Update on COVID-19 stay at home movies

We got this lockdown stuff covered.  
We did a 112 cruise around the world.
Not much different from when we were 7 days at sea 3 times.  
It's like a Federal prison for body guards. 

At condo we look out the window at the beach.
We watch movies and TV series. 
We walk on beach everyday instead of working around the ship on the deck. 
Our refrigerator is more stocked than it ever has been.
My bar is stocked but not as good as the cruise beverage package. 

I do miss being a barfly during Happy Hour. 


Prior movies link

Recent movies

1-Ad Astra 
4 star

Good for science fiction fans. 
I loved it. 

2-Doctor Sleep
3.5 star

Steven King sequel to The Shining.
I like King's novels. 
Movies are uneven except when they put money into the film. 
This film was very interesting and good. 

3- Richard Jewel
4 star
Great movie for real life story of a man's story who was wrongly accused but then found won case.

4- Little Women
Four star
Probably the best version.  More realistic presentation of the main character and her boyfriend.

5- The Chaperone
4 star

I love Elizabeth McGovern from Downtown Abbey.
 Good period movie.

6- Red  Joan
4 star
A very good spy story about the making of the atom bomb during WW2 in Britain.


7- County Line
2.5 star
A two Sheriff buddy movie which needed more cuts on the acting but I enjoyed it.  Movie improved by the middle.

8- Black and Blue
3 star
Good cop vs a bunch of bad cops. 
It was a good action movie. 
So much better made than County Line. 
In NOLA

9- PRIMAL
3.5 star 
with Nicolas Cage
Again Cages character seems a little overdone at the beginning. However when the action begins it is entertaining. 

Why is Gov Desantis opening Fl on Mon. ?

The Latest

Florida is getting ready to begin the first phase of its reopening. Gov. Ron DeSantis announced Wednesday that restaurants and retail stores can reopen at limited capacity on Monday. Capacity will be limited to 25%. The governor is being more cautious than the recommendations given to him by a task force he established to make suggestions on reopening business. The governor specifically excluded hard-hit, heavily populated Miami-Dade, Broward and Palm Beach counties, saying their businesses will begin phase one when it is safer. Local governments will will be allowed to have more restrictive policies than the state, but no Central Florida counties have indicated they plan to impose tighter rules.

I guess in 2 weeks we will know how well this re-opening worked.

60,000 deaths in USA now.



Prediction of deaths in USA in 2 weeks with re-opening:         


                                      80,000 ? 

USA deaths as of May 7:



Graphs below from this link

When do I leave Florida before Hurricane season.

Trump said we would not reach 60,000 deaths.
So many failed predictions.
Each individual has to make their own survival plan.
My wife and I had tickets to fly home to Kansas on March 29.
I knew that Kansas would not be hit as hard as Florida.

March 16.
 My initial plan link

I wrote the family about our plans.  
They didn't want us to fly, they told us to stay in Florida. 

March 17
 Family vetos our plane trip home in 3 days on March 21 link

March22
 Post decision analysis link

March 23 
Worse situation in a pandemic. To be Hurricane refugee

April 30
l decided we need to get out of Florida before August when most hurricanes hit. 
My wife and I plan to fly out first week of June.

If we wait longer there will be more people with the virus and more risk. 




Data from Florida April 29

Ad Astra

I watched the movie Ad Astra with Brad Pitt.

I am a science fiction fan and loved the movie.


I am definitely going through the hardship of Alzheimers. 
I hope I reach the stars by continuing  my yearly account of AZ in my books to help other people understand from a
first person narrative the progression of AZ in my particular case.  

I liked the computer psychological evaluations of the astronaut.

He talks about being angry.
It keeps him separated from other people and prevents intimacy.
I worry about this as well as I have a
 hair trigger with anger  and with Alzheimer’s.

