A DOCTOR's APPOINTMENT

Last week was David's 6 month appointment with his neurologist. I'm so happy we have a doctor who is a good listener, easy to talk to, and very compassionate.
However, I always dread the appointments!!!!! I usually feel like David is doing so well, until we go to the doctor, and then I feel so shocked and disappointed, when the doctor ask him questions that he can't answer.

The doctor ask if we've noticed any changes...... we said no.......thank God!. On a day to day situation, I feel he's doing good, but when the doctor ask him, " what day of the week is it?", and David can't answer, then he ask, "what year is it?", and he can't answer....... Oh my, how I wanted to help him answer the questions!

The next question,..... "David I know you're a CPA, what was yesterday (tax day)?"_.... David couldn't answer that either.

When David was diagnosed with Alzheimer's, the neurologist (the first doctor), prescribed a vitamin called Cerefolin. The doctor said it really hasn't been proven to help anyone with Alzheimer's, and suggested he stop taking it. He renewed his Namenda and Aricept (each twice a day). The doctor suggested that we cut back to one Aricept a day, but I'd called Baylor College of Medicine in Houston (they're the ones who prescribed it twice a day), and they said if he was still doing pretty good, to continue with two a day, and that's what we're going to do.

The doctor ask if I carry a recent photo of David in my purse (I didn't, but I do now). He suggested that I carry one, just in case we go somewhere and we should be separated or David should get lost. I have photos of the grandchildren and our dog, but none of David. This was a good suggestion! When we returned home, I found two recent pictures of him, one full length, and a close up of his face. I laminated the photos, and put them in my purse.

David walks several times a day, and the doctor said the exercise was really good for him ..... and to keep it up, but he urged us to make sure to carry identification with him at all times. David is still doing so well, that I've been negligent about making sure he has identification in his pocket. I've also been negligent about using the GPS. . The doctor urged me to use it each time he goes walking. When we came home, I charged the battery, and from now on when he's walking he'll have his identification card and the GPS in a fanny pack. Now he's good to 'go'......

I searched the internet last year and found a wonderful GPS 'device' made by globaltrackinggroup.com. for $389.95. We pay $17.99 for the tracking fee each month, and when he's walking, I log onto the Global Tracking web site on my computer, and I can track his location in the neighborhood.

And I say, "thank you God for good doctors, medications, tracking devices ....and good days."