Hi...this is the first time I have written. I have been reading the board for several months. I have insomnia tonight and so finally I got up at 4am and took a walk. On my walk I thought of you all and decided maybe it was time to join in. My husband was diagnosed a year and a half ago but I had seen symptoms for about five years leading up to the official diagnosis. He is 74 years old. I am 50. We have been married 28 years. We have a son in college. I work full time but am off in the summers. This year has been really hard. Dan's adult daughter is going to move in with us to help. I am just really, really sad....when I am not frustrated and angry! I do things to try and take care of myself as well as Dan. I just started him in an Outing Program for people with Alzheimer's. Don't know if he'll take to it...I am hopeful. I see a therapist for myself. I take Lorazapam when I'm going too crazy! And I take lots of walks. Try and stay connected to friends. Just feeling sad tonight. Thanks for reading this..I know that you all know what I'm going through. KC
Indeed we do kaycee. Welcome and glad you posted. You will get lots of personal support here and you will find being able to vent to us will give you a boost because we have "been there, done that" or see it coming down the road. Others will be along later. You must be in the PC area. I am in WV and it is now 8:30 and we are getting ready for Church. My dh is in early severe which I take it to mean seven.
welcome KC-indeed we do know how you feel when our spouses are inflicted with this horrible uncureable disease. its one day at a time to try to cope with the issues of the day for the time being. hope you have time to read as much as possible. knowledge is empowering and its good to get things in place as soon as possible. hope you join in the posting often. divvi
Welcome, kaycee. Glad you have decided to join in the posts. So sorry for you to have to be here, but it's a wonderful place to land. Lots of support, advice and you can vent whenever you need to. Peace.
Kaycee welcome to our leaky boat. As you are so young my words of advice are this: don't lose yourself to the disease. The disease is relentless and will take you down if you let it. Keep your outside activities and friends. Let them know what is going on so they will know what you need from them as far as support.
Hi Kaycee, you and I are similar in age and situation. I'm 52 and DH is 73, diagnosed about 3 years ago but evidence of it for quite a bit longer. I have lorazepam for husband but I didn't think about taking it for me. Now there's an idea. Would I still have all my wits about me but just not care so much? My DH is at the stage that he can get into trouble at the drop of a hat. Some days I'm just scurrying behind putting out fires it seems. (Not real fires, just messes)
Hi, Kaycee.....my husband is 80 and I am 54. I've been living with his disease for years before I really understood what was going on. This is a great group of people here who have a wealth of information to share, some professional, some not. Some you will agree with and some not. All degrees of experience in here. Our choices we make for our loved ones ARE so personal. But, you'll get lots of good advice here if you just ask. You'll find decision making easier, then. AND like Vickie said, you can just VENT anytime you want!! We're listening!! Welcome.
Welcome Kaycee ..... one of the best things you will find here besides the welcoming and understanding attitudes it that you truly are not alone. Usually someone here has gone through or is going through similar experiences as you go through the process of the disease. Finding out that you and your life are really "normal" is a huge relief.
I'm another one that's 51 and he is 74, married 28 years. It is quite the journey and not one that any of us thought we would be on. Please remember any choices you make are the right ones for you. Never allow others to judge you, they are not traveling this journey.
Welcome to our Cruise through life Kaycee. I am 63 my husband is 52. He has probably had FTD, FrontoTemporal Dementia, since 1998 but we just got the dx in March. Dementia is a horrible illness. We understand all you are feeling. What ever is on your mind, chances are, someone here has been through it. AND WILL HAVE AN OPINION ON IT, LOL! Glad you have come forward to say hello. Stick with us, it's a hell of of ride.
Welcome to my website. You have been reading for awhile, so you know that you have come to a place of comfort for spouses who are trying to cope with the Alzheimer's/dementia of their husband/wife. The issues we face in dealing with a spouse with this disease are so different from the issues faced by children and grandchildren caregivers. We discuss all of those issues here - loss of intimacy; social contact; conversation; anger; resentment; stress; and pain of living with the stranger that Alzheimer's Disease has put in place of our beloved spouse.
The message boards are only part of this website. Please be sure to log onto the home page - www.thealzheimerspouse.com - and read all of the resources on the left side. I recommend starting with "Newly Diagnosed/New Member" and "Understanding the Dementia Experience". Do not miss the "previous blog" section. It is there you will find a huge array of topics with which you can relate. I know many people come straight to the message boards when they log on, but there is so much on the home page that is updated daily - new blogs; news updates; important information. Please check in there every day.
Welcome - I hope you will visit often and get the support and information you are looking for.
Currently, the message boards and all of the resources can be accessed for free, but due to the high cost of maintaining the website, anyone who is able to make a payment in any amount to help defray the costs may do so by clicking on the "sticky topic" - "Payments to this website". Any purchases made through the Amazon links and Zazzle Marketplace also help keep this site up and running. Thank you.
Hi Kaycee. Welcome to the group. My husband is in or around more or less stage 6. He was dignosed 7 years ago but most likely had it for a year or more before he was dignosed. I have been his sole caregiver until just a few months ago. I now have 3 hours a day of in-home care through the Health Department. July 1st will be our 26th annaversary.
Welcome, Kaycee. Glad you joined in. I've found the site to be a real lifesaver. Sorry you have to be here, but you really could not find a better place under the circumstances.