In general I notice more cognitive disfunction. 
It took me several tries to transpose the spelling of Norfolk today.
I would look at the correct spelling and then try to write it out on my computer one second later.  It didn't stay with me. 
  I wrote blog on when forgot how to spell "yes":
Jan 15, 2020 link

I thought this was just a transient problem and thanks to spell checker I can write my blogs, twitter and my books.

I can type and when I lose that ability I will be sad.

Can my decline be due to my concussion?  
I  hit on my head  Jan 29, 2020
Post concussion syndrome  link


 

I think the concussion worsened my anger issues. 
Depression can always be a cause for decline of mentation. 

I did have worsening of depression after the concussion.
I increased my anti-depressant with Citalopram and I only get depressed after my anger gets out of control. 
Clearly all my other meds have not prevented my decline. 

My "antidote" link




I get very frustrated and angry with my wife when we going over our bills.  

I have been buying many DVD's on Amazon.  
We are stuck at home with COVID-19 and we watch a movie a day. She thinks it is too much money and wants to check the order list to see if we are getting overcharged.
We are well off financially and I made us money recently stock market. 
"Buy low sell high" J P Morgan link

However two weeks ago we went over the Amazon bill in detail. 
It was very difficult to match my orders with her credit card bill.
The amounts would be a little different and the credit date was a day or two off from the purchase date.
I would make mistakes and she would get angry.
I would feel hurt and get angry and it would escalate exponentially.
The event left me angry and depressed for the rest of the day.
Thanks goodness I have resumed wine.

We gave it a shot again yesterday.
I said I would not do it.
I said highlight the ones that seem wrong to you and I will discuss them with you.
We got through it but still there was an amount of anger that could have been avoided if she wasn't so negative amount it with me.

Dangerous situation for Alzheimers

This past week I started reading fiction again.

I had to get away from the toxic interchange on email with two friends writing was all toxic fiction.

I always read a lot every day when I find interesting links on twitter.  Those links often inspire me to write in my blog which will be the basis for my book.

My wife gave me a Ken Foullett book,  The Man from Saint Petersburg.
I loved he historical series on Europe.  Long books that left me wanting more after I finished them.
I like historical fiction.

I found in writing friends about COVID-19 with conservative friends I became very upset.

They don't have a scientific background while I am Board certified in Infectious Disease.

They don't believe in the numbers or the models despite 50,000 deaths this week from COVID-19.

The numbers in USA maybe low as Belgium has much higher per capita deaths with a more rigorous accounting method.

Belgium has highest rate of deaths in Europe  link


The persistence of my right wing friends to continue to not believe credible references that I offer but send me references from non- credible sources.

It wore me out.
I couldn't continue the dialogue while in the past I enjoyed it.
Could this be a result of my concussion or  a worsening of my Alzheimer’s

These are good friends which is why it's not similar to toxic twitter.
I don't take the fiction or the impolite responses seriously.
However from my friends it devastated me.
I became very angry.
It depressed me.
They were toxic so I stop responding and these two friends were among the most supportive when they learned of my Alzheimers diagnosis.

I always hated the advice don't talk about religion, politics or sex.
Especially the sex subject.

I just have to discern which people are the most toxic.
They are still good friends but I will not engage their ridiculous links.

Second review of my book YEAR TWO

Traveling With Alzheimer’s: Year Two
by Brian Scott Edwards, MD, FNLA
Xlibris

book review by Jonah Meyer

"With Alzheimer’s, I don’t have the future or the past easily available to me. 

                        I mostly have the moment."

Even when presented with a medical diagnosis of Alzheimer’s disease in December 2017, the author of this informative and entertaining book knew that, although life would be different from that point forward, by no means did or should he have to stop enjoying life.

 Rather than sulk in misery, there was still much in his very fortunate circumstances going for him, and this was no time to slow down. 

In fact, he and his wife have many major trips and cruises planned for 2020. 

A doctor himself, Edwards published 

Waiting For When I Forget I Have Alzheimer’s: Year One,

 in which he documented 

the diagnosis and early progression of the disease in February 2019. 

The current book he sees as part of a series of at least three books telling his inspirational story. 

