This blog is about life with my husband who was diagnosed with Early Onset Alzheimer's and Frontal Lobe Dementia in 2008. He was 64 at the time although now, knowing more about the disease, Alzheimer's was present many, many years ago, which is why early detection is so important. As you read the blog the character "Al" that I created in 2008, represents the way that Alzheimer's is invading our daily lives.
There is an archive tab further down the page that starts from the beginning of our journey.

Sunday, July 22, 2012

Living with Bob and "Al"

Sheri never really thought that she would have to come up with a way to keep food out of Bob's reach. Last night between 6:00pm and 8:00pm, "Al" ate the following:

Steak dinner with baked potato, bread and salad
2 chocolate chip cookies
Ice cream bar (Weight Watchers)
Large Dinner roll with butter cheese (Sandwich style)
2 large bagels with butter cheese and bologna

Each time he got up to get something, bent over with back pain, Sheri said "Bob we just ate," "Al" would respond with tilted head "We did? Well, what did we eat?" EEK! Sheri needs a new plan.

2 comments:

  1. Dancingto Live ~ Hazel MinnickJuly 23, 2012 at 1:35 AM

    Sheri ~

    I especially experienced this scavenger eating between 1999 and 2004 before my meds were introduced ~ I had two extremes during this phase of my disease ~ binge eating and not eating ~ either mode was improper eating. Scavenger eating also manifests itself as part of the Sundowner's Syndrome typical of our disease.

    I felt it was "my duty" to immediately eat all the groceries that were delivered to me ~ a supply that should have been eaten over a week or more's time. My family would say to be sure and eat now, and so I did! Then, I would have little to no food to eat for days because I had over-indulged and eaten most everything as soon as it arrived.

    I lived alone with minimal supervision and my family assumed that I was eating properly, dividing meals from the groceries they had amply provided. I had no idea or sense of right or wrong to eat as I did. If I saw the food ~ I ate the food ~ in layers of weird combinations.

    Out of sight ~ out of mind. When my improper eating habits were discovered, a meal plan was put in place for me. Food that I should not eat was stored in containers that did not reveal their contents, so they only appeared as boxes in the refrigerator to me ~ I did not see them as food. A selection of nutritional snack choices were kept in open or highly visible containers to the front of the refrigerator or out on display. The proper visuals encouraged the proper eating habits. Daily calls were made to monitor my eating activities.

    After the introduction of my meds, I regained my sense of nutritional eating patterns again. However, even now it is overwhelming for me to go to a grocery store, because there are too many food choices and sometimes I do not remember what I really like to eat. I often walk out with little or nothing and I then have to go back to grocery on a "better day" and try again. I forget that I like certain foods or that they even exist. I must be reminded. Choosing from a restaurant menu is very difficult for me as well. I frequent the same restaurants and the waiters actually tell me what I like to order to eat.

    My life is a roller coaster ride of being in and out of knowing and remembering how to make it on this journey.

    Sheri ~ My thoughts are with you and indeed, I do understand your days ~ Blessings ~ Hazel

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    Replies
    1. Thank you Hazel for the valuable insight, and blessings to you as well.

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