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  Researcher, Educator, Writer, Survivor I am beginning this post with my Author’s Note.  I am not a physician by training nor trade. I am a researcher, an educator, and a writer.   The  Researcher  in Me: Last week I wrote how my own experience with what may be called COVID “Brain Fog” offered me new insight on how people experiencing dementia may feel. (If you missed that one you can read it HERE .)   My inexplicable memory loss troubled me. Why was it I couldn’t remember days and months? I started a bit of research. Because I am no longer at the university, my initial research took the form of reading numerous articles on-line. I know enough to not trust everything everyone claims, so I checked the credentials of the authors, the reliability of the sources, and scrutinized the method for collecting the data.    What did my cursory research reveal? There is substantial evidence that some medications alone can cause the mind to muddle. Put a few ...

Shadows of Light Peeking Through the Fog My maternal grandmother had dementia. It was difficult. I watched as she slowly withdrew from family gatherings. She knew her limitations. It disturbed her. It pained me.     Once as the family gathered in her living room, I joined Grandma in the kitchen. She admitted to me she didn’t know some of the people in the room. I told her to sit by me and if she wasn’t sure of someone’s identity, I’d tell her. It worked.     I have gained new insight into what she likely felt.   If you are one of my readers, you know I recently recovered from COVID.   I’ve heard a number of people speak of COVID “Fog” or COVID “Memory”.  That fog is real. That memory, or rather lack of memory is unsettling.    Here’s an example:    A couple of weeks ago, my oldest grandson and my mother came to my house. I was past the contagious stage and enjoyed chatting with both of them. At one point, my mother commented on...

Post COVID:   Retraining The Mind and Body   I never intended to offer multiple blog posts on dealing with COVID-19. Of course I never intended to contract COVID in the first place. But here I am offering you a fourth post on dealing with the virus. It is, of course, my perspective but from reader responses, I know sharing my experiences has helped a few people.    If you read my earlier posts, you know that I tested positive for COVID on March 20. I quarantined for ten days and continued to wear a mask afterward. I wore the mask for the comfort of others. I was feeing stronger every day. I was feeling so good I decided to go to the beach as planned. (I called it Saltwater Therapy.)   On Day 18 after testing positive, I hit a wall. I was lethargic. I felt overwhelmed. I tossed and turned at night. And I coughed.    Let’s start there: With the cough. The COVID cough for me has not been what I would call a productive cough. Usually, I cough because of c...

  Breathe Deep: Saltwater Therapy for …Anything   Although I was born in Ohio, I have always thought of myself as a Florida girl. All of those events that a person experiences, those “rites of passage” from childhood to adulthood, took place in or around Tampa, Florida.   I graduated from high school in Florida (Go Chamberlain!).  I got my driver’s license in Florida.  I had my first date in Florida. And last. I got married in Florida. I graduated from college in Florida. My two oldest daughters were born in Florida.   I am a Florida girl.   As such, I understand the healing power of sunshine and saltwater.    Maybe that’s why I was reluctant to reschedule my trip to South Carolina so soon after my bout with COVID. I try to get to the condo for a week or two before the vacation season starts. I like to get things ready for summer guests.   While in South Carolina, the words of my late husband came to me. “Breathe deep.”   “Breathe d...