The author says he seeks to encourage people in the early stages of Alzheimer’s to relax, enjoy themselves, have fun, and, most importantly, not struggle or miss out on life 

in the frantic search for a cure.

Edwards shares many humorous anecdotes of living a life in which he is slowly but continuously losing bits of his mind and, most significantly, his memory. 

But then, memory isn’t always everything it’s cracked up to be, he jokes with the reader. 

For example, he shares the time he finished grocery shopping, only to transfer all his bagged groceries not into his car but into a completely different shopping cart that was nearby. 

The author’s ability to laugh at himself, along with the reader, while still maintaining a sense of dignity in the face of a dreaded disease which, over time, robs oneself of true independence, is highly commendable. 

Edward’s book is truly an engaging and inspiring read.

Link to another review on YEAR two book

Link to Radio interview YEAR TWo

Lost my wife in 6 room condo

With the COVID 19 epidemic my wife and I stay in our condo.

Her sleeping pattern has changed, waking up 3-5 AM then looks for another room so she doesn't wake me while she reads.

Usually she goes to the study and sleeps in a large chair. 

A couple of times I have opened the door and she is not there.
I had walked across the condo to get to that room.
 No hint of where she is.
I avoid calling out to her, as I don't want to wake her.
So I go to the quest room but she never sleeps there because she will have to remake the bed.

I look in the laundry room as sometimes I find her in there working early to pass the time in that small space.

When I find her its always a surprise because there is no noise.

I have now exhausted all possibilities.
I have been in every room.

I am perplexed.
She wouldn't leave the condo without a note.

I don't panic I go to the windows on the big room looking out on the beach to open the shades.
Beautiful morning.

I turn around and there she is asleep on the couch.
The couch hides her as I walked by it a couple of times in my search.

This has happened twice.

As my Alzheimer's gets worse I guess we will need a smaller condo.

In my search I do get my steps in.

Movies and TV during COVID19

I was overwhelmed by this series.

Years and Years TV series link

It is incredible topical. 

We think times are uncertain now. 
This TV series takes it to the next level. 



This movie will burst your bubble of comfort unless you are a millennial.

LOVELACE link
Such a great movie. 

Brian Edwards <brianedwardsmd@gmail.com>	7:47 PM (7 minutes ago)
to Lucas, Andrew, Sarah, Bruce, Mark, Virginia, Jaime, Leslie, Kevin

ONE
  APPLE TREE YARD.
  EXCELLENT. 

I binged it in one day. It is free on  Amazon Prime?

TWO

HUNTER KILLER

Good action thriller.     Like all these movies in the series of Gerard Butler.

Great action movie. 

To my surprise this was another excellent  action movie with a lot of humor.  

THREE
FASTER

After the very good Hobbs and Shaw this was very disappointing.
 The Rock had a role that did not allow his humor to come out. 

FOUR 
THE PLOT AGAINST AMERICA

I enjoyed HUNTERS with Al Pacino but not as good as 

I like this series more because it is like the Man in the High Castle

 and because its reminds me of  my childhood growing up in Brooklyn.

FIVE
I SEE YOU

I like Helen Hunt but she looks ghastly in this. 

No  wrinkles but wrinkles would have been better. 

This is very good physiological  thriller. 

At first I thought it was supernatural but fortunaltey it wasn't.  

4/5 stars. 

SIX 
CLUE

Old movie. 

Silly but old lovable TV actors

Fun for old timers familiar with the game.

SEVEN
 CLEMENCY

Great actors but don't watch this during COVID 19
It is sad, sad, sad.

TV Series 
MANIFEST

I got into it but too many commercials and same format each episode.
Only for time travel Sci Fi geeks like me and I got tired of it.

1917
WW1 movie
Excellent. 

Uncut Gems
Too too much.  
Too much intensity. 
Not a good view of the NYC diamond district 
but it is unique. 

