My Alzheimer's Journey

Part 100 - Looking Back

It started September 14, 2025. In less than six months, there have been 100 posts, and we have grown to 257 subscribers. I never expected this level of growth. Thank you to every subscriber.

I thought it would be fun to look back and dust off the old posts to see if we find any hidden gems. Or, any embarrassing posts!

The first words I typed in the first post were, “I am scared shitless.” I was being rather dramatic and sensational. Yet, no truer words could have been expressed at that point in time.

September 14, 2025, I wrote about my PET scan. I wrote a sentence from my scan results, “There is diffusely increased Florbetapir uptake throughout the cortical cerebral gray matter with clear loss of gray-white contrast.” I am much smarter today and I know that sentence more or less means, ‘the tracer stuck to amyloid plaques throughout the thinking parts of the brain so heavily that the scan looks blurred together, rather than showing clear, distinct sections.’

Between Part 2 and Part 10, I shared the high stress and uncertainty of our move, our house, our business, and our finances.

Part 11 (September 30) was only three sentences. I was excited to announce that my first infusion was scheduled.

“We hit the road about an hour after noontime.” was part of the October 8 (part 14) post. Linda and I and the three cats were driving to Chapel Hill with the moving truck somewhere behind us.

The next two posts (parts 15 and 16), I opened up and discussed how I had struggled with depression for roughly thirty years. I recall how difficult it was to write those posts. They might have been my most important posts though. Depression is often misunderstood. Men especially struggle to admit they are depressed and need treatment.

Part 17 (October 14) was about my first Lecanemab infusion. I wrote, "Amazingly, I only had a mild headache and a slight chill. Frankly, I was a little disappointed I did not have extreme chills. The nurse told me they have warmed blankets to wrap patients in. A nice warm blanket sounds about as good as a HOT Krispy Kreme donut.”

I was naive! Later that night I had extreme chills and no warm blankets. I have learned that the nearest Krispy Kreme is twelve miles away. About two miles away, there is a Duck Donuts. They sell made to order donuts. It is good I can’t drive anymore.

Jump forward to October 25 (part 24). I talked about cat love. I sure hope the cats know how important they are to my health and happiness.

“It was not a fun day. Being trapped in a small, tube-like space triggers my anxiety. The requirement to be still for twenty minutes is challenging. And, the noise. Loud, banging, and unrelenting.” That was me expressing my feelings about an MRI on November 4 (Part 31). I still feel the same way!

Part 41 (November 18) was a happy post. We decided to close our business after weeks of struggling to make a decision. Best of all, the post included a photo of an apple pie someone brought us.

We can’t forget the Friday posts. I enjoy researching and writing those fun posts. December 12 (part 52), I suggested you head to Cocoa Beach, Florida to the annual Christmas Eve Surfing Santa event. Did anyone go?

As 2025 came to a close, I wrote about the Ukraine War and said, “For those individuals with dementia and Alzheimer’s disease (and their caregivers), it must be an atrocious life.”

I never expected the United States to start a war two months later. War is so stupid. I know there are a few subscribers that live in the Middle East. Linda and I wish you strength and safety.

Part 64 (January 8), I wrote about the sad and senseless death of Renee Good in Minneapolis. I also wrote about the successful research study at the State Key Laboratory in China. Scientists applied 40-Hz auditory stimulation on nine aged rhesus monkeys as a treatment for Alzheimer’s disease.

The title of Part 76 (January 29) is, Is there a Link Between Gum Disease and Alzheimer’s Disease? The answer is yes!

February 25 (Part 93), I ventured back through my life wondering when my Alzheimer’s may have started. That was a deeply personal post.

And, here we are on March 6, 2026. The 100th post of My Alzheimer’s Journey. I try to combine my personal experiences, information about Alzheimer’s disease, and emerging therapies into a balanced and interesting blog. I hope I provide comfort, knowledge, and a few laughs. Likewise, I try really hard to keep politics out of my writing. Sometimes I get triggered though, and I find myself climbing on my soapbox to vent.

As I start down the road toward the 200th post, I must express my deepest appreciation to each and every subscriber. You always encourage me to keep going. As we all know, Alzheimer’s is a horrible disease. Having a community (even if we are somewhat strangers joined together by my blog) makes the fight a little more tolerable.

Thank you for your generous financial support these past few months. It means the world to me.

I decided to design a commemorative mug!