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Ted VanLandingham's Page
Latest Activity
Nov. 3, 2007
Oct. 9, 2007
Profile
- Hometown:
- Bristol, WI
- About Me:
- I enjoy spinning fiber on a spinning wheel, as well as weaving on a small floor loom. These activities and the times we go to fiber festivals to get rovings (the fluff from sheep, goats, etc that is spun into fiber) are very pleasant as I love animals and get to pet goats and sheep on a fairly regular basis. I am into computer gaming, primarily Civilization IV, and various memory games - I see this as a therapy to strengthen my memory or, at least, slow the deterioration of my memory. I was chosen to go to college (Georgia Tech) when I was a Junior in High School and attended Georgia Tech as a freshmen when I was 16 and I did graduate. I was in the navy for 10 years and enjoyed some overseas duty (Okinawa), and a few brief stints aboard ship. Before my official diagnosis of Alzheimer's, I was seen at Rush, and they were evaluating my periodic memory lapses, my employer fired me stating that my memory issue was not officially diagnosed and was, to them, a performance issue. So they refused disability - but, fortunately, Social Security was VERY fast to approve my disability. Early onset Alzheimer's is a real problem as an employer is pretty free to terminate an employee as the memory lapses do impact performance, but a definitive diagnosis is slow due to testing AND the reluctance of most younger people to even consider that as a possibility. I will now get off my soap-box.
Ted VanLandingham's Blog
Emotional Aspects
I had always prided myself in being able to maintain a stable and calm demeanor - like anyone, I probably was better at this some times and not so good at other times. However, now, I note that it is harder to remain placid and at ease. Suddenly being unable to do something or remember something that was easy in the past is a real hit and, if I am not careful, a portal into anger and/or sadness - now, these episodes are relatively infrequent, and I can usually stop, calm down, and then the idea,… Continue
Posted on March 28th, 2007 at 7:58pm —
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This site is therapeutic
It is so good to have a forum like this specifically directed toward those with Alzheimer's in general, and those with the early onset variety, in particular. I am also eternally grateful to the Rush staff for their excellent programs, and access to periodic studies and/or programs. My contact with the Without Warning group is a real treat, because it is one of the few places where I feel "normal". My family is VERY understanding, and supportive, as well, but the "real world", as a whole, is not… Continue
Posted on March 26th, 2007 at 11:57am —
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