I am a 60-ish married engineer that has dealt with moderate eczema my entire life, primarily through the use of topical steroids. In early 2012 things started going wrong, and this blog is a personal diary of my journey through Topical Steroid Withdrawal, also known as Red Skin Syndrome, Topical Steroid Addiction, or Steroid Induced Eczema. I have been completely free from all steroids since July 9, 2013. Please see www.itsan.org for more info and feel free to post here!
Dave, Did your Mom know you were coming? You are absolutely correct this picture is definitely worth a thousand words!! I hope you had a wonderful time with your Mom, remember, they are your memories now and with the rest of the family!! Your Mom looks good and you look pretty good, too! Take Care!!
Thanks Alisa! Becky, since we were flying standby she did not know we were coming. Here's how far along she is with dementia: When we got in I called to say we were there and asked if we could come visit. She was, like, "Yeah, I guess so." Honestly, she doesn't know how long it has been since we've seen her and likely doesn't remember now that we were there. That's distressing up front, but it helps handling being so far away.
When she is with it she is quite chipper and loving. She knows who we are and has nothing but love to share.
Dave, I was sharing with Gary that you guys got to come up and see her. It brought back memories for us of a year ago when we had such a good time with Mom. She reminds me of my Mom in the fact that Mom always knew who we were, she may have forgotten the name, but she knew us and what relationship we had with her. Yes, it is distressing up front, but you are right, she probably doesn't remember you were there. Cherish the chipper times when you are with her, those will be the good memories when she is gone. How old is your Mom? It seems that we are all aging pretty quickly these days. I'm so glad you got to make the trip, sorry we didn't get to see you, but I so know how that goes. Have a great Wednesday!! Hi, to your beautiful wife!! Love, Becky
Thanks Becky! Mom is 92. The nearly identical thing happened to both her parents at the same age. Our Norwegian bodies are stronger than our brains. Haha! Time is going by incredibly fast. I've heard an explnation for that that makes sense: as you age every individual year is a smaller and smaller percentage of your entire life. Once I make it through this TSW crap, I intend to embrace my fragile life more, and that includes getting up there more often to see family AND friends. Love from Texas!
What an awesome picture!!!! :) My grandmother passed away last year - she had dementia but knew who we were during the last month we saw her. My kids have great memories with her as do I. My grandfather is still going strong in his 90's. It's wonderful! Blessings from NY!! (P.S. I LOVE Texas!)
Thank you Tracy! If you are ever in these parts, let me know. I'd love to give another TSW warrior a hug. Heck, I'd just like to meet one in person. We are a rare and special breed!
Very memorable pic Dave. I wanted to comment a while ago when you posted about your mom as I am in Seattle right now visiting my family here and am meeting with some tsw suffers while here but your timing and mine did not line up.
You have some moving posts here and the one about your brother really touched me. Life is fragile and special so we do need to cherish the moments we have with our loved ones for sure. I was with both my parents when they took their flight home to heaven and it left a huge impact on me. I hope you have grace for this rough journey and can look back soon. xx
Thank you Joey! I just read your post (it's the 24th) and realized I may have missed an opportunity to meet some fellow TSW warriors while I am here in Seattle. I am heading back Saturday.
My Mom passed away yesterday morning. Robin and I had flown up the night before and stayed with her all night. She slipped away peacefully. The time since has been bittersweet. Her pain is gone but now we carry some of it in our hearts. Yet we have been reminiscing about her amazing life with great joy. She had a positive impact on so many lives and it is an honor to be her son.
My condolences in the deepest way Dave. <3 I so understand what you are going through and how bittersweet it is. I will pray for you to feel the comfort from above and hope to see her again. I'm sure she was very proud to have you for her son. xx
I wish we could meet as well as I am here for another three weeks but will be back again next year. God bless.
Happiness!
ReplyDeleteDave, Did your Mom know you were coming? You are absolutely correct this picture is definitely worth a thousand words!! I hope you had a wonderful time with your Mom, remember, they are your memories now and with the rest of the family!! Your Mom looks good and you look pretty good, too! Take Care!!
ReplyDeleteThanks Alisa! Becky, since we were flying standby she did not know we were coming. Here's how far along she is with dementia: When we got in I called to say we were there and asked if we could come visit. She was, like, "Yeah, I guess so." Honestly, she doesn't know how long it has been since we've seen her and likely doesn't remember now that we were there. That's distressing up front, but it helps handling being so far away.
ReplyDeleteWhen she is with it she is quite chipper and loving. She knows who we are and has nothing but love to share.
Dave, I was sharing with Gary that you guys got to come up and see her. It brought back memories for us of a year ago when we had such a good time with Mom. She reminds me of my Mom in the fact that Mom always knew who we were, she may have forgotten the name, but she knew us and what relationship we had with her. Yes, it is distressing up front, but you are right, she probably doesn't remember you were there. Cherish the chipper times when you are with her, those will be the good memories when she is gone. How old is your Mom? It seems that we are all aging pretty quickly these days. I'm so glad you got to make the trip, sorry we didn't get to see you, but I so know how that goes. Have a great Wednesday!! Hi, to your beautiful wife!! Love, Becky
ReplyDeleteThanks Becky! Mom is 92. The nearly identical thing happened to both her parents at the same age. Our Norwegian bodies are stronger than our brains. Haha! Time is going by incredibly fast. I've heard an explnation for that that makes sense: as you age every individual year is a smaller and smaller percentage of your entire life. Once I make it through this TSW crap, I intend to embrace my fragile life more, and that includes getting up there more often to see family AND friends. Love from Texas!
ReplyDeleteWhat an awesome picture!!!! :) My grandmother passed away last year - she had dementia but knew who we were during the last month we saw her. My kids have great memories with her as do I. My grandfather is still going strong in his 90's. It's wonderful! Blessings from NY!! (P.S. I LOVE Texas!)
ReplyDeleteThank you Tracy! If you are ever in these parts, let me know. I'd love to give another TSW warrior a hug. Heck, I'd just like to meet one in person. We are a rare and special breed!
ReplyDeleteVery memorable pic Dave. I wanted to comment a while ago when you posted about your mom as I am in Seattle right now visiting my family here and am meeting with some tsw suffers while here but your timing and mine did not line up.
ReplyDeleteYou have some moving posts here and the one about your brother really touched me. Life is fragile and special so we do need to cherish the moments we have with our loved ones for sure. I was with both my parents when they took their flight home to heaven and it left a huge impact on me. I hope you have grace for this rough journey and can look back soon. xx
Thank you Joey! I just read your post (it's the 24th) and realized I may have missed an opportunity to meet some fellow TSW warriors while I am here in Seattle. I am heading back Saturday.
DeleteMy Mom passed away yesterday morning. Robin and I had flown up the night before and stayed with her all night. She slipped away peacefully. The time since has been bittersweet. Her pain is gone but now we carry some of it in our hearts. Yet we have been reminiscing about her amazing life with great joy. She had a positive impact on so many lives and it is an honor to be her son.
ReplyDeleteMy condolences in the deepest way Dave. <3 I so understand what you are going through and how bittersweet it is. I will pray for you to feel the comfort from above and hope to see her again. I'm sure she was very proud to have you for her son. xx
ReplyDeleteI wish we could meet as well as I am here for another three weeks but will be back again next year. God bless.