Alzheimer’s Disease and Women

Oh my. There I was, just going through articles on the BBC website and I can’t across this.

Alzheimer’s Disease affecting more women than men

more women develop depression – and depressed mood has been linked to the onset of Alzheimer’s. Other risk factors affect only women, such as surgical menopause and pregnancy complications like pre-eclampsia, both of which have been linked to cognitive decline in later life.

But wait! There’s more:

Social roles, such as caregiving, also may increase the chance of developing dementia. Some research has shown that being a caregiver is, in itself, a risk factor for Alzheimer’s disease, says Annemarie Schumacher, a health psychologist. In the UK, some 60-70% of all unpaid caregivers looking after someone with dementia in particular are women.

This is without wondering about any hereditary aspects.

To think I was just looking forward to becoming una gattara in my old age. Maybe I should stock up on prosecco and Aperol.

 

This is a description of living with depression and anxiety. It hit me like a punch to the gut with the truth and rawness.

If you’re struggling, see your GP and work out a Mental Health Plan.

Lifeline, phone 13 11 14. Lifeline has a list of resources on their website, https://www.lifeline.org.au/

My secret battle.

https://agriefshared.com/2018/02/09/my-secret-battle/

 

Princess Gorgeous

Our beautiful tawny Abyssinian girl. So affectionate towards me. Free face washing and facial exfoliation included. Owns my bed. Such a sweetheart. ❤️

 

Women still pay the parenting penalty

Recent research from Denmark shows that it’s still expensive on a personal level to be a mother, even in a country that is renowned for its egalitarian approach towards parenthood and work

It appears that the gender pay gap has increased over the past 35 years.

Even with “perfectly equal pay for equal work” there would still be large gender inequality in earnings as equal work is not an option for the majority of women, who are faced with the lion’s share of childcare responsibilities.

Plus ça change, plus c’est la même chose. Sigh.

 

Our gorgeous cat

Our British Shorthair is mad about boxes. They’re in his Top 5 of toys.

Equally interesting to him are:

His fluffy mice

His purloined hair ties

Small potatoes that can be used as soccer balls

The laser pointer.

 

Busy 2016

Already heading towards the end of the first half of the year. Goodness, I’m not sure where the weeks have gone!

DD is now 10 and she has discovered activities that she loves to do that work with her need for space and her need for downtime. She acknowledges she loves to spend time with her friends and to do fun things, even if it’s only watching a DVD together. The only drawback is that I end up having to help organise these get-togethers. She feels it dreadfully when friends have to pull out of an activity or their parents decide they’re going to do something else after they’d already committed. I have to do a lot of soothing of hurt feelings then.

Cat show coming up. That means the Washing of the Cat will happen tonight.

 

Hi!

I had a very busy and stressful 2015 and was very slack in updating this blog. Sorry.

Part of my stress was due to seeking, then receiving DD’s diagnosis of ASD, ADHD and anxiety. I mean, I had a pretty good idea that those things were going on but to have it in black and white in a psychologist’s report was another thing.

After that, there was the “fun” of trying to see a paeditrician (only took 4 months to get in), psychologist sessions which were unsuccessful and very expensive, talk about NDIS application, and more.

All this was while dealing with fibromyalgia and osteoarthritis with a complex chronic pain disorder on my part.

 

Hi there

A busy year. I am not having the best time at work. I am having problems with anxiety and depression and the help I’ve received so far is only sort of working.

I can’t get my crap together – being dragged down by pain from fibromyalgia as well as spine and nerve problems. I figure I’m doing well actually getting Miss 9 into her uniform and off to school with a packed lunch.

Part of trying to look after myself (hard as it is) is me deciding I will cut back on committee service. I’ve left one, and another one I will finish with this week.

I guess I need a holiday and a job that makes me happy.

 

A little whinge

My pain notices from different parts of my body are getting all scrambled.

I can no longer tell the difference between sinusitis, TMJ pain, and toothache. It’s taken me a week to work out that the gum around a back molar is extremely tender, especially around the tooth itself, and I have got a dental appointment for next Monday morning. (Friday morning at the moment.) Of course, if I could work out where the dratted pain is coming from, I’d have a better chance of getting an appointment for the right part of me and earlier, too.

Meh. Fibromyalgia and chronic pain disorder. Vile. Utterly horrible. Lest you think I’m really a whinger, I should add that I’m working full-time while dealing with this crap. Even if I weren’t, I am starting to think that really I deserve to be cared for and given some kindness rather than being expected to suck it up.

 

Apres un reve

Would you believe, this was my choice of lunchtime music today. Gerard Souzay is a premier interpreter of chansons and I am utterly charmed by this version of Apres un reve.

I’m busy preparing various piano accompaniments for a number of pieces for a concert in 2 weeks. Not that I’m worried, much. But guess where I will be spending most of my evenings? Yes, right at the piano stool yet again so that I do not embarrass myself. 😉