My DH and I both are hyper and fast movers. He always kept up with me in the stores or was just behind me so I was leading the way. I have noticed in the last month he was walking slower and slower. Today I slowed down to his speed and I could not believe how slow he walks. I even had trouble walking that slow. He has been going down hill faster then usual for the last 6 weeks. Is this the beginning of stage 7? Also, he is sleeping more and more. He says he feel Ok but is tired and he isn't doing anything to make him that tired to sleep 12 hours at night and take 2 hour naps during the day.
My DH sleeps a lot also. Part of it is the AD and part the Namenda. I don't mind him sleeping but sometimes if he sleeps a couple of hours in the afternoon he gets up confused. He thinks it's the next day or we have to go somewhere or if it's 5.00 the thinks it's 5.00 in the morning.
My DH walks very, very slowly and has done so for the past 3 years, since way before his diagnosis. I'm assuming it's a symptom of Parkinson', which could be a part of his diagnosis. I'm always six feet ahead of him. I don't know if he can't walk fast or he's just taking his own sweet time, but if I hold his arm or hand he goes so slow that it affects the way I walk. I find it very difficult to walk so slowly. Just another in a long list of symptoms of this awful disease.
I know that exercise is good, we have always taken walks togather. All of DW motor skills have slowed. I can cook a meal before she can set most of the table. She wants to get out of the house at every chance when I go shopping. It is painful to slow down to her pace, especially in a parking lot. She has gotten slower in the past year.
I always had to run to keep up with DH, but now he lags behind me, just the past couple months (stage 5). It helps a little if I take his hand or arm but he won't have that for more than a couple minutes. Sometimes I think it's uncertainty' -- he doesn't understand where we're going (even if it's Kentucky Fried Chicken I have to tell him four times) or he doesn't know the way. We were always hours too early everywhere. Now I have to allow extra time for slow dressing, slow walking and still try not to be late. On the bikes, too, he lags behind and I hate it because I have to keep looking back to make sure he is still following. He's quit capable of suddenly deciding he wants to go "home" and simply setting off in the wrong direction.
JudithKB, He sounds just like my DH. If we walk, he follows. I try to walk at his pace, but I can't. When we walk, he complains. I find myself walking faster and then stop and wait for him. If we are in the grocery store of Costco, he holds on to the displays. He sits and sleeps a lot, even if he has just had 8 hours of sleep.
I have always been a fast walker, but my AD spouse walked slowly. Now, I am always ahead of him. If I try to walk at his speed, he walks slower or STOPS. And he sleeps everyday until noon. Doctor says it is AD related. I believe that is the case.
maryd - when my bil was alive and we went to Costco, he would find the office chair isle and sit in the chair while we shopped. He would use his feet to 'walk' around like you see people in wheelchairs do but no one ever said anything to him and he always stayed in that isle.
There are other threads that explain that those with AD seem to lose some peripheral vision--it is easier for them to follow the caregiver than walk side by side. I've also experienced my DH slowing down when I slow down, I think it's because he wants to stay behind me. Imagine if you don't know where you are going--things don't look familiar and you have to look to your spouse to know what direction to walk in--that would cause anyone to walk more slowly. In my husband's case, I think that's the reason more than any physical issues.
marilynin, that is so true about it being easier for the loved one to follow. My dh feels safer and not as negative about his inability to know where to go or where we are going. If I take the lead and he follows it does not look like he is lost. It gives him comfort for me to lead him. He is walking slower also. We see decline with him almost every day. Speech, comprehension, walking, putting thoughts in place, reactions, almost everything. He can still feed himself and get to the bathroom in time, but it won't be long before this will be an issue. Until then, I will just slow down to his time, it gives me a breather and more time to spend just with him. Maybe we need to slow down sometimes so we can regroup.......maybe this is the only time we, as caregivers really slow down........ just food for thought. hope all of you have a great evening and day tomorrow.....
Walking behind and walking even slower now is the case here too.. That works fine UNTIL DH's attention is drawn to something else and he goes off in another direction. Its scary to look back and realize he's gone off somewhere else.. Parking lots are troublesome. Sometimes it seems like a leash would help. He refuses to walk holding hands..probably because he needs to follow. Getting into or trying to get into wrong cars is another little problem. Scared one poor lady when he opened her door and sat down! yikesss.. Thankfully, she knew him.. Never a dull moment even if slower..
Wow, Mammie, you are a philosopher!!! Life is at such a fast pace for everyone now--too fast, really. Yes, perhaps this is a lesson we can all learn--slow down. I have cut back our activities on weekends for that very reason--I need to time regroup--as you said. Trying to spend more time at home, reading, enjoying our home, etc. Having our garden redone in a few weeks with the hope of sitting out there with DH and enjoying it--while we can--while he is still here with me.
I think there are two different things here. One is walking slowly because of the tunnel vision thing. My husband has done that for several years.
The other is the slow walking as a result of physical changes. That is what is happening to my husband now.
I'm partially disabled, so I can't walk fast. And a few days ago I was holding on to him and realized that I was walking faster than he was able to do on his own. Too fast for him. That's new.