Re: Cognitive Dysfunction and Poor Glycemic Control in Older Adults

Thank you, Will. My life has taken on a dramatic turn over the last couple
of years, actually beginning earlier, but life-changing so these past two or
so. It was my diminished capacity that partially fed into Jim's decision to
retire. LOL... for one thing, I was breaking myself financially because I
had lost my ability to maintain my checking account, and *I* was an
accountant! I even quit opening my bank statements because I could no
longer understand them.

I am a self-taught (after some basic college courses in the mid-80's)
computer techie.... nerd, by some people's standards. I could sit and play
around with data management for hours, it never becoming boring. In fact,
the more challenging, the longer I keep at it. I installed the first
computers in our hospital here before they brought in IT people, and the
first one they did use still had a lot to learn. This was way before our
networking, back in the days of the dual disk drives; back to the LOTUS
1-2-3 v1 days. I did BASIC programming, in addition to writing spread***
programs. No formal instruction; it just all *clicked* so easily with me.
A fav pastime of mine was writing Word Perfect macros, and automating x-ray
reports when I worked at the hospital. How I wish I'd had this technology
available to me when I was headed to college.

I only say that to show my capabilities. Now one of my biggest complaints
has been mass confusion swirling in my head, especially if there are two
*sounds* at one time (e.g. someone talking while the tv is going, or even an
audible sound while I'm trying to write.... ADD was even considered at one
time due to the concentration difficulty). I have to focus very hard with
*tunnel* vision of the mind to keep my thoughts in order. When I am
composing a message, I usually have to pause after each sentence, and either
consult Jim on words or use a thesaurus. I did medical transcription so
that gives you an idea of my vocabulary because there was no time to stop to
look up spelling, and I had a stinker of a radiologist who demanded
perfection the first time a report crossed his desk. He was known for
correcting you in front of the rest of the department rather than let you
know privately. *Words* have always been my playground; they seem to have
gone off to play without me these days, though I do have to say doing
crossword puzzles again has helped in that area. Personal writing has been
something else I've enjoyed throughout the years, probably growing because
of our living away from home with the Air Force, and sending family reports
back to the family. I also had a really good foundation in English that
required not thought on my part, and I believe that is what is tiding me
over through that area now with introspective thinking. Being disabled does
provide me with enough quiet time to allow my thoughts to come, and then the
time and patience to formulate them. I work really hard to keep from taking
the easy way out by not using the lowest form of expression if possible.
Still, there is much that I used to be able to understand and speak that
seems like a foreign language to me now. As words are such an important
part of your life, can you imagine losing them? Frustrating! I'm fighting
against this tide, though. How much of my computer apps abilities I'll
regain is up for grabs, but I'll fight for my words. Self expression is
VERY important to me!

I've noticed that when I start getting tired is when I start to feel myself
rambling when I'm writing. It generally takes me no less than an hour,
usually closer to three hours to compose a post. Why can I just not say a
few words and get on with it? Probably because I do not have anyone to talk
to, and it is my only outlet.

Wish I was there to take a *walk* with you on the beach today, Will (ahem,
read others advice ;), but 'fraid my wheels might get stuck in the sand.
*s* (took 5 min to write that one sentence because all the words were not
there, and it took a bit to figure which ones.... it's just a *come and go*
thing ;)

Hugs,
Billie


: Hello Billie,
:
: If you did not declare it, I would never for a moment think, or even
: conjecture, that you have cognitive difficulties... You are a very
: sharp lady, by my estimation.
:
: You are also a great lady, and an inspiration to us all....
:
: Will, T2


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