From "Deaf" to seatbelt

Near the end of the three week cycle Joyce has a tendency to get slightly "deaf" and less responsive. I think she hears fine but is just headstrong in what she is doing and ignores me.If I wait a while she usually comes around to doing what I wanted to in the first place. I am certain I mentioned in an earlier posting about patience. If you have none you had better go buy some quickly.I am beginning to see her last injection kick in. She is more responsive and will comply with simple requests. Sometimes I think she senses more than she shows or at least acts according to the situation. I have been under the weather since yesterday. Joyce has not been a problem and has been somewhat maintenance free. Joyce is about 70% functional. She can dress and undress herself as long as I lay out the clothes. She can brush her teeth but doesn't do as well with her hair. She puts on and takes off her jewelry which include pendant and chain, two rings, earrings, bracelet, and watch. She will put on and take off her own shoes and tie or strap as needed. She eats on her own but can't prepare food anymore. She can get her drink from the refrigerator and unscrew the cap as well as put back part of it if she doesn't empty it. She can help put up clean dishes and go to, enter and belt up in the car if we are going someplace. Joyce has aphasia which means she cannot convey her thoughts orally. She can parrot many things or read something and say it out loud.She can also sing along with songs she has heard before such as "the battle hymn of the republic" which we have on a Lee Greenwood CD that I play in the car. Her body language and her actions tell me she sees and understands more than she is given credit for due to the inability to speak in a conversation. Enbrel is holding her up until a new med is found. I am patiently waiting for it.

Joyce is always a happy person and is always ready to go. I have to be careful what I say so I don't push her travel button or she will be out the door before I realize it. This is life in the fast lane of AD. There are millions who are far less funtional than Joyce. She and I are some of the lucky ones.

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PAL