Is your spouse showing signs...

Happyflowerlady said:
I have mentioned this before, and still doing more research, but there are several universities that are doing research on using the nootropic nicotine patches to help people with memory loss.
This is NOT nicotine from tobacco, this is plain nicotine, which is not addictive, helps with Parkinson’s and also with memory loss, so very different from any kind of tobacco use of any kind.
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That is worth trying. I smoked for many years and found the combination of nicotine and caffeine very helpful when I was writing. It improved my concentration. I googled for information and got this https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/nicotine-vs-caffeine#interaction. It says the combination does improve concentration.

The price of nicotine patches is terrible but I think I want to give the patches a try. However, googling for information about the experiments got conflicting results. One site said nicotine does not help and another said it was proven to help. I think the best way for me to make a decision is to try it.
 

After reading about the benefits, especially for people who have memory issues, I decided to talk with the people at Vanderbilt. They have at least 2 tests going on, to see what nicotine can help. I did not qualify, because they gave me the memory test and said my memory is fine, and right now, they are only testing people with an impaired memory.

However, if you research online, there is information to be found, and some interesting videos on youtube. I decided to try it and see if I could notice a difference. My husband had some gum and some wafers that he didn’t use, so I tried both of those. I have found that about 2 mg is the right amount to perk up my mental capabilities, and I do not have any side effects.

I have tested my BP , and watched my heart rate, and no problems with either. The wafers kind of burn my tongue, so I cut a 4mg one in half and take half in the morning and half in the afternoon (if I take a second one). Because I do not like the taste, I just swallow it and let it dissolve in my tummy.
I don’t have any kind of craving for one, and if I forget for a day, I never notice it, so I am not experiencing any kind of addiction to the nicotine.

Besides the alertness, I feel like I have better circulation, and my body, clear down to my feet, feels warmer. For some reason, I think that I even walk better,, so maybe whatever helps people with Parkinson’s also helps my balance.
An interesting thing, is that niacin is called nicotinic acid, so I am thinking that there is some kind of connection between the two.

My husband, who is a lifelong smoker became interested in my self-experiments, and he decided that he likes the little nicotine pouches that you put in your lip. He uses the ZYN pouch, and he said it lowers his desire to smoke, as well as helps his alertness.
Tucker Carlson is very in favor of these pouches, and said he uses them a lot and it helps his thinking.
(There is a thread on here that I started before.)
Nicotine patches are being used by Vanderbilt University for memory loss.
 
Vida May said:
Here is the trailer for that movie. It made me cry.
It is possible to buy a DVD of the movie but I think it would be hard to watch.
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It is sad isn't it? How awful to watch the one you love fade away and then discover new love with someone else and you can't even justifiably be angry. Such a tragedy and such deep love! Really love that K.D. Lang song, so appropriate.
 
Debrah N. said:
It is sad isn't it? How awful to watch the one you love fade away and then discover new love with someone else and you can't even justifiably be angry. Such a tragedy and such deep love! Really love that K.D. Lang song, so appropriate.
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When I was caring for my grandmother with severe dementia, I found it very helpful also to be involved with young people. I needed a reminder that life is not just deterioration and death. If I were to write a book on the subject, I might title it "Running on Empty". I think it would be tragic to lose a loved one to dementia and deny ourselves a loving relationship with another person. That would really be rough. When we deny our own needs things don't go as well as when our needs are met. Caregivers need a strong support group.
 
There may be other places that are doing similar studies. Vanderbilt said they had another one, but you have to be close enough to go there, and also have an MRI, which I am not able to do. You might search online and see if other places are having this kind of study and still open for new people.
 
Vida May said:
Wow, I didn't think of that of the peripheral neuropathy. It is worse in my left foot. I saw 2 chiropractors who could greatly decrease the numbness in my feet. Insurance is a problem when it comes to chiropractors, but maybe a chiropractor could help with the sensation of pressure in my head too? I have to get on that. I feel a ray of hope. :love: Thank you.

But I am still quitting as a senior companion. Next month our senior center is doing the annual Holiday bazaar and I bought a lot of stuff for the bazaar at a yard sale. It was $5 for a whole box of stuff and I bought four of them. I am busy cleaning, sorting, and repairing so this is a good time to make the transition to life without all the driving I was doing.

I just don't want the stress of being obligated to others. 10 years ago it was no big deal to care for many people. It has taken me a long time to admit to myself that I have changed.
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@Vida May , is that a typo, you sound like a quilter rather than a quitter. :coffee:
 
Debrah N. said:
It is sad isn't it? How awful to watch the one you love fade away and then discover new love with someone else and you can't even justifiably be angry. Such a tragedy and such deep love! Really love that K.D. Lang song, so appropriate.
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The lead actor in that film was a Canadian from Newfoundland, Gordon Pinsent. He had a very long career in Canadian TV , stage plays, and feature films. A classically trained actor, he was a friend of many of the other Canadian actors of his generation like Lorne Green, Donald Sutherland, Christopher Plummer, Bruno Gerusi, Walter Pidgeon, and Leslie Nielsen. JIM.
 
jimintoronto said:
The lead actor in that film was a Canadian from Newfoundland, Gordon Pinsent. He had a very long career in Canadian TV , stage plays, and feature films. A classically trained actor, he was a friend of many of the other Canadian actors of his generation like Lorne Green, Donald Sutherland, Christopher Plummer, Bruno Gerusi, Walter Pidgeon, and Leslie Nielsen. JIM.
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That's right! I could not remember his name. Fine actor!
 
Vida May said:
That is worth trying. I smoked for many years and found the combination of nicotine and caffeine very helpful when I was writing. It improved my concentration. I googled for information and got this https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/nicotine-vs-caffeine#interaction. It says the combination does improve concentration.