Post Concussion Syndrome w AZ

Concussion blog March 29, 2020 link one

I had been doing very well the first week after the concussion with
1- Intermittent fasting and the hunger
2- one hour walk beach, and 
3- no alcohol.

But then I hit a wall on April 3, 2020 link two

I am finally feeling better today. 
I coped and made some changes in my routine. 
I decreased my walk to 30 minute a day.
I increased my antidepressant.  
I had ice cream nights and brownies two days. 
Better than alcohol in many aspects other than remorse and regret that I couldn't keep to my program which
 I had done well with until meltdown on April 3, 2020 link 3

The stress had added up:
1- extreme hunger 
2-with 15-17 hour fast 
3-burn out with following the COVID-19 news everyday
4-extreme frustration with President Trump's lies at the daily White House briefing.  

My worse symptom was fatigue and a sense of uneasiness (anxiety)
I treated depression in my private practice. 
I recognized it immediately and increased my Citalopram which I knew would take a couple of weeks to kick in.  
I decided to give myself a break 
and not try to live up to my True Grit self characterization. 

My headache is almost completely gone. 
The most alarming symptom is my dizziness which is still bad.  
I worry about another fall. 

The depression brought emotional challenges as well.
As my wife was trying to help look after me I became very angry and had a couple of unpleasant and unnecessary arguments which leave me more depressed and stressed. 

My personality changes with AZ before the concussion link 4

I can still write but I feel I am worse mentally because of the stress and depression.


I must call attention to these two symptoms that Alzheimer's patients may experience
and be in denial about. 

For me the overwhelming tiredness was a major concern.
  No desire to do anything.

Craving alcohol during my 25 day sobriety was not a problem. 
Needing ice cream and brownies to get me through the day was a problem as it increased my glucose despite fasting
 and high glucose it very bad for worse progression of Alzheimer's. 
Thus on  April 4, 2020 at night when I had no ice cream, brownie or dark chocolate to turn to I drank 16 ounces of red wine.  I found it a little unsatisfying?  
Next day, yesterday I opened a better bottle of red wine a I drank the whole bottle.  I am glad it didn't make my dizziness worse. 
My wife actually encouraged me to restart wine.  Once again I felt as if I failed again.  
I also resumed my testosterone at 120 mg once a week as I had ran out of syringes. 
I am back on Cialis three times a week. 
I am happy it has not made my headache worse as that is why  I stopped it 28 days ago. 

My personal unique approach to Alzheimers treatment link 5

However depression may be the worse disease that there is.  

I think desserts and wine in moderation at this point in my condition  is a worthwhile respite. 

I became very obese because of gluttony.

If I continue to fall down I will have to stop alcohol completely.
I was wondering if I should wear a bike helmet all the time. 
No kidding. 

Super moon on Jensen beach

Super Moon link 
There was a haze but not pink.  



You can see one star above




Warm filter on photo above.  Pink?




The day started out cloudy.

Warmer filter.
View from our fourth floor condo
Rain showers in distance.


\

Pacific Book Review of Traveling with Alzheimers

Pacific Book Review

Like any terminal disease, people with Alzheimer's are subject to all kinds of stigma and stereotypes.

 It can be difficult for an Alzheimer's patient to not fall prey to these ungracious expectations.

 When author, doctor and Alzheimer's patient, Brian Scott Edwards, was diagnosed, he was determined to accept his diagnosis without accepting the stereotype.

 In his first book, Edwards documents how his diagnosis was made

. In his second book, Edwards is out to prove people with Alzheimer's can live normal lives. Traveling With Alzheimer's: Year Two chronicles the second year after his diagnosis, a year which he and his wife make the most of with worldly travels.

 In his book, Edwards discusses what it's like to live with Alzheimer's, the changes he made in order to function independently, and how important it is for patients to relax and enjoy the time they have.

Edwards lives with an incredible amount of uncertainty.

 Alzheimer's patients may live two years, or they may live twenty years, he explains. The disease progresses differently for everyone. Although there are ways to treat Alzheimer's, there is no cure for it. Readers will find Traveling With Alzheimer's to be optimistic without being unrealistic.

