The Reality Of Dementia

I'm sharing with you what is the emotional progression of a family dealing with Dementia. My father was diagnosed with FrontalTemporoDementia in late March of 2004 at the age of 60. This is from my point of view as his only son, who loves the man who raised him, as the condition, and Life, moves ahead.

Tuesday, October 12, 2004

Perspective and Perspiration

The progression of my father's condition has given me some of the wildest thoughts and hopes I've ever had.
Is it psychosomatic? Did my dad hear "you have This, it does This to you," and decide that's how he would act? Because his actions are like everything you do without inhibition, consequence-thought, or discretion, and that is NOT my dad.

Is it ever going to stop? I can't see this being something that is impossible for science to diagnose, yet not stave off. That is BULLSHIT. Naturopathic medicine is on the way in here. Already taking a couple of herbal supplements, I've heard some changes in my dad's voice. Fingers crossed, prayers spoken.

My dad plays games, manipulating situations. There's process to those thoughts, that is not random action. Therefore he is not on autopilot. Or is the autopilot steering him through the games? See how this can drive one crazy?

It's really really tough. It's like my dad moved out and a new man moved in and now we're supposed to take care of him for the rest of our lives. Imagine that. Here's your new roommate. He looks like your other favorite roommate, but he's 180-degrees different. Why? Fuck if I know, "life's unfair?" I don't give a shit, it's not my problem.
Hey, thanks God/The Fates/Karma/Krishna/George Burns. I owe ya one. Right in the neck. This isn't "action-consequence." This is my dad getting older, and I think the doctor's rushed to diagnose a few little things as a forthcoming problem.

I'm looking at taking some drastic yet loving and unhurtful measures. The medical industry has been known to screw up frequently. There are ways to unscrew it. Sigh, what the fuck am I supposed to do with a 61 year-old 5 year-old?