h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

Hi Hypatia,

We haven't met yet but I just thought I'd drop you a line after reading this. My Nana (maternal grandmother) had Alzheimers for the last 15 years of her life. She eventually got admitted to the psychiatric hospital, where she died because she refused to take her heart pills (I couldn't tell you what they were, I was only 12 at the time).

The thing is, she always remembered me as her wee blue eyed boy, and I couldn't understand at the time what was wrong with her, she always treated me the same (probably because she had had Alzheimers since I had known her).


The thing is when people have it they know their memory is going, how else would they refuse to take medication for other ailments (not forget but refuse).

I hope this article you wrote acts as a catharsis for you, and if you ever need to talk I'm available.

Regards

KJ

Thanks, KJ. Alzheimer's is such a cruel disease. Dad's symptoms were diagnosed about 4 years before he died. He had such a fine mind. It was heartbreaking watching the progression of the disease. One of the things that still haunts me is wondering if he understood more than we thought he did. And I worry that he was hungry or thirsty and couldn't get anyone to understand. It all got so complicated near the end.