Busy morning

I've had a fun morning, preparing myself (Jim's a vegetarian) 18 hamburgers.  I cooked up all the burgers, and then put each one into a thin bun, along with relish and ketchup.  Each burger then went into a zip-lock sandwich bag, and into a larger zip-loc bag and into the freezer.  When I want a burger for my meal, I just pop one into the microwave for one minute, then add my lettuce, tomatoes, and onions into my piping hot bun.  I love those thin buns ... they're large enough to hold your burger without overwhelming it, so you can concentrate on what's inside.

Shades of the future?

For the past month I’ve been very busy implementing our new phone system using Magic Jack, which runs through our computer, thus enabling us to say goodbye to the high prices of regular phone service.  Yesterday, for some unexplained reason, I experienced a period of total confusion, and I had no idea what Magic Jack was when Jim mentioned it.  And I started to read him an email from his sister which he said I had read to him five minutes earlier.  Since we had planned a trip to our apartment to pick up a few things, we decided to stop at the hospital on our way, just to make sure I hadn’t experienced a small stroke.  The doctor decided it was just a natural progression of my disease, and was going to contact my neurologist to let her know.  I’m not sure I agree with the doctor's diagnosis, and feel I may have had an Transient ischemic attack, but what do I know!  Anyways, I’m back to my normal self today….which is good!

 

I'm a day late with my wishes to all the Dads, but I did have good intentions.  Our son Sandy and family arrived for Father's Day lunch.  The weather was perfect for enjoying ourselves on the deck.  We also had an enjoyable few days with Jim's Mom visiting here.  She got to experience our splendid view and trailer living before we returned her to her home near Ottawa.  We're discovering on these longer road trips that I'm handling them much better sitting in the back of the van, wearing my headphones. Much less stress and feeling of panic for me, and undoubtedly for Jim, I'm sure!  

B12 and short term memory loss

I wanted to pass along this information, since so many of my friends are telling me they are experiencing short term memory loss.

B12 deficiency can result in memory loss, and can usually be corrected by a regular intake of Vitamin B12.  The recommended dosage of B12 is 1000 to 2000 mcg of the sublingual form every morning.  (That's the one that goes under your tongue!)

Now don't forget to pick some up today!!!!

B12 and Depression

I've been really struggling for the past month or so with my emotions.  I finally decided I needed to do some research today to see if I could find anything to help.  Of course I came across lots of information about B12 and depression.  One website even had the following information:  "While most doctors would never consider such a possibility, studies have documented local cerebral deficiencies of B12 (using cerebrospinal fluid levels as a measure) in people with alzheimers, and people with brain atrophy." So the dosage that seemed to be recommended was at least 2000mcg per day.  I checked my medication list which I have on my computer, and it said I was taking 2000mcg daily.  Then I checked my pill box, and discovered that somehow over the past few months, I've changed and am only taking 125mcg a day.  I imagine I saw a good sale on B12, and forgot that I needed the higher dosage.  So hopefully my tears will dry up and blow away!

TAG Day

Friday was Tag Day in Picton to raise awareness of alzheimers and raise money for the local Alzheimers society chapter.  Volunteers are placed strategically at many store front locations with Alzheimers Awareness Tags and boxes for donations.  As we came out of our grocery store I stopped to make a donation.  The volunteer, who works at a nursing home, said what a terrible disease it was.  I agreed, telling her I had been diagnosed four years ago, but was doing incredibly well.  Later as I was thinking about that conversation, I was thinking that maybe I'm one of the lucky ones.  If I had been diagnosed with cancer four years ago, would I still be here enjoying each day?
Today I am wrapped up in a cozy blanket in my recliner, watching huge waves crashing on the shoreline.  I'm also wearing my headphones to dull the roar of the rain thundering on our tin roof, and two electric heater fans blowing!  We could have gone back to our apartment, but this is rather neat!