Thanks for the welcome. My dh only takes exelon. I noticed tonight that he runs into the wall equally on both sides. It seems to be a balance problem. He kind of leans to the left and runs into the wall and later on, runs into it on his right side. Golf is really his only hobby. He had a rough time of it today again, going the wrong way and hitting to the wrong green. He is really getting frustrated with his game. I don't think he realizes it could be his condition. It's hard to talk to him because I think he is in denial. He gets mad if you bring it up.
gosh oneday! if your DH keeps that up the folks on the green will be hitting the turf when he yells 'four'!! seriously, poor guy i bet he is fustrated as heck.unfortunately 'friends' will soon see that he has issues playing the game and if/when that occurs, you may want to ride the cart with him and help him out? keep him oriented and focused on his game?denial is the first process in this wretched disease. divvi
Just keep encouraging him to get out and play. My DH gave everything up at once and it's been awful...he just sits in his chair with his eyes closed. I wish he'd try to do something....no one cares how good you are...as long as your out there trying.
My DW loved golf and played in a ladies group at least once a week (even won their Presidents Cup tournament one year), but gave it up four or five years ago when she realized that she was no longer able to keep up with how many strokes she'd taken on a hole. Her golfing friends tried to get her to use some sort of counter, but she couldn't remember to use that either, and didn't want anyone thinking she was cheating when she turned in her scorecard for handicap purposes.
Just a thought - halos and color problems can also be caused by migraine headaches. In addition to other vision problems, they could be experiencing headaches or just the symptoms. I use to get the halos and starburst without the headache. I suffered from migraines for years. When they went away I started the halos and starburst. The neurologist said it is 'migraine phenomenon' with or without an actual headache.
Same thing here Charlotte with the starbursts, etc. No pain, just the glittering starbursts and can't see good. I take a pain pill and sit down and they go away. Dr. says migraine without pain.
My ophthalmologist says it is an optic migraine. Sometimes mine is a black and white spinning halo and sometimes beautiful spinning colors. Doc says no cause for concern.
Nancy B, one of the other AD discussion forums has several members who have dementia. Some of them have posted for quite a few years. They are extraordinary people, and I have come to respect them SO MUCH. Most of the caretakers really appreciate their participation, because it helps us understand what's going on inside our LO's minds. (But we forget they're there, seeing what we write, and I do wonder how they feel about some of the things that are said -- especially the lady who has AD herself and is also caregiver for her AD mother.)
I gather it is pretty unusual to have as much insight into their problems as these folks do.
DH has never had headaches so I don't know if this is a symptom or not. The guys he plays golf with are asking my BIL what is wrong with him. I think it's time they know. He gave them the wrong tee time this morning. I'm thinking I should just call them and tell them he is having problems. He can' keep score anymore and BIL says he wants to throw his club when he has a bad shot. Almost flies into a rage. NancyB I agree it would be awful for him to give up golf. It is really his life and he would be sitting in his recliner all day if he didn't have that. Sunshyne could you give us the link to the forum on AD you mentioned?
One Day, What you have described about your husband's golf game is exactly what happen to my husband. As I mentioned he was an avid golfer...shooting under par many times. Then about 2 years ago, while playing alone one day he got lost on the course...however, he didn't mentioned it until several days later. Also, went to the golf course alone one day...they were having a outing so he decided to go to another course he played often...he got lost & was lost for 1 1/2 hours finally by the grace of god he found his way home. One day, he created a scene in the Clubhouse because he couldn't play that day. He became the talk of the Clubhouse, just looking at him (he's 58 years old) you can not tell he has a problem. A couple days later he went in an apologized to everyone. He did tell them he had a problem, but not what it was. I finally informed everyone the next time I went with him. His game really went down hill over the last couple years, he would hit his drive then forget where he hit it...needless to say we bought a lot of golf balls. Also, when chipping he would hit it over the green several times...very frustrating to him, also started throwing his clubs. Putting was another disaster he would putt his partners ball, swearing it was his. Last year we had a membership, however, only played 5 times. The last day was a complete disaster, this was in July. He told the club pro he didn't think he would play again. Now he spends most of the day in the garage, rearranging his clubs, taking them out of the bag, lining them up & starting all over again, He has not mentioned playing once. If your husband's friends are still willing to help him, I say good for them, and encourage him to play. I just would not let him go alone.
Kadee, would your DH enjoy one of those golf game putters that comes with the club, ball and along 'green' that you try to put into the hole? i think they are in alot of catalogues=and they can play right in the living room -like the kind executives used in their offices to practice! sounds like he still has interest in the clubs..awwww.. divvi
Divvi, Thanks for the suggestion. He has 2 different type of practice putting devices, the one you mentioned & a electric one that shoots the ball back to you..he always enjoyed messing with them in the past, however, he has no interest in them anymore. I even bought a large piece of green outdoor carpet for him to use, no interest.
