JOAN’S BLOG – THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 29, 2007 – JUST WHEN YOU THINK YOU’VE SETTLED INTO THE AD ROUTINE (however reluctantly) – BAM – SOMETHING NEW CROPS UP!

You would think by now I would expect changes to occur. It’s just that it takes me a long time to adjust to  whatever aspect of AD comes along. Then I finally accept it, try to find ways to deal with it (memory strategies; patience; Xanax), and the next thing you know – here comes something else!

In the 11/19/07 Blog, I discussed how I was not going to remind Sid anymore that he “already asked me that question 10 times; or we had that discussion already”, because that was not triggering his memory anymore.

But now he is forgetting entire blocks of information, and it is scaring me. A couple of days ago, we watched the news story at 6 PM about the girl who hung herself because of an online hoax perpetrated by an adult neighbor. It was quite disturbing. We then watched it again on another cable news station; we watched it again on the 11 o’clock news; and the next day we watched another program about it. We discussed it. I saw a story about it on the Today program this morning. I then went into the bathroom while Sid was shaving, and  referenced it, telling him that they were looking into Federal laws to prosecute the woman who did it. He had no idea what I was talking about. I was in a state of shock. I know. I know. I shouldn’t be, but I was.

This is not the first time this has happened in the last couple of weeks. I understand that this is another stage to which I must adjust, but each stage, each new occurrence, is more difficult. I also understand that I am way behind those of you who have much more serious issues to deal with – personal hygiene, wandering, not recognizing who you are – but for me, at this time, this is rough. Things had been fairly stable for awhile, and I was lulled into a sense of complacency. I don’t want him to “go away” . I know it will come someday, but I’m not ready. Of course I’m not ready – we’re never ready. We have to take what’s thrown at us and deal with it.

Now just to confuse the situation, while all of this escalation in forgetfulness is occurring, he is remembering the oddest bits of minute information. This morning he remembered something I had told him LAST WEEK about our finances. A couple of days ago, he woke up, and reached right into his nightstand drawer for an envelope he had to bring to a meeting – he had REMEMBERED where he put it! Even he was surprised he remembered.

I swear that Alzheimer’s Disease is a sneaky devil just waiting to see what it can do to throw you off balance next.

How have things progressed with your spouse? Does it stay stable for awhile and then plummet, or is it a steady decline? I know it’s different for everyone, but I was just wondering.

MESSAGE BOARD TOPIC:  Alzheimer’s Disease – BAM! -A surprise at every turn.

Feedback to joan@thealzheimerspouse.com

The material included on this website contains general information intended as information only. This site is not intended to provide personal, professional, medical, or psychological advice, and should not be relied upon to govern behavior in any certain or particular circumstances. The opinions in the blogs are solely those of the owner of the website. The opinions on the message boards are not necessarily endorsed by the owner of this website, and are the opinions of those persons writing the messages. All material on this web site is for demonstration and informational purposes only.

The Alzheimer Spouse LLC 2009 All Rights Reserved