carosi, it sounds like you don't think we should ever complain. Much of the time the glass really is half full or even mostly full, but some days, let's face it, it's half empty and it's ok if that bothers us a whole lot.
PrisR--I do not disagree with you. I have those days too. But, I choose not to get buried in them. It is easy for that to happen if we don't stay aware. It's been my experience that while the times that call for pity parties happen, and are real and valid, not letting them take us over is vital. Complaining is fair, and can even be beneficial if we do a little more and take the advice it generates, or find a wy to do something about the problem--even if we can't truly "fix" it. Just saying the BAD Awfulness isn't and doesn'thave to rule us.
That's why I like coming here. I have found no where else and no one else that I can talk to that well totally understand anything I say at any given time no matter how I feel. On Monday I can say "My DH is driving me crazy." and the next day say "My DH gave me a smile and that was nice." Both times, even though they are extreme examples, will be accepted and understood by my friends here on this website because they have had the same feeling happen to them. I love it!!!!
Someone took my glass..so I never know if it is half full or half empty. I now use a tupperware glass..it doesn't get broken, and no one can tell if it is full or empty anyway.
You can feed off the strength in these posts. Look at all of you. Jim that was beautiful. Carosi that's the spirit.
I might have a bit more. I'm a better person than I was. I'm learning I can do a lot of things like cook, garden, seperate the whites, take care of a little child (never had children), give up my own needs, stare fear down, cry like a little girl, live with almost no sleep, get beaten down literally to my knees - and get back up again. Even my secret low self esteem has nodded grudgingly. I'm not kidding.
There's nothing that brings you back though like lifelong pals that you've been through the trenches with. Like the boys that came over to play cards last week where I started talking about how hard it is. After a minute one of them said impatiently: "Yah, we get it. You're a saint. Now play a card."
We can sit here and look less than 100 years into the future where a newly diagnosed AD sufferer is told, "Take two of these a day and that will stop the plaque from building up." What a wonderful thing that will be for people then. Like polio vaccine or insulin. I believe one day it will be solved and everyone then will saved from dedicating their lives to their loved ones in this hardship and learning more of what they're about than they probably cared to know.
Or perhaps as Phranque :} might say: Would you call yourself an optimist? I hope so.
Wolf--most people don't want to hear about how hard it is--as was so plainly shown to you. At least your friends still play cards with you--if YOU were the patient (instead of your wife) you would probably never see them.