Oh, I feel I've let him down...

 

Stampin up: Dandelions wishes

I have told you before, that Lars has a very high pain threshold. This is important, in this story.
One of the things, that is difficult for Lars, is telling exactly where apain originates deom- or just what is wrong. It becomes more and more difficult. Combined with the high pain threshold, I found it important to get Lars to the dentist.

Last week, he has an appointment. Oh, were we in for a surprise!!!

After x-rays and examination, this was the result: Two root canals, a tooth extraction and 5 cavities!!!!! What!!! He usually never has problems with his teeth.

In retrospect, he should have had help brushing his teeth a long time ago.
Lars is a proud man. He want to do things by himself. Not that he is stubborn, no way. It's a good thing, because it prevents his level of functioning from plummeting – but right here he has to allow others to help. I told him that just because he gets help brushing his teeth doesn't mean he can't brush them himself during the day after he's eaten something. When he heard that, he was ok with getting help.

The last few weeks I have been thinking a lot about what my cousin Mona once said  It was something like this: 
To know someone with dementia is to say goodbye many times. 

It is so true. Every time a degeneration occurs, it is a farewell to what was, and a Hello! to a new way of living.

These blackberry are still not ripe.

Every day I pick those who are. So far I've picked 600 gr / abt. 21 oz.

Stampin Up: Hippest Hippo
Idea after Dawn Griffeth https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=shSpCBKZdf8

These blackberry are still not ripe.
Every day I pick those who are. So far I've picked 600 gr / abt. 21 oz.

Stampin' Up:Wetland

Stamin' Up: Free as a bird

Alphabet: design5 w shadow

Stampin' UP: All geared up

Stampin Up: A good man & Best plaid builder dies

Stampin Up:Count on me

Cottage Cutz: bamse i haven cc-739

Mo Manning: Jack and Ginger
https://www.mosdigitalpencil.com/products/Jack-and-Ginger.html

Jeg har tidligere fortalt, at Lars har en meget høj smertetærskel. Det er vigtigt i denne beretning.

En af de ting, der kan svært for demente, er at skulle fortælle præcis, hvad der er galt. Det bliver sværere og sværere at fortælle hvor smerten sidder. Kombineret med den høje smertetærskel fandt jeg det vigtigt at få Lars til tandlægen.

I sidste uge havde han en aftale. Åh, sikke en overraskelse vi fik.!!!

Efter røntgen og undersøgelse blev dette resultatet: To rodbehandlinger, en tandudtrækning og 5 huller!!!!! Hvad!!! Han plejer aldrig at havde problemer med tænderne. 

Set i bakspejlet skulle han have haft hjælp til at børste tænder for længe siden.

Lars er en stolt mand. Han vil gerne gøre tingene selv. Ikke at han er stædig, nej. Det er en god ting, for det forhindrer hans funktionsniveau i at styrtdykke – men lige her skal han give andre lov til at hjælpe. Jeg fortalte ham, at bare fordi han får hjælp til at børste tænder, betyder det ikke, at han ikke selv kan børste dem i løbet af dagen, efter han har spist noget. Da han hørte det, var han ok med at få hjælp.

De sidste par uger har jeg tænkt meget over, hvad min kusine Mona engang sagde. Det var sådan her:

At kende nogen med demens er at sige farvel mange gange.

Det er så sandt. Hver gang en degeneration opstår, er det et farvel til det, der var, og Go' dag, til en ny måde at leve på.