When my DH and I came home tonight he immediately started looking for something. He was agitated about it, both that he could not tell my son (12yrs old) and I what he needed and that he couldn't find it. I do not know if this was a reality or something in the past he remembered and now wanted it. It was so very sad as I guess this is the normal progression of the disease and he was disturbed but apologetic about it all. What is the best way to handle this? I tried to tell him we would look for it tomorrow when it was light outside, but that did not work. He was looking under placemats, chair cushion, etc. I am at a loss. Hopefully, he will forget about it tomorrow, but sometimes it seems things like this he remembers. Anybody had experience with this and can give me some practical advice. Thanks, Karen
For all of our adult life, we have prepared our coffee cups in the kitchen in front of the coffee maker. This week he has started taking the coffee pot to his cup in the den to refill it, then put it back in the kitchen, pick up the sugar bowl, go back to the den and add sugar, put it up and get the milk out of the refrigerator and take it into the den and add it to his coffee, put it back in the refrigerator, then get the spoon and go back into the den and stir it and take the spoon back to the sink!!! This process takes him 10 minutes! He shuffles his feet now, and I am worried that he will spill SOMETHING on one of these trips! He was doing all of this in the kitchen, then leaving the coffee cup in the kitchen when he went to the den and his coffee would be cold before he remembered and went back for it. Maybe this is his way of trying to remember....but it is driving me nuts!!!
Mary, as long as he isn't spilling things he is getting some exercise and has found something to do for ten minutes rather than 30 seconds. I am so glad it takes my DH a long time to do the few things he still does - making the bed, getting dressed, whatever. Also, the shuffling is so hard on shoes. When we bought a new pair a couple of days ago it was suggested I take the old shoes to a shoe repair so they could add a piece of nylon (I know it is called something!) to avoid wearing down the new shoes. This shoe store also is able to replace the heels on the old shoes - something I thought couldn't be done. At this shoe repair I was told very few places are willing to do that, but you might be able to find some place where you live. This time we bought one pair with velcro, but I am realizing Hank doesn't want to buy anything new, so being able to get the old shoes resoled is something for which I am thankful.
Interesting how the same thing an AD LO does can drive one CG nuts and another puts a positive spin on it. Just shows how different we CG's are! It would drive me nuts, had me annoyed just reading about it, but I wouldn't worry about spills, just be sure to wipe them up to avoid slipping or cleaning carpet later--whatever. I'd probably just take over doing it which would have annoyed him at one point and relieved him at another. Who knows what to do or even when?
Believe me, I thought about taking over, but saw the humor in watching him do it. :) And as Fran says, it keeps him busy for 10 minutes! He keeps three of his hardback books he's "reading" right beside where his coffee cup sits, but they are not books that I want to read, so if he spills, I'll just wipe them off! :)
It is interesting how each of us reacts to different situations. Sometimes in the telling of what they do, you realize it's nothing, though it bothered and/or upset you tremendously at the time!
For me what was funny was that I saw BOTH the crazymaking and the exercise while I was reading. But I've bought a pedometer for me, and since I rarely get out of the house these days most of my walking consists of walking in circles around the house. <grin> And that is also both crazymaking and exercise.
Your comments were entertaining and reminded me to lighten up a little bit. I don't know why I am surprised at any new behavior my DH does when I have already read it is a normal behavior. By the way, although he did not get agitated the next am, he did find some old chairs from his grandfather is the garage so I guess that was what he was looking for under the placemats!!
I guess this is as good a place as any for my question. Recently my wife has started getting very tired. She used to walk a lot. Now even walking a short distance wears her out. She sleeps OK at night, and dozes some during the day when I am reading or at the computer. The tiredness seems different. She says her legs just won't go. Has anyone else noticed this?
I have heard of increased fatigue in AD patients. But the fact that she is able to say that her "legs won't go", may be an indication of the brain not sending the signals to move the legs.
Marsh, has she had a recent blood workup or check for urinary infection?? this can lead to them getting somewhat anemic and or dehydrated very quickly and maybe a cause to be tired all the time. getting up alot during the nite also wears them out- mine starts his 2hr walkabout the atrium of the house every single day at 4pm. its clockwork and he just tires himself out so by bedtime hes pretty tired. i would look into the metabolic aspect with her dr and check her out just to be safe. my DH just had complete blood count and we found him low in magnesium/sodium and red blood cell count..hes doing better now we are addressing these. take care, divvi
Ack!!! DH showered yesterday and left the shower on. I have when something new happens or no longer happens when it should. Time to hover a little closer. I haven't checked about the soap/rinsing lately, and if he left the water on, I'd better start checking other things more closely.