One More Specialist

Today we met one more new doctor to add to our ever-growing list of physicians. I think we are at the stage of seeing the assistant to the specialist of the specialists. We had already sent ahead all of Bob’s paperwork from Mayo. Even though many stayed online, we could see a pile of hard copies. I could just picture the seven stately oak trees cut down to prepare his file.

The woman was very nice and we quickly were amazed at he many talents, slightly awed at the number of doctor reports listed in those pages. She seemed slightly stiff at the beginning, ready to declare her credentials. Bob and I politely nodded. The purpose of this meeting was to obtain a specialist in Lewy Bodies Dementia who will spearhead his fight with this disease. We met the right people. She works with the director of the memory clinic and specializes in LBD. She tweeked some of Bob’s medicines: changing dosages, subtracting some prescriptions and adding some more.

This doctor was concerned by Bob’s poor sleep habits and wants to get a regular schedule. That’s all well and good, but these darn nightmares kind of work against a restful evening. Last night he woke up on his own three times, each time returning to the same horrors. After that, he didn’t want to sleep and I can hardly blame him. I couldn’t help strongly interjecting a question that continues to ponder me about these dreams. Had this new doctor ever witnessed a patient having one of these nightmares? Her answer was the same that I have received from every doctor. NO! How in the world can my hubby be blamed for not wanting to go back to sleep after he tried on multiple occasions, but was always slapped with the terrors laying wait for him? We will still take her advice and follow her regimen, but I would love to hear that she went over to the sleep study clinic to observe one evening.

She ended up with the challenge that Bob needs to get involved with something during the day. I agree with that! The problem was the kind of programs she suggested. They were all adult day care programs. Neither Bob nor I is ready for that. I am not yet ready to even hear that suggestion about my best friend. It’s illicit talk with my husband. We’ll listen to the changes on medication, but we won’t be contacting any day care programs.

We left a little dejected. Bob simply stated that he was not going to such a program. I felt ripped apart that this discussion was already arriving. We just got the diagnosis two months ago. I can’t see dropping Bob off at one of these centers and picking him up hours later. That would just be a fast ride to the cemetery.

This program is supposed to be one of the best in Cook County. This lady is well educated. Yet the talk of adult day care can still wait for a while. We are doing ok. Just Bob and I alone together. Aah, life is good! We tease that we will move to Tahiti.

So, life goes on. This was a hurdle that I needed to jump. I think we did ok.

God Uses Our Chronic Pain to Prove that Life is great.

          We are blessed to have so many specialists from which to pick.