Yes, Char, I am still reading and I had been wondering how you and John were
doing. As I told you I had my second neuro-psych tests done July 17 and got
the results in late August. My memory had stabilized somewhat but my motor
skills had deteriorated a bit. I am scheduled for my third MRI in November
to see how the brain atrophy is doing. That seems to be their biggest
concern at the moment since the last MRI showed such significant change.
Other than battling my bipolar, I am feeling pretty good these days. I try
hard to keep myself busy. I have started scrapbooking and just began to do
an album for both of my girls. I thought that it would be something that
they could one day cherish.

I am so glad to have you back. I missed seeing your posts. Also, give my
best to John. Tell him to hang in there. Progress is being made everyday
for those of us in the early stages. It is so difficult to keep out of the
"depression" but we have to try and battle that as well.

Keep in touch.

Always,
Kathy

gwen love

Char, John sounds like Grayson. He was always thanking me for looking after
him and being so good to him.
Gwen
=====================================
Household Tools For Dummies:

You only need two tools: WD-40 and Duct Tape. If it doesn't move and it
should, use WD-40.
If it moves and it shouldn't, use Duct Tape.

char

Dear Kathy,

Nice to hear from you. In John's case, it seems to be cognitive skills
that are changing the most. I have noticed it takes him a long time to
read. For example, with his "homework", he spent probably almost 2
hours completing it. It was the Minnesota Multiphasic Personality
Survey---500 & some odd questions. I admit, I didn't read through the
whole thing, just scanned a lot of it, but I got the gist & it took me
maybe 15 minutes. When we read the information about a program on TV,
it takes him twice as long as me. He still can do things---just much
slower.

Always,

Char

glenfiddich

And that cognitive slow-down is going to affect his enjoyment
of fast-paced TV shows, even if they were once his favoites.

We had to adjust to slower paced shows that my wife could
keep up with.
One thing she was able to enjoy up to the end were animal
and wildlife shows - the narration was not essential for enjoyment.

char

Very true---John will not watch a movie anymore unless it's an old one
that he has seen many times before. He watches the judge shows, cops, &
shows on Discovery & TLC. Everything he watches requires little
sustained concentration.

Always,

Char

evelyn ruut

Yes, Ida's TV taste has come down to cooking shows, wildlife shows, and she
loves old musicals. She will watch old musicals forever!

Animal Planet, Food Network and the classic movie channels, keep her
interest. She also seems to enjoy watching Martha Stewart too.

She also enjoyed the movie "baby's day out" because that was the cutest
little baby.....!
--
Evelyn

"Since everything is but an apparition, perfect in being what it is, having
nothing to do with good or bad, acceptance or rejection, one may well burst
into laughter." -Longchenpa
(To reply to me personally, remove sox)