First off today, an update to last week's post: I found the source of the list of differences between FTD and Alzheimer's that I included. It is from the Association for Frontotemporal Degeneration and can be viewed at
http://www.theaftd.org/understandingftd/ftd-overview
Lots of good additional information there, definitely worth checking out by caregivers, sufferers, loved ones and just anyone interested in knowing more.
I have another practical suggestion and recommendation. I have mentioned on previous posts that I have developed weakness in my right leg. It seems like the signal does not go between brain and leg. Because of this, I have been tripping a lot and falling as well. I don't know if I mentioned it before, but one of the first things we did was re-install the door leading to the finished basement rooms. This was in case I again fell in the upstairs hallway. If there was no doorway, I think we would have put up a gate of some sort, but would have never called it a baby gate. That would have been too humiliating, but I digress here.
The next step we decided we need to take was to remove unnecessary throw rugs and to adhere the other rugs to the floor. I remembered hearing about "Ruggies" on infomercials. I was hugely skeptical, because the claims made in infomercials are in the category of "if it sounds too good to be true, it probably isn't true" category. But I thought, what the heck, why not try them since I couldn't come up with a better solution. I bought mine on ebay, because I am reluctant to trust those "call now" numbers and give my credit card info. I am pretty sure, though, that they can also be bought in stores that have an "as seen on tv" department. I know CVS has a section of this stuff, as well as our local department store, Boscov's. I imagine a lot of other stores do as well, but, again, I am digressing.
These things really work! It took me a while to figure them out because I was stubborn enough that I had to do it and couldn't ask my husband to help. I forgot that I should read the directions. Oh no! I must be turning into a man! Sorry, guys, I know it's my FTD and that men just can't help not asking for directions! After reading the directions, it was pretty easy. The part I was missing was the statement of "if the Ruggies will not stick to your rug, first attach one of the pieces of adhesive in the other packet directly on to your rug, then add the Ruggie. I now have the corners of our doormat, hall runner and area rug being held down without damaging either the rug or the floor. I love success!
I posted about this on the FTD patient support group that is my lifesaver and another member made an additional suggestion of a non-skid bathmat outside the tub. I should have thought about that already, but hadn't and I use terrycloth bathmats and have already slipped on the floor with one. I am lucky that our shower has strong grab bars (another suggestion if you don't have them) and one is right there by the entrance to the tub, so I am usually hanging on to that when stepping out. A nonskid bathmat is next on my to-do list. It will frustrate me though, because the newer washing machines tell you to never, ever, wash them in the washer and I cannot imagine not being able to launder a bathmat. If I find a solution to this one, I will be sure to post about it.
That's about all I have to drone on about this week. Except for telling you how wonderful my husband is to me. He even went to the grocery store by himself today because I knew it was not a good day for me to try to deal with it. There is a second private Facebook support group I go to, this one for caregivers and sufferers both, and when I see the posts of some of the caregivers and their anger toward their loved one and them even ridiculing their loved one, I realize how great he is and how patient, forgiving and loving he is to me. How horrible the lives of those sufferers of FTD must be in that environment. Thanks, Mike, I love you!
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