The last few months I've noticed a real improvement in my DH's mood, cognition and memory. I've been thrilled, but since there was no change in medications, activities or anything else, I haven't known what to attribute it to. The only thing I've thought is that he now seems to fully accept the diagnosis, is at peace with it, and so perhaps that is the reason. Today we visited his doctor, who agreed that it may be my acceptance theory, but he also mentioned that sometimes there is a delayed reaction in the effectiveness of the medications, even by a few years! My husband has been taking Aricept for almost 4 years now, and Namenda over 2 years. I thought that was very interesting. Has anyone else experienced anything like this? By the way, his MMSE score has continued to decline.
Not an improvement, but a very long plateau. I haven't seen any major changes since last May when he lost his license. When I go to log something I discover that I logged it months ago. It is something that came and went and came again and went again.
Basically things are going quite calmly. And I think just the fact that we aren't dealing with a new craziness every week can look like things are actually getting better.
I agree, Starling, I interpret a calm environment as improvement with this disease. The most stressful part for me was the continuing chaos and turmoil at the beginning. The rages came and went, but it seemed that the turmoil never let up at that point--unpredictable behavior, one problem after another. Now life seems more like it was pre-dx.
Except for more incontinence problems from time to time, there hasn't really been any change- indeed, in some ways there's been improvement - with mine. Started taking Trazadone about 3 months ago and IT started the change, but nothing else new (takes Namenda and Neurontin and has for a couple of years). No coconut anything.
marilyninMD I experienced exactly what you just said....I totally get what you are saying.....I just can't say anything without writing a book....I'll try......It seems as though when he totally accepted his diagnosis and realized we can work together with it and people are understanding and helpful if they know.....and we still have a life to live...just different.....wah-la...what you said. : )
We still have our moments... it is what it is...BUT it's not constant....
The Risperdal has helped Sid's rages. Combined with an anti-depressent. I never thought I would resort to this type of medication, but I just couldn't live with the rages. Log onto the home page, and click "previous blogs" on the left side. Read # 209, 214, 227, 231, 261, 262, 353, just for a sampling of trying to deal with the rages.
cyfany--My husband has been on Seroquel for a while--can't say that it helped immediately--but perhaps there was a delayed reaction with that too. What helped more than anything was my learning how to talk to him and switching him to a daycare where the staff knew how to relate to him. At the first daycare, the fact that he was in his early 60's--much younger than anyone else--was a problem for some of the staff. They thought he was faking, or just a guy with a bad temper. That led to incidents where they handled situations poorly. But now we have situations happen that would have set him off before--I hold my breath--he does not blow up! I pray it lasts.
I thank my lucky stars Claude never had rages. He was always a quiet, laid back person who never said much. When he did, it was worth listening to. Our son is the same way.
From the time he was diagnosed six years ago, there was just a slow mental decline. His short term memory slowly declined, and at the end he had even lost his long term memory. He still recognized me and our son and daughter right to the end.
joang and starling- He is on 2mg risperdal 225mg effexor. Doc keeps wanting to lower the dose. All week has vbeen coming up to my work place to give me grief . Again already this morning I've been at work for only 1 hr. and hes here. Don't know what to do!!!!!!!!!!!
Is he home alone when you're at work? Perhaps you need to arrange for someone--paid or unpaid--to be there with him. You must be his "safety blanket" and he is uncomfortable without you. I know how distressing it must be--my FIL used to go stand outside the bldg my MIL worked in--he would stay there all day! Finally, my husband's grandmother moved in with the family--that stopped him from following my MIL.
yes he's alone, can't afford to pay anyone. If he just stood outside that would be one thing but he comes in to argue and curse me out. Not in front of people but he'll stand in the lobby starring at me till they leave. I'm calling the doc. to see if she'll up the meds. I just can't deal with this! With all the doom andgloom in the news, his focus is on money and is claiming to go withdraw it all out of the bank so I don't spend it all.
Can we assume that you're taking steps to limit what he COULD withdraw, by putting most into another account? And that he doesn't have access to credit cards??
I have not seen any rages from my DH and I believe he is mid stage. He has always been a quiet, thoughtful person. I hope this lasts, don't know what I would do with 9 yr old Dylan and my 76 yr old Mom if he began to rage. Aghhhhhhhhhhhhh
Susan L--He may never have the rage behavior. My husband's doctor said that some patients never have a reaction to the dx that results in negative behavior. Others, like my husband, go through a period of real difficulty with the dx and then emerge ok and their behavior improves. And still others are never able to reach the acceptance stage and don't ever bounce back. I guess it's just the "luck of the draw".