 Edwards details the different medications he tried, how he changed his exercise and eating habits, the different cognitive exercises he practiced, and of course, the many international trips he and his wife enjoyed.

After he was diagnosed, Edwards writes, he didn't tell his close friends or extended family. He wanted them to act as a living barometer, so to speak, to notice his failing memory without their opinion being tainted by the knowledge of his disease.

 He also blogs and journals regularly. Over time, Edwards notices more spelling mistakes in his writing, but is still proud to write two books and consequently be invited to multiple author fairs. His life with Alzheimer's progresses “one step backward, one step forward,” in his words. He is able to fly to Houston by himself, but one day gets lost driving to his local dentist's office. He learns to set alarms and take notes. Edwards keeps a gracious sense of humor, as evidenced in a story about his morning ritual with his wife. When they wake up in the morning, his wife asks if he knows her name. He does. She asks if he knows his name. He names her ex-husband. “I hope not,” his wife replies.

“No one needs to be the John Wayne of Alzheimer's,” Edwards writes. Although he himself has contributed to observational studies, Edwards maintains no one with Alzheimer's should burden themselves with finding a cure. Already living under the stigma and fear of this disease, patients shouldn't stress themselves with trying to escape it. Traveling with Alzheimer's strikes a perfect chord between accepting the disease without becoming the disease.

Traveling With Alzheimer's: Year Two is an account of Edwards travels, but the book itself is much more significant than that. Between itineraries and journal entries, there are book reviews and blog articles. His second year is not easy by any means, but Edwards stays up to date with the latest research, and is constantly working to learn something new and share it with others through his writing.

 Traveling With Alzheimer's is a beacon of possibilities and an alternative to the self-sacrificing fallacy stereotype.

I hit a low point last week with Alzheimers

Please read 5 types of medications to treat Alzheimer’s link
Excerpts below.  Families often ask for medications to treat the problems listed in the screen shot below. 






On April 2, 2020 I hit a low point with
1- Anxiety
 (which I relieved with alcohol before I stopped drinking on March 14th after my fall and concussion.)
2- Very tired
I have been sleeping well.
I decided I pushed myself with walking an hour on the beach.
  I now walking one half hour a day. 
3- Stressed 
The combination of 
COVID-19 crisis and overload on following the news
Intermittent Fasting each day with severe hunger doing the last two hours of the 14-16 hour fast. 

The 3 mentioned above: anxiety, tiredness, stress and the pain of headache and dizziness from concussion lead to a melt down with me getting angry at my wife.  


Pain (my Concussion headache) clearly increased my stress.  
I started Tylenol 1,000 mg a day yesterday.

I increased my citalopram from 20 mg/d to 40mg/ after the meltdown on April 2.  It may take weeks to notice a difference. 


The reason citalopram more than 30 mg a day is discouraged is the cardiac arrhythmia it can cause and kill people. I am not concerned as I have a good heart and have tolerated citalopram 40 mg before.










These are my medications

This is why people hate pharmaceutical Drugs

This is why people hate pharmaceutical Drugs?

After a period of time side effects are reported and become  found in Physicians Desk Reference.  For good or for bad the more people that take a drug the more side effects reported. 

I am feeling more anxious and depressed after my concussion that I had 18 days ago. 

Watching COVID-19 news all day may not help but I love the analysis and then I write about it all in twitter and blog which I feel great acheivement with.  However the intense work may be burning me out.  My wife and I watch good movies each.  

  I have even decreased my daily walk from one hour to one half hour as I felt I was pushing myself and feeling tired from the effort.  

Last three days my concussion headache has gotten better.  Also my dizziness is getting better.  Having the two symptoms together made me more depressed.

Finally today I doubled my citalopram from 20 mg to 40 mg. 

Then I looked up the side effects which did not worry me because I have experience prescribing drugs to patients.  

It will probably blow the readers mind:

Side effects of Citalopram link