I am afraid that in spite of what we think we might do, if WE were diagnosed, we wait until the time comes that we don't know HOW. Just as our LO's deny being that affected by the disease, why wouldn't we also think we were not too far along. One of our sisters in AS shared her husband's lucid comments about how the fog would come in sometimes and he knew that was when he was the most sick, but then the fog would eb and he would be better again.
I've wondered what I would do. Frankly, I don't know. More than likely - I'd leave it in God's hands and be thankful I have a LTC policy that would keep me from being a burden to my family when I was beyond the point of knowing what was happening.
I don't think I have heard of a caregiver being diagnosed with AD., .. maybe that's God's grace in action.
How did I miss this thread? My husband watched his Dad succumb to EOAD while Steve was a teenager--died when Steve was in his early 20's. He always told me and close friends that he would commit suicide if he inherited it. Steve was dx with MCI (precursor to AD) at age 60, and even with MCI, I never heard him mention suicide once. Yes, he was shaken, angry, upset, etc. but I think that at the MCI stage he couldn't have pulled it off, even if he had wanted to. I was fearful that he would try and discussed it with the neuro--neuro said he had never heard of a single AD patient who had done it. As we all know, logical thinking and the ability to plan something with several steps goes out the window early on...
Nancy--not to burst your bubble--a study was released several years ago (done in Utah) that showed dementia caregivers are apt to get serious diseases (dementia included) at a rate higher than the general population. Makes sense when you consider the prolonged level of stress that comes with this job.
My dW was diagnosed on 06. her mother had it she knew what the future held. in '09 an ER appendectomy resulted in additional surgery and a diagnosis of stage IV bowel cancer. She understood the surgeons and oncologist believed she wouldn't survive 6 months without an aggressive course of chemo. Her reply was I'd rather die quickly of cancer than continue to linger with Akzheimers. i do not want any chemo ! Our children were aware of her wishes dating back to her diagnosis "if I get sick, make me comfortable and let me go." Well that was 3 years ago, her blood work remains unchanged. Last week we saw her oncologist who said as he has after each vist you really made the right call. I didn't make any call other than to see her wishes were respected
nelsons - how good of you to respect her wishes. It is not always easy but sure seems like you made the right call by following her wishes and just shows how little doctors know.