The Running of Nose
On a day like any other, my mother scrunches her nose and sniffs. She grabs a Kleenex and holds it to her upper lip. She repeats this set of actions with more and more frequency over the next few weeks, so often that used tissues show up all over the house.
My mother has a history of sinus problems during allergy season in the spring, and as a family we decide that this must be the cause. By now, she cannot tell us if this is a usual experience any more than she can remember how to blow her nose.
As the season changes from spring to summer to fall to winter, my mother's nose drips continuously. We wonder if her Alzheimer's medication is responsible, and my father inquires with the neurologist about that theory. The doctor suggests we halve her dosage on the chance it solves the problem.
As a family we decide not to do this--we are much more willing to gamble on a full dose of the medication slowing her disease than a half-dose curing her nasal woes.
Another year drips by, and in the process my mother loses her ability to sniff back the mucus. Thus, her nose runs almost constantly. She uses tissues when we give them to her, but more often than not, she reaches for paper napkins, her sleeves, the stuffed toys she tosses, and the occasional magazine to do the job instead.
My mother has a history of sinus problems during allergy season in the spring, and as a family we decide that this must be the cause. By now, she cannot tell us if this is a usual experience any more than she can remember how to blow her nose.
As the season changes from spring to summer to fall to winter, my mother's nose drips continuously. We wonder if her Alzheimer's medication is responsible, and my father inquires with the neurologist about that theory. The doctor suggests we halve her dosage on the chance it solves the problem.
As a family we decide not to do this--we are much more willing to gamble on a full dose of the medication slowing her disease than a half-dose curing her nasal woes.
Another year drips by, and in the process my mother loses her ability to sniff back the mucus. Thus, her nose runs almost constantly. She uses tissues when we give them to her, but more often than not, she reaches for paper napkins, her sleeves, the stuffed toys she tosses, and the occasional magazine to do the job instead.
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