The price of nicotine patches is terrible but I think I want to give the patches a try. However, googling for information about the experiments got conflicting results. One site said nicotine does not help and another said it was proven to help. I think the best way for me to make a decision is to try it.
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I think I had undiagnosed ADHD all through my school years. Then I learned to smoke and I could bring the manual home, for any of my jobs, light up and learn the whole thing in an afternoon.

I just question the "nicotine is not addictive " part. It's one of the most addictive things there is and it's the reason most of us have such a hard time quitting smoking. It's the tars in the tobacco that give us cancer, but it's the nicotine that makes us willing to risk it.
 
Della said:
I think I had undiagnosed ADHD all through my school years. Then I learned to smoke and I could bring the manual home, for any of my jobs, light up and learn the whole thing in an afternoon.

I just question the "nicotine is not addictive " part. It's one of the most addictive things there is and it's the reason most of us have such a hard time quitting smoking. It's the tars in the tobacco that give us cancer, but it's the nicotine that makes us willing to risk it.
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I used huge amounts of nicotine and caffeine over many years and can vouch for them. Whenever I particularly needed to think, I sat down in a quiet place with cigarettes, coffee, paper and pencil --and problem solved.
 
Cigarettes (and other forms of tobacco) all have addictive chemicals added to them, just like most of our fast food does nowdays. The tobacco companies bought out the food companies, and they put the same addictive chemicals in both. This makes both tobacco and processed food more addictive than it would be on its own.

Since I started taking the nicotine gum or lozenge, I have not noticed any kind of addiction from it. In fact ,most days, I forget about doing it.
It is probably mildly addictive just on its own, but even milk has opioids that are addictive; and we don’t all get addicted to milk.
(Milk has opioids because it makes the baby want to nurse, so it is a protective thing)
 
Mobilman44 said:
My wife (76) has beginning stages of dementia, and she knows it. We are not yet certain of the type, but it may well be vascular as that is what her mom had.

A couple years ago I noticed some forgetfulness and repetition of questions, all of which gradually worsened over time. The first big event (to her) was that she could not reconcile her own bank statement. This was her mother's first serious sign as well.

Last September it was time to renew her Texas driver's license, but she opted to get the Texas ID card versus renewal of the TDL. In her words, "I can drive, but my decision making has slowed down". I do respect her for that major decision.

Her GP gave her the dementia screening test and she easily passed it. But we both know that was not a sufficient test and she will need to go back for more in-depth testing.

Having helped for four years as a caregiver for her mother, and dealing with my own mother (Alzheimer's), I'm pretty much aware of what to do, not to do, and what to watch out for.

She insists on keeping her situation a secret for now. And frankly, if you met her and talked for an hour or so you would have no clue she has any problems. But if you were with her for a longer time, you would notice it.

Her daughter (46) does not know, and my wife wants to keep that from her as long as possible. Why? Well, daughter is extremely self-absorbed and rarely shows any empathy or sympathy for others. Telling her and getting no "normal" response would be devastating.

It's pretty sad and makes me angry as my Wife dedicated her life to her ungrateful kid and has never gotten anything in return. And like many moms, my Wife continuously demonstrates unconditional love to her non deserving daughter.

I have no clue where all this is headed but will keep you all informed (its good therapy for me) as needed.

Thank you for listening.....
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Thank you for sharing.
Having an uncaring child, especially a daughter is tough.
 
Della said:
I just question the "nicotine is not addictive " part. It's one of the most addictive things there is and it's the reason most of us have such a hard time quitting smoking. It's the tars in the tobacco that give us cancer, but it's the nicotine that makes us willing to risk it.
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Right on! A nicotine addiction compelled my mother to smoke and killed her. The purchase and sale of cigarettes and smoking tobacco should be should be as illegal as Heroin in the US. I take that back — More Illegal !!
 
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I dream sometimes of recalled memories. Once I sat my tool pouch back in My Large Toolbox door and
spent probably an hour of dream time trying to get it back from the other side of the Plant, I paced. Doors,
stairs, hall ways, speeding fork trucks I paced. I had a Kobata UTV too to tow the toolbox around the plant.

Step up, be the man, do the stuff ya got to do!
 
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My wife is having a harder time of it but we both have memory issues. Mine is the kind where I am forever wondering why I'm standing in a room when I obvious came for or to do something. Lia's is more long term where she doesn't remember places we've been before or people she knew at least from my description. But then when we get there or actually see them it comes back to her, though she won't remember much more about either. Names are elusive for both of us.
 
Nathan said:
I share your plight, the Peripheral Neuropathy (numbness) particularly in my Right foot makes it difficult(and risky) to drive, as my foot has trouble distinguishing the brake pedal from the gas pedal. This summer I've been driving barefoot, which helps, but I'm not sure how that's going to play, when the weather is cold.
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Mine is worse in my left foot so I still drive but who knows for how long? It seems to be creeping up my legs.
 
Nathan said:
It's hard to judge what's going on, is it 'normal' decline of cognitive function, or something to worry about?

I have to leave now, but when I come back I'd like to clarify my concerns.
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At the risk of seeming unsympathetic I think a doctor would be best to consult. We, on the forum, are only friends with emotions that will effect our advice.
 
Inept said:
At the risk of seeming unsympathetic I think a doctor would be best to consult. We, on the forum, are only friends with emotions that will effect our advice.
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At the risk of seeming arrogant I think our combined experience is worth something, however little --we're honest and caring at the very least, which may not be true of your doctor.
Did you know that many physicians receive kickbacks/commissions from Big Pharma?
Learn about your provider here
CMS Open Payments
 

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