Labels: Alzheimer's, Lutheran Generations
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Colleen Coble writes romantic suspense with a strong atmospheric element. A lovable animal of some kind--usually a dog--always populates her novels. She can be bribed with DeBrand mocha truffles.
Denise Hunter writes women's fiction and love stories with a strong emotional element. Her husband says he provides her with all her romantic material, but Denise insists a good imagination helps too.
Diann Hunt writes romantic comedy and humorous women's fiction. She has been happily married forever, loves her family, chocolate, her friends, chocolate, her dog, and well, chocolate.
Cheryl Hodde writes romantic medical suspense under the pen name of Hannah Alexander, using all the input she can get from her husband, Mel, for the medical expertise. For fun she hikes and reads. Out of guilt, she rescues discarded cats. She and Mel are presently taking orders from four pampered strays.
20 Comments:
Alzheimer's is such a cruel disease. My paternal grandfather had it and my maternal grandma has it now.
I'm so sorry for what you all are going through.
And what were those supplements, Dr. Coble?
From Dr. Coble. LOL: there are a couple of school of thought on the causes of Alzheimer's. One is that it happens as hormone balances get out of whack. That happens from all the plastics on our culture. We get fake estrogens that upset the balance. I had Dave's levels tested and his estrogen and progesterone were both a little too high and his testosterone was starting to drop (normal at his age) so I got him on testosterone as well as Saw palmetto and zinc to help keep it from converting to more estrogen. He's on 7 KETO DHEA too which supports hormone leves and PS Caps (Phosphatidylserine) to keep his brain functioning. Plus he takes Armour thyroid which has dropped his cholesterol levels like a rocket. Vitamin E and C as well. And there's a new study about trace amounts of the mineral lithium that shows it rebuilds gray matter in the brain so he's taking a tiny amount of that.
The other school of thought is that Alzheimer's might be a silent diabetes. The brains of Alzheimer's patients can't metabolize glucose and the plaques begin to form. So I'm watching his glucose levels and he's on chromium picolinate to help his glucose stay level.
Here's a good article about the hormone thing:
How Men Can Avoid Estrogen Dominance
By Mark Rosenberg, MD
What is Estrogen Dominance?
All men need both estrogen and testosterone in the correct balance. When the balance is sent askew and estrogen reaches a level that leads to health problems, a man may be diagnosed with estrogen dominance. Testosterone levels are high in young men, but they decrease as we age. This is normal. Outside factors, however, often cause estrogen levels to rise at the same time testosterone is decreasing. In this case, it is not our bodies that are to blame, but environmental factors.1
The most common culprits in estrogen dominance are substances known as xenoestrogens.2 These are estrogen-like substances found in our environment, from the food we eat, to the products we use. Common sources of xenoestrogens are commercially raised beef, chicken and pork due to the hormones often given to the animals to produce rapid growth.
Other sources are styrofoam, plastics and cans used for food and water; cosmetics and personal care products; detergents and household cleaners; artificial scents such as air fresheners; herbicides and pesticides; and paints and solvents.3
How Excess Estrogen Impacts Male Health
Though estrogen dominance may cause a host of health concerns, prostate cancer may be chief among them. Studies show that men with the highest levels of estrogen have enlarged prostates. In laboratory experiments, prostate cells exposed to estrogen proliferate and become cancerous. When treated with testosterone, the cancer cells die. Therefore, fighting estrogen dominance may be the key to reducing your prostate cancer risk.
I thought I'd heard that Alzeimer's tends to skip a generation - so that you are more likely to develop it if your grandparents had it than if your parents did... have you run across it.
(Sorry Denise for asking....)
I should have also mentioned that my grandfather had it - though for a long time we didn't know it because he was also a stroke victim.... so they wanted my generation to be more aware as we get older.
I hadn't heard that, Allie! I'll have to check it out for the sake of my kids!
Colleen, my dad has a form of dementia so I know a bit of your heartbreak.
I'm praying for you and your book deadline. To paraphrase my good friend Tricia Goyer: "Remember, Colleen, God already sees the finished book."
Colleen, my heart goes out to you and Dave. I can only imagine how heartbreaking this must be. I'm keeping you in my prayers, and so sorry you've had to deal with this.
Oh, Colleen, I'm sorry for the struggles you're going through right now. I've never experienced Alzheimer's in my family, but with a history of diabetic ancestors, I know it hurts when someone you love gets sick with something that can't be cured with chicken soup. Glad that the doctor side of you knows which vitamins and supplements are best for your dad. T'will definitely be praying for ya'll. Blessings.
I can only imagine your heartbreak, Colleen. Please know I am praying for you and your family.
My mom died of Alzheimers in 2001. We were fortunate that she was too frail to be of danger to anyone. And she was so cute and funny, even though she mixed us all up. Sometimes I was her mother, sometimes she thought I was her sister; once in a while her daughter, and then often a stranger. But she liked me whoever I was. :)
But you're right, it's a horrible disease. My mom was a teacher and loved people. It was so hurtful to see her mind compromised.
Praying for you all, Colleen.
Oh, Colleen, my heart hurts for you and your family. And to try to finish a book while dealing with this...well, you've got a mountain to move. But our God can move mountains - and that's what I'm praying for you!
Your name has been on a post it on my monitor at work all week in big black magic marker block letters and i've been praying for you and the FIL intermittantly as I see it! HUUUUGGSSS!
It's been painful for us just hearing about it. I loved your MIL and FIL when I met them. Such genuine and wonderful people. I do pray for the transition and your family.
But I have to say. Give Dave back his Pepsi. Next you'll take his hamburgers away and he won't be Dave.
Aw, thanks, Jaime!! And thank all of you for your prayers and concern. I'm hoping this gets easier.
No Pepsi for Dave, K! It's WAY bad for him. I want him around a long time! But I'll never take away his hamburgers. LOL
I managed assisted living homes for the developmentally disabled in Warsaw for several years. I came to love the patients. Some don't have family involvement so staff become their family. Some of the most gentle, loving folks had Downs Syndrome. Their lifespan is shorter than average and they have a higher incidence of Alzheimer's. It was heartbreaking to see them experience the symptoms at such a young age especially when they were at such a disadvantage from the beginning. I'll keep praying for you and your family.
Lisa, that is so sad. I never knew they had a higher rate of that. My brother is developmentally disabled and he has defied the odds. He has one of the first heart patches EVER and he's 46.
But wow, that is really heart-wrenching. They have suffered so much already.
So sorry, Colleen. My FIL also has Alzheimer's and has been in a facility for the past year. It's so hard to watch them disappear while they're still living.
Colleen,
I am so sorry to hear of your father-in-law's struggle. I have not walked this road with a loved one, so I can only imagine how difficult this is! I will pray for you and your entire family. Make sure your hubby constantly keeps learning new things - challenging the brain to keep creating new nueron pathways is key. Also, check out Dr. Amen's work:
http://www.amenclinics.com/
Colleen, I can only offer up my prayers for you and your family during this time.
Alzheimer's is a horrid and most vicious disease. My MIL's mother had it and it changes a person so drastically. And you are helpless to do anything except watch the person you love disappear.
I truly hope a cure is found soon. I am so sorry.
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