My DH has had such a decline the past few weeks and I find that I never get any sleep. A month ago I came down with a bad cold and I was working from home for 2-1/2 weeks. I'm still not 100% over it. I'm exhausted and tired all the time and realized I am not taking care of myself. I took a leave of absense until the first of the year for me to get better. I've also decided to place my DH after the holidays. As tough as it is, I know it is the right thing to do.
((Diane)) You have so much you are trying to deal with! I am glad to hear you are taking care of YOU. I hope the leave of absence will give you the time your body needs to recover. I know what a tough, gut wrenching decision it is to place your husband. We will be here to try and help you through it. ((hugs))
Good for you, Diane, do you have a place sought out for your dh? A care consultant at the neurologist's office told me most people wait too long before deciding to use day care and/or placement. Sooner rather than later is better for patient and caregiver alike. I hope your leave of absence gives you a chance to rest and regain your strength.
Care Consultant? I didn't know there was such a person. I'm going to contact DH's neuro next week. I learn so much from this site. Amzaing.
Diane--I hope you are aqble to get over that cold so you feel 100% The leave of absence makes very good sense. Keep us posted on your condition and the place you select for your DH.
Almost all of us try to do more than mere mortals can possibly do. Right now you are doing the best thing for everyone, altho it is the most difficult, but it's better than the alternative that will leave you, the CG, sick & unable to function well for anyone. It's true, most CG's wait too long for placement. Can't blame them.
Diane, you are making such good decisions. Do take care of yourself, it is so easy for us caregivers to get worn down. Now there's an understatement. :o)
Thank you for all the hugs and well wishes, it really means a lot! I do have a place picked out. I've actually used it for respite care when I had to travel for work or when I took time off for me. The people there are great. My DH is the youngest person there but he seems to think all the women are after him. I told him it must be nice to be so wanted! He doesn't like it there because he thinks they are trying to kill him. But he also thinks I'm trying to have him killed by putting him there. I know it isn't true and he will have a fit when I place him but it is for the best.
When I look back at the past year, I can't even recognize my old life. Make sure to take care of yourselves as well!
I had often thought about taking a leave of absence from HOME, and placing my husband for about a month, thinking that after a month, I'd be rested and happy to be with him again and he'd have recovered thanks to professional care and attention. I know, it was a fantasy - but for awhile back the, I would make all kinds of imaginary plans for the month while he was recovering. One of those thoughts that one wraps oneself in as we try to drift off to sleep. A reverse type of dreaming - those thoughts would lull me to sleep. When I would wake up, the nightmare began all over.