Nora, Thanks for the input. I didn't realize how sad she was
until she told me last week how much time she spends just crying.
She never opened up about anything before and she coped with all her
feelings with her drinking. I hope her doctor will prescribe
something for the depression and anxiety. He's been really
understanding and willing to learn so far. We live in a very rural
part of Michigan and were lucky to find him. I will keep working on
things for my mom. The past is just that. She has a second chance
at being somewhat happy (she never has been, I don't think) and I
intend to do all I can to help her. I wish she could use a computer
but she's having trouble with anything that she didn't do before the
onset of w.s. Operating her satalite t.v. is too much for her most
of the time because she didn't have a dish before. I let her know
though that there are other people out there dealing with the same
problems. She seems to think that people will think that she is
stupid and that bothers her. She has always been proud of her
knowledge of trivia and her vocabulary etc. Anyway, I will try to
get her something for the sadness and maybe that will help her deal
with social situations a little better. Thanks again everyone who
replied. It's great to know that I'm not alone in this. Chella
--- In wernicke_korsakoff_syndrome@yahoogroups.com, Nora
<dulcineasmom@...> wrote:
>
> Hi Chella,
>
> Yes, I understand the need to hear from you consistently by your
mom. If I don't hear from either one of my daughters or a friend
every day, I kind of get that way too. So I'm sure my daughter,
Beccah (who is on his list, too) probably gets frustrated that I
call her if she doesn't call me first. She seems to understand the
problem better than anyone else. I know that she has a lot going on
in her own life right now, so I've been trying not to bother her as
much.
>
> As far as the income/medical insurance goes, I did get approved
for State Medicaid fairly quickly, about as soon as I was no longer
covered at work. I applied for Social Security Disability when it
first became obvious that I could not work any longer. I was denied
the first time (which is pretty much automatic I understand) but did
appeal and was given the Disability at the hearing (with a lawyer).
Then the Medicare kicked in when I'd been on Disability for 2
years. What state do you live in? I'm in Missouri.
>
> Do they have your mom on an antidepressant? If not I'd ask the
doctor about it. I'm on Trazodone (the generic of Desyrel) and it
works for me. I rarely cry anymore (which is both a blessing and a
curse) and it helps me sleep. Anyway that should help with the
crying.
>
> She'll still need your reassurance. She has probably not much
of a social life anymore, if any. She is probably lonely, and needs
to know someone (she has chosen you) cares about her. You may just
have to take that one on faith. I know it's difficult for younger
people to understand insecurity in older people, it was for me in
the past. But with the uncertainties and confusion we face with
this disease, I thnk it is pretty common for those of us not
extremely affected, who know that they don't know anymore. (My
father suffered from strokes and when he was still alive, in his
eighties, he would cry a lot and when asked, he would say that he
knows that he doesn't know anymore. All I could do was go see him
and hold him as often as I could.)
>
> Hang in there with her. Try to not let her see your
frustration. She needs you.
>
> Let me know how it all goes, Take care.
> Nora
>