK PHOTO TO ENLARGE)