Something interesting I've noticed--since my husband was diagnosed 4 years ago, his outlook on some things has changed to one I associate with older people (he's 64). For example:
--Was always a sun worshipper, loved to get a tan. Now he wants to stay out of the sun because it's not good for you. He's right, but I can't believe the change. --Has become much more conservative with spending. --Is grumpy sometimes. --Gets cold easily. --Overreacts to inclement weather--this was a guy who was like the Post Office--neither rain, nor snow, nor dark of night could keep him down. Now a few raindrops or even a cloudy sky are enough to concern him.
In the overall scheme of things, none of this is really a big deal. But I do think it's not due to normal aging--it's too drastic a change too fast. Has anyone else noticed this?
Yes. In Sid's case, I know the Alzheimer's Disease has caused an "aging" attitude, but I also think the debilitating effects of the diabetes has aged him physically more drastically. It's hard to separate which is causing what.
hmmm sounds familiar,I don't wanna hunt ,fish,chase women(well not fast ones)as for the sun havn't seen it in a week but living in Michigan we know its out there an will make an appeareance sometime before the first snowflake is reported,I think all of the above contribute to my being grouchy an with no warm body to keep me warm that would account for the cold,see everything is easily explained here,now if I could only find a slooooow women
Ol Don, you are incorrigible! Never mind, nobody would want to "corridge" you. Whatever that is.
Yeah, my dh was always warm and prided himself on going out with only a sports coat in the winter, etc. Now wants long pants in the summer and gloves on the bike as soon as there's a nip in the air, and two blankets on the bed. I don't know whether it's diabetes or old age or AD (he's only 66)
The grumpiness I've pretty much put down to the AD.
SusanL--people have commented on how much my husband has aged. Aside from no tan, he now wears glasses instead of contacts, can't use the blow drier to style his hair and his face is more drawn. So I guess what's going on inside his head is showing up on the outside. I'm glad he doesn't notice it.
My DH is 86 but doesn't look anywhere near that age! He has aged some since DX'd, but not so much. However - he IS old. He still looks good though - to me and others.
Yes to the coldness thing. Mine was one of those "never need a coat" guys. Now he'll sit on the front porch in April with a down jacket and hat. As for other agedness, our 17 yo son described his dad (who is 61) as "going between being completely immature and being a grumpy old man."
2 winters ago, DH had the window in his room cracked open an inch or so all winter, except the few days it was below zero. This last winter the window was shut. He wore a full set of clothes (sweats) to bed and covered ith his heavy fleece blanket and A big comforter. This summer he wants trhe airconditioner set at 70, then goes to bed fully clothed with at least the heavy fleece blanket over him. He's cold hn it's 68 out.
Ditto Grannywhiskers...I don't know the woman in the mirror anymore. It really came as a shock to me when I recently saw pictures some one took of me. I looked a sight! When did that happen?
Amen...I run from cameras now. I thought the other night, between chemo and AD...I have aged...look tired all the time (which I am), put on weight and found out what depression really is.
What I see is in my eyes. They look dead. My mouth was smiling in the pictures, but my eyelids looked heavy and my eyes were dead. I wonder if it's possible to get that back?
What I saw, Nancy B., was a surprisingly young-looking woman full of life and laughter. The picture I saw your eyes looked beautiful and joyful. It was the photo of you holding your grandchild - or did you say your great-grandchild? I find that hard to believe. Those other pics you are referring to should be ignored. If you can look like that holding a child, you still have all vitality and love that anyone could want to have. I remember thinking when I saw that photo, "Wow. We need never worry about Nancy. She'll always bounce back."
My DH has aged a lot too. The pale face also, same long sleeve shirt and pants he wore all winter, socks and tennies no sandals. Long sleeve flannel PJs at night under a big comforter and won't allow a fan or decent AC. He sweats all night and gets rashes from it (as he's not big on showering at the moment) which he complains loudly about. Course he can't understand why, no matter how many times I try.
Mine freezes at night too. Long sleeved sweats, sweater, sheet, comforter. Meanwhile, I'm dying with the heat - can't stand the a/c or fan. Hope this phase passes quickly. Of course, MY DH is old, age-wise - he's 86, so I guess that also goes with the territory. LOL
Lonesome mama--No sandals here either! He always wore them with shorts (of course, no shorts being worn this year--we're having a cool summer). It's a shame, he has 2 pairs of Cole Haan sandals--hardly worn--but won't wear them. I even took him for a pedicure at the beginning of the summer--can cut that out!
Vickie--I've had to "move out" at night--can't take the heat! I sleep in other areas of the house where it's cooler.
Difficult for me to move out right now. He gets up by himself to use the bathroom, but we have stairs just in front of the bathroom door. I do have a gate put up (for the dog!); but he gets dizzy sometimes and I'm afraid he will topple over the gate. So...when he is up, I am up.
But this afternoon, he told me he had solved the problem of him hot, me cold! Asked what. He said we should change places in the bed - that it is too cold on his side, so if we change sides it should be okay. I said good idea. So, he is now in bed, watching TV, with just cotton PJ's on, a/c going and overhead fan! Hope it continues through the night! Maybe I'll get some sleep tonight!
Vickie--Hope it works. If all else fails, maybe you could buy a little desktop fan--a really small one--and aim it right at you from the nightstand. My husband does not get up at night, so I don't have to be right there. I have been thinking about getting a baby monitor, though, so I can hear if he does start wandering around.
One of the TV doctors said recently that studies show we sleep the very best of all if the room temperature is between 60 and 68 degrees. I'd love that. Won't happen here. We still have a blanket on his side of the bed. He also sleeps in flannel PJ bottoms and a t shirt.
I looked at him the other day at dinner, and saw in front of me, an old, old man. Funny, when I get him showered and shaved and dressed, he still looks good physically, (at 86 that's not bad) but when he 's just kind of around and I can't get him doing for himself, he could pass for 90. (not too far away as I think about it) and he's cold all the time, and he's cranky, and he wants to do nothing but sleep.
My DH, age 68, has stopped wearing his glasses. I would give them to him in the mornings. Sometimes he would just lay them back down; other times he'd wear them for just a little while, then I would find them on the counter, on the table, on the floor.......so I finally just stopped giving them to him and he is okay with that. Never misses them or asks about them. He also ALWAYS wore a hat or ball cap when he went out of the house even just for a few minutes, and has forgotten all about that now. Before AD he was adamant about wearing the glasses and the hat all the time. And now he is starting to sleep a good share of the day.