I am so glad this thread came back up. I didn't know so many of you had the same problem with communication. Lloyd's conversation consists of "I don't like that" and "I didn't do it". No comprehension. He cannot read at all. He cannot write anymore. He cannot sit and watch TV. Sometimes he is so bad and constantly into everything and touching things he has no business touching and moving and losing things...I swear I must have done something really awful to deserve this!
Aunt B, my sympathy at the loss of your mother. Mine paseed almost 20 years ago & we were very close so I know how you feel. I was lucky because that was way before DH had AD so he was the one to break the news to me & he was a great comfort to me. However, that would no longer be the case, as he doesn't get it anymore. The past few days he has asked about my father & when I tell him that he is in heaven he tells me that he is sorry & that he didn't know that. (my dad died almost 15 years ago).
I pulled up this post. It addresses my feeling right now. My DH has trouble finding words. I can handle that. I feel lonely now because he cannot keep up with a conversation. There is a lot of things going on with our children. I have no one to talk to about these things. Our youngest daughter has an eating disorder. Her health is seriously compromised. She is married. Her husband and I are trying to get her to seek help. I am very worried and feel that I am alone in dealing with this. I have no one to comfort me and tell me it will be alright. I am sure everyone here feels the same way. Dealing with AD and taking care of spouse, household things, finances, and our children. It is to much sometimes. I am on medication all ready. I am tired. In the process of getting help for DH. Just needed to talk where someone can understand.
(((hugs))) jackie. Yes we all know what you are going through. Is there anyway you can find a counselor to talk with? That would be someone in person to talk over things with. Might help.
Jackie A big (((hug))) from me also. Three years after placement my I still get extremely sad when I go in to a restaurant and see couples our age having dinner while laughing and talking. That was a dream I had thought we would have in our sixties. He occasionally mumbles but nothing coherent. I understand the stress of going through the agony of getting help for your DH. With trying to help your daughter also it has to be too much all the time! I hope you can get help for both your DH and your daughter. You seem to need help for yourself, Jackie, and after all the caregiving you deserve it. Take one day at a time and I hope tomorrow is a little better for you. Come back here and talk to us when you feel the need. We care and we understand how stressful all of this is for you.
jackiem29 - ‘Dealing with AD and taking care of spouse, household things, finances, and our children’s problems … it is too much sometimes’. I wish I could offer you more than empathy. Hope you can get some support - Charlotte’s advice sounds like great advice. Hope you can find something to alleviate the stress of AD plus everyday life. Best wishes...
Jackiem29, I do hear you, believe me. You are among friends here. Always know that you are never alone even tho it may feel that way sometimes. My husband cannot carry on much conversation anymore either. When I visit now I usually read to him or we just sit outside if the weather is nice. He never complains. He still makes some sense when he talks about the past but whenever he goes to initiate a conversation he loses the train of thought and forgets what he wanted to say. All I know is that my faith has grown stronger through this and I am grateful for that but the not knowing how long this journey will be is depressing. Actually it is probably better if I do not know. I only focus on each day. It is better that way. Have you considered respite for a period of time to give you the much needed break. You will be able I believe to better think things through and perhaps make decisions that you cannot make while he is with you. God bless.
Jackie, many (((HUGS))); I offer my support and caring...let me know if I can help in any way. My husband is almost non-verbal now and honestly it breaks my heart when he tries to say something and nothing comes out or it is too garbled to understand.
Seeing someone you can talk to about your situation is very helpful. I hope you can get time in your schedule to see your therapist. I'm sure it will help relieve some of the stress.
finding time to see anyone to talk to about these concerns can add to the issues. caring for our spouses plus family is non stop 24/7. I can appreciate what you posted and how overwhelming it all can be. and yes the lonliness and isolation is devastating. I hope you find the energy and time to speak to the therapist it will help you so much. divvi