My DH has declined so rapidly recently that I'm having a hard time dealing with it. I'm terrified it will continue. He has fallen 3 times in the last few days. He can walk if he holds my hand. I dress him, bath him (in the shower), he is having trouble feeding himself and justs sits. He does respond with a limited conversation if I try to talk to him. This morning he was up at 4:00, ate a piece of toast, drank a little coffee and went back to bed. He staid in the bed until almost noon. He slept some, just laid there part of the time. Amyone experience anthing like this? Also, he has been more irritable recently. I'm having a hard time handling him, knowing what to do. I hate this disease!!
jackie if the changes are recent and outof the blue call dr have him checked for urinary tract infection. UTI! it has these same symptoms. and comes on quickly. just to be sure its not something physical. divvi
I don't know if DH is in a rapid decline but he has been worse for the past few days. On Thursday he asked if I wanted him to use the carpet sweeper the next day and I told him he could if he felt like it. Then he decided he would do it that night, then no the next day, then no that night and he would take his shower after he had used it. It ended up he took his shower first and then used the sweeper. He also used it on the Love seat! Lastnight we watched some of a basketball game and I mentioned about the Miami Heat not doing as well as everyone thought after they had signed Wade, Bosh and James. He was looking at me like he had no idea what I was talking about. I said LeBron James played for Cleveland...still no response. DH is from Ohio and watched all the never ending hoopla when it was going on about the "3 Stars" but he didn't remember anything. We have 3 light switches on the wall as you go into the kitchen. DH could never remember which switch was for where so I put F over the first one for the fan in the living room, D.R. for the light in the dining room and K for the kitchen lights. That worked for maybe 2 days, now he tries each one before he gets to the kitchen lights. Who knows what it will be next!
I forgot to add, we have the same mailman we had when we lived in the condo (9 years) and he still drives the same red car. He came yesterday while we were sitting on the porch and he waved and spoke for a minute. After he left DH asked if that was our regular mailman. When I said yes he said he looked different. I am keeping all these things in my computer and will print them out when we go to the neuro in January so he can read them before he sees DH. I guess I will find out then if DH is declining.
Thanks all. I'll have him checked for UTI on Monday. This morning he is very confused. I lead him from room to room. He was sitting on the commode, finished (or so I thought), I cleaned him, flushed the commode and as I was pulling up his pants he peed all over the floor. Don't think he had any idea what he was doing. He wakes around 4 and talks about someone that doesn't know their name and he doesn't know them. I tell him there are two people in the house. I tell him his name and my name and he says "I know that!" Today he is walking with his shoulders waaay back and I'm afraid he'll fall over backwards. I have looked into a continuing care community about 25 miles away and the ALZ unit is very good. I may try to go back next week and see if the money will fit our budget. I do feel that the time is getting near and I don't know if I can handle it alone. Any more suggestions? You can see I value your opinions and suggestions since I always come here and ask for help.
Jackie I just stopped by for a quick look and your post was the first one.....I can definitely relate to what you're going through. In fact, we're dealing with much the same. The last time my DH was at the neuro she said (to me) that she could see quite a decline from the previous visit. As to the continuing care, we're signed up for one nearby and I think we'll probably be moving shortly after Christmas. The "memory care" unit there is very good. I've visited many times and think when the time comes he will be well cared for and I will be just a short walk away. That was a big plus in the decision. I don't think you will be sorry if you go this route. The cost is high, but factor in what the cost of living in our home and I'm OK with it, especially with the benefits we'll gain. Good luck. You're at the right place for help and for suggestions. I don't know what I would do without this place to help "prop" me up! Keep in touch....
Neuro said no UTI but a surprising decline since the last time he was seen. The suggestion was made that I find somewhere he would be safe and that I take care of myself. I did go to the CC near us and it is wonderful. The price is high but I am very impressed. I've already talked with our children and they think it is the answer. I'm on the list and due to the situation, I think I can get in fairly soon. Lots of little things to work out but I think its time.
Thank you all for your responses. I never thought things would happen this quickly.
Audrey, it sounds like we're about on the same track with our husbands. I wish you well in your decisions.
Jackie, yours and some of the others really remind me of Carol this time last year. Almost identical. In Dec. she started holding her neck bent over to the right and Dr thought it was probably a mild stroke and said she would have more. I placed her in an ALF for Alz in late January and they quickly decded that she would be better off in a full time nursing home next door. We did that and she has been there since. But after just a few weeks, she triped over another residents wheel chair and took a bad fall which resulted in an ambulance trip to the ER. They glued up a cut on her face and took a lot of xrays but nothing. However------ her head changed from a right side lean to a left side lean---about 45 degrees. Still the same so a stroke was kind of forgotton.
You might want to read Carol's Blog @
http://howiscaroldoing.blogspot.com/
You will see that we have had great success with her placement. I go every day but have cut hrs down from 13-14 to about 3-4 and I am feelig much better with my "Get up and Go" for other things. Good luck and let me know if I can be of any help in your current situation.
Thanks to you all for helping me through this. We will be moving to an available apartment at the CC ASAP. The only thing available at the moment is a "studio" which is very small, but I figured that our foot would be in the door so to speak and if he continues at this rate, he will have to go to the memory care and it doesn't take much space for one. One day at a time...