I just finished reading this novel by Ms LaPlante. I found it both fascinating and disturbing. I'm guessing that her portrayal of "Jennifer's" descent into the darkness of this disease isn't too far from the truth. Still, how does she know? Makes me much more sympathetic to my dh. I had to struggle to finish this book because I knew it was just going to be more of the same by way of lost and found memories. What a sad, sad life our poor lo's are living now.
Yes, I agree, it must be hard for them to deal with. Sometimes I think I get too wrapped up in how hard it is for me that I forget how hard it is for him. I ask him how he feels and he says he doesn't even remember how he is suppose to feel to know if it bothers him or not. I think I know what he means by saying that but it has got to be hard to not be able to do the things he use to be able to do. All I know is that watching him go through all of this is hard.
deb - my husband says basically the same. When I tell him I am frustrated cause he never shares how he is feeling or what is going on at a certain time he answer is that he doesn't know either.
How sad, yesterday my DH was a little depressed about getting old as he put it. He is only 60. They know something is not right. Just can't put their finger on it.
My dh said when this first became evident "I've lost so much of myself that I'm not worth much anymore". Sad he realizes he is no longer capable of doing the things he enjoyed before but doesn't know why.
I am so thankful that from early on, my husband lost insight into what was happening to him. Kind of amazing, since EOAD was something he had been concerned about practically his whole adult life. Fortunately, I guess the way it progressed in him affected his awareness of having it--he knew something was happening--but he didn't seem to grasp the full impact.
blue my DH does that too, says how old he is since he turned 62 last year. In fact he often tells people he is 65!
Yes he is so much like all of your mates, he knows something is wrong, and I have made a few attempts to talk kindly to him about it. Thank God he is not denying it anymore...a year ago he kept insisting nothing was wrong.
I featured that book as a favorite "book of the week" last month because I thought it was so good. Many of our members who read it did not like it, but I loved it. Check under "Book recommendations" at the top of this page. For those who are interested, it can be purchased here - http://astore.amazon.com/wwwthealzheim-20/detail/0802119778 or just use the Amazon search box on the upper right side of the home page - www.thealzheimerspouse.com
Sometimes I think I get too wrapped up in how hard it is for me that I forget how hard it is for him...reading that poem that was worth repeating brought home to me what he is going through, and it's not all about me and how I'm feeling...I cried for two days after reading that poem. He still won't accept it, so I just let that go and as long as he is in no pain..that's Ok. Just yesterday he said that if he had to go back where we lived before, he would get lost, he gets lost here....he knows that he is not well. My daughter is reading "the 36 Hour day" and that has helped her to come to terms with what her dad is going through.
I'd be happy to give you my book as I am finished with it and I do not care to keep it - not one I will go back to probably ever. Not sure how to get it to you, though.
DH knows he has major problems, used to acknowledge ALZ, but doesn't really understand that now. Last night while getting ready for bed, he commented, "this is no way to live".
Ok, it has your name on it and I will put it in the mail as soon as I hear from you. No need to pay the postage, it won't be much, anyway. Merry Christmas from the Pacific Northwest.
Stickies are threads that always stay towards the top of the Discussions page. There's one called "Use This Thread to Contact Each Other" or something like that.
Coco - for security, since anyone can read these boards, you may want to go back, edit your post to remove your address. If in the future you want to leave it or your email address, go to your account and do there. The only ones that can see it are those that have joined the site. It is not as secure as can be, but better than in the threads.
Interesting in that I have never had a problem with my email being picked up by marketers from this site. Of course, if we go into the web, anything can happen. I have addresses that I just use when filling out anything in the web I don't buy from. Even subscribing to newsletters goes to other ones. I do use one dedicated to AD info that I put here and that is how I know there is no spam coming to it.