Kadee this is just like my dh. He still wants to play. He goes to the course every day. Doesn't always play, his friends work. They only play on weekends. He does hit balls every day tho. He is chipping back and forth over the green, then gets mad. We'll see what the dr. says when we go. I think if he can't play any better he won't want to go.
One Day, As I mentioned previously, be careful about letting him go alone. My husband was lost on the course that he had played for the last 5 years. Also, got lost for 1 1/2 hours trying to go to another course he had played numerous times. This was all when I thought it was still safe for him to go there alone. Boy! was I in denial.
A couple of weeks ago my husband complained of a headache and blurred vision. We just had our eyes checked a couple of months ago. I made an appointment with eye doc but a couple of days later he said he was o.k. so we cancelled and he hasn't had problems since. It seems like some of you were saying these things can come and go. Is that how it starts? Someone said it stopped by itself. Wondering because john has been diagnosed MCI but interesting that this is an AD issue. Chris
Thanks for bringing this topic up, I had searched several times for something like this but could not find it. My husband says that when he looks at the computer screen...looks away...and looks back, that the screen totally looks different. He knows the screen has not changed, just looks different to him. Also, whenever he wakes up, even from a short nap, he cannot figure out where he is for a few minutes.
I read Sunshyne's explanation and it made so much sense that I am copying and pasteing it in my personal file (don't want to search again ;-) I really miss Sunshyne's clear, easy to understand research. Thanks Sunshyne where ever you are!
Last night I was on the Bigtree Murphy site and read that her husband had a "left field of vision void" (couldn't see anything on his left side). I'm wondering if something like that might be happening here. In our master bath both the toilet and bidet on the left side, and apparently my husband can't see them. He has had a few "accidents", urinating in the trash can and shower, which are on the right side. Also, when he goes into the family room, he ignores the sofa on the left side and always sits in the loveseat on the right side.
Anyone else notice anything like this? I don't think the bathroom problem is due to agnosia, he recognizes the toilet in our other bathrooms. The only post to this thread that mentioned anything similar was by Gourdchipper, and I believe he attributed it to a stroke. I'm going to continue to observe him--it may be possible for me to move some things around to make it easier for him, if this is the case.
Hi Marilyn...what you are describing is hemaniopsia. Blindness in a portion of the visual field. It is common after stroke and therefore would be present in vascular dementia. Research has also demonstrated that hemianopsia can result from the occipital and inferotemporal cortical degeneration in dementia with Lewy bodies. It may be more common that we thought. Great pick up...let us know if rearranging things helps.
My husband is almost like a blind person when we walk even though his eyesight and vision are good according to our doctors. I understand about the not know how far/close things are but even pointing out something is a big deal as he cannot understand the directions. Anyone else? Mary
to the top for other members about visual issues with AD. sunshyne has given us very good explanations with regards to agnosia and anosognosia. you can search either and find various discussions.
I can't believe this! Not that I'm happy about it, but finally someone that knows about Posterior Cortical Atrophy. My DH was diagnosed with this, his present neurologist says PCA/AD are one and the same, his first neurologist said not. At any rate, I haven't found another person with this until now. I saw this post: "My husband has Posterior Cortical Atrophy, and you're right, there aren't many out there. His neurologist said that some doctors say it is a variant of alz. and others say it is a different thing altogether. She tends to view it as a separate entity entirely but put him on Aricept because there was nothing else on the market. The only info I have found is the Mayo Clinic and an article on Orpha that tells a little more about it. My husband has major problems with his eyes. Strangely enough, he told his doctor that when there was a lot of noise he couldn't see as well......she said she understood completely. His brain is being assualted with too much, sound and vision, and he can't handle all of it. I'm sorry you have to be here, but I'm glad you found this group. "
I'm pasting this from the Orphanet website:
"With time, there is a disabling progression of agnosia and apraxia. Visual agnosia and apraxia prevent PCA patients to recognize and to act upon the world, respectively. The behavior of the patient is that of a blind person. Then, there is an extension of the degenerative disorder in the anterior parts of the brain. Language and memory become more affected as well as reasoning."
To the others here that are dealing with this, I do believe it is a separate thing. If I can find your email addresses, I will contact you. I have never found a support group for this. The Alz. groups are a big help.
Yeah, it's so. I have a PCA husband, and if something is to his right, and I attempt to point it out to him, he can't see it/look at it...can't even really look to the right. He can turn his head completely to the right and see something, thus in essence perceiving it straight on. But he has to do that independently. I can't say "look at that goat over there," (pointing to the right) and expect him to follow the order.
This is evidence of left brain damage. Sometimes called left hemineglect. Ignoring, not noticing things to the right.