There are 2 messages in this issue.
Topics in this digest:
1. Re: getting financial help
From: "chella3174" <chella3174@...>
2. Re: Re: getting financial help
From: kathym530@...
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Message: 1 Date: Sun, 12 Mar 2006 05:32:23 -0000
From: "chella3174" <chella3174@...>
Subject: Re: getting financial help
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
>
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Message: 2 Date: Sun, 12 Mar 2006 07:47:41 EST
From: kathym530@...
Subject: Re: Re: getting financial help
Chella: My mother feels the same way about being thought of as "stupid" and she was angry and frustrated a lot of the time. As I posted a while ago, after 3 years my mother had a sort of "awakening" at the beginning of this year. She became more animated, happier, engaged, and interested in life. Believe it or not, we are attributing it to the bridge games they now have. My mother played bridge for years in her younger days and loved it. Her doctor said the brain cells required to play the game may have triggered other cells. Pretty amazing. Now she participates in a lot of the activities in her facility whereas before, all she did was stay in her room and go to meals. If I had known that a bridge game would do it, we could have avoided 3 years of depression. There is no way of knowing what it will be but I guess I offer this as hope of finding activities your mother can enjoy that will avoid the feelings of inadequacy she may feel. Good Luck and take care, kathy
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