For a number of months (of course, I can’t remember the exact time period) I’ve been experiencing persistent nightmares. Horrid dreams which wake me up in a cold sweat, my heart pounding, and my mind replaying the fearful dream scenes again and again. Even as I try to recall the nightmares I can’t bring back…
MCI (Mild Cognitive Impairment)
On this blog, I share my story of coping with an MCI diagnosis, how it has affected my lifestyle and the tools I've learned to preserve or improve my quality of life. Click here to learn what the condition is, and click here for my introduction to MCI.
Q&A with Keith: Part 2
Along with Part 1, this post was inspired by readers who asked me to interview my husband, Keith, as well as my children as to their reactions, feelings, concerns, and fears regarding my MCI. After reading Part 1, my editor asked for more Q&A from Keith! Here we go… Question: If you could go back…
Q&A with Keith: Part 1
This post was inspired by readers who asked me to interview my husband, Keith, as well as my children as to their reactions, feelings, concerns, and fears regarding my MCI. To my readers: two days ago, while sitting at our kitchen table drinking coffee, I interviewed Keith. The following is a partial transcription of that…
Dear reader, I need your help!
I’ve been writing these posts for—I really don’t know how long now—at least two or three years. During this time, I’ve done my best to be honest and forthright as I’ve expressed how I experience memory and cognitive decline (MCI – Mild Cognitive Impairment) both to help myself and hopefully others as well. Writing has…
How does MCI feel?
A couple of weeks ago I was at a loss for a topic to write about in my posts. I just couldn’t come up with anything that seemed of value. I finally asked my editor for a suggestion, and without hesitation she offered: “Write about how it feels to have memory and cognitive decline.” My…
What I’m doing during social isolation
We all have been affected by the restraints of Covid-19—I’m certain in very different ways and with various ever-changing mindsets. At least I know this is true for me. Some days I appreciate the quiet, the lack of contact, and the freedom from commitments. Other times, as one day seems to blend into another, I…
What, oh what to do with worry
There are very few people right now who don’t feel the stress and strain of the COVID-19 virus. I live in Minnesota, which is one of the many states observing social distancing. For the past weeks our social life has been essentially non-existent. Our weekly Sunday ritual of sharing a meal with our daughter, son-in-law…
Grateful for the right doc
A month ago, I started having awful, terrible, dreams—nightmares which caused me to awake short of breath and anxious. I tried walking off the blurry, ugly visions, but the residing tension followed me into the morning. After repeated nights of disturbed sleep, I began to dread going to bed. After two weeks of persistently interrupted…
What I’ve learned about living with MCI
It seems the right time to write a short recap of my more than five-year journey of memory and cognitive decline. Consider it a summary for new readers of my 40 plus entries here, and perhaps a review for my steadfast followers. I’ve learned…I need a team of professionals and specialists to help me deal…
Socializing
“Continue to socialize and stay engaged,” they say. By “they”, I am referring to the experts—this advice is echoed by physicians and therapists, websites, and all the books dealing with memory and/or cognitive loss or decline. I, however, feel there needs to be a caveat added to this piece of advice. Something like: Continue to…