Acupuncture .. 6 Treatments and Word Finding Is Improving

Ma dancing and looking out the window for her friends

Yesterday, my mom had her 6th acupuncture treatment in a row, just as the study had suggested for treating dementia.  The article that I had read stated that it works very well for Vascular Dementia sufferers.

Vascular Dementia and Lewy Bodies Dementia have similar symptoms; sometimes a patient has both VD and LBD.  From what I've read, both illnesses cause the patient to have detailed hallucinations; my mom, she sure has made up some pretty amazing stories from what she had "seen."

Two weeks ago my mom saw Dr. Barton's colleague for the first time.  My mom was a bit lethargic on the drive to her office, slumping to the left, drooling and not talking because her word finding was not very good.

Marcie interviewed my mom, asked her some questions and observed how she answered, if she could answer.  Two weeks ago, she had lots of trouble with her words, however yesterday she was stringing more words together and creating sentences.   The Acupuncturist also noticed that my mom's face appeared different, she was more relaxed where the frown she had become accustomed to sporting was gone.  My mom was more engaging and followed along with the conversation.  It's an improvement, even if it's a small one.

The study states that they performed acupuncture twice a week for 3 months.  My mom, she's only 6 treatments in to the plan; we have a way to go, but the results are encouraging.  Improvement from acupuncture could mean that she can change the TV herself, handle long drives up to Maine to visit family or talk on the phone with her kids.

One thing that I am noticing is that my mom feels really good.  She believes that she is capable of doing so much more than she has been able to demonstrate.

How does it work?

Acupuncture, as it was described to me, typically begins with a lot of treatments in the beginning.  It's a way for the body to realize what tasks the body can actually perform.  Once the patient has gone through the initial treatments, there should be improvement.  The body will also begin to take control back and the patient will only require maintenance sessions.  I don't know the time frame for the maintenance sessions, we are walking down uncharted territory.

I can say with confidence that my mom is improving with her Acupuncture ... 6 Treatments and word finding is improving.

She's also dancing, this is a new behavior.  I play music instead of putting on the TV.  She began to think TV was reality and boy, did we have some nightmares to resolve.

Music, with upbeat words and sounds seems to contribute to happy moods for her.  Her new favorite musician is Jack Johnson.  When she hears his music play, she gets up and starts to dance.  I love this new behavior!

Acupuncture for Dementia ... It Appears To Be Working

Patricia and Ma after shopping at Trader Joe's.
She's more "normal" after acupuncture.

My mom has had 3 Acupuncture treatments in a row.  Exactly as the study suggested; my mom has a treatment twice a week on Monday and Friday.  Tomorrow will be the 4th session in a row, she hasn't had 4 in a row yet.

What I've noticed is if she has a treatment and then skips an acupuncture session, she will revert back to where she had been before we started her on Acupuncture.

I've also noticed that it took 7 and a half hours for the treatment to "kick in" and bringing with it the ability for my mom to find her words so that she can tell us what's on her mind.  Granted she tells me about her hallucinations, her friends, but at least she can express herself.  Being able to say what's on her mind, crazy or not, definitely helps her to remain calm.

The 3rd session in a row was this past Friday, 2 days ago.  My mom is pleasant and happy.  She's agreeable to going to Adult Day Healthcare, mostly because she seemed to understand why she needs to go.  I've explained to my mom that we are working with the state to keep her home and out of a nursing facility. Socializing has been her nemesis, she just doesn't like to do it but she needs it for her overall good health.

People make us happy, not money, not things... people.

My conclusion so far is that Acupuncture for dementia it appears to be working.  My mom is still hallucinating but she's not bothered by what she is seeing.  She hasn't needed any homeopathic remedies for hallucinations for 2 days.

She has been nice to me for 2 days.  Her aggression toward me has stopped.  She's hugging me.  She's complimenting me.  She even said to me about her hallucinations, "You know, they all love you.  My friends tell me that you are great.  They want you to come with them.  I want you to come with me too... but I know you can't."

My mom wants me to die with her.  Fortunately, she is beginning to realize that once we die there's no coming back to Earth.  She's not afraid to die.  She is patiently waiting for the bus and helping all the lost children in Purgatory reunite with their mothers in Heaven.

Acupuncture Brought Peace

Every Saturday has been a day that my husband and I have dreaded for a very long time.

My mom doesn't seem to like Saturday in her demented state of mind.  Something about the day upsets her; often I wonder if it's because my husband is home with me all day and I don't give her the amount of attention that she gets during the week.

In any case, Saturday's usually suck.  Weekends typically rot, it's the norm.  I pray for Monday.  I pray for a little peace that is invited along by a week day routine.  Weekends have been a crap shoot... we never knew what to expect.  I still don't.

The acupuncture is still working for my mom, we are within the first 24 hours of her treatment.  She was up early this morning and dressed at 5:30 AM but today was different.  I said to her in my sleepy haze, "What are you doing dressed so early?  It's 5:30 on Saturday morning?"

My mom looked at me, smiled and put her finger to her lips.  Raising her foot to show me, "But Susie, I don't have my shoes on, I have my water shoes."  She laughed and I laughed.  She was having a good day.  She just happened to be wide awake.  She knew enough not to put on her loud clunky shoes which sound extra loud during the quiet of the morning.

We had a cup of coffee together and she had her supplements.  She was falling asleep sitting in the chair so I suggested she lay down for a little longer.  It was way too early to go to Whole Foods.  I promised her that I'd wake her in time to shop.  She is still sleeping.

I'm anxious for my mom to wake up.  I'm excited to see how she does in Whole Foods, a regular routine of ours, shopping for ingredients to prepare into health filled meals.  I wonder if the monkey in the bananas will wink at her or if she'll recognize it for what it is, a stuffed toy monkey.

Acupuncture brought peace to my mom and as an added bonus, it has permeated throughout my entire home.  Balance.  I love balance.  I love holiday weekends and weeks that are hazy, hot and humid.

This weekend, my country celebrates Independence Day, an appropriate time for me to have my own Independence Day, one where I am a little more free from the insanity that has bound me for so long.  I feel liberated today, way more than I did last weekend.  Just like my dad always told me, "wait a minute, things will change"; circumstances shifted as expected.

Happy 4th of July to all of my country people, may you find your own independence this weekend from whatever chains that are binding you.

Peace.

Acupuncture for Dementia - notes

Acupuncture for Dementia

Senile Dementia Treated with Acupuncture

Gateway to Chinese Medicine - dementia and acupuncture

Medical Acupuncture

Alzheimer's Disease and Acupuncture

Acupuncture for Alzheimer's

Acupuncture for Vascular Dementia