Hi, My name is Val. I've been reading you all for awhile but reluctant to chat. I think I have something that might help us all with realizing how difficult it is for them (and us). My husband was diagnosed with Younger Onset 4 years ago. It took almost 7 years to get a diagnosis. He was in his mid-fifites when it all started. My husband had to retire early. He was a CEO of a non-profit and had been for over twenty years. It just became more and more difficult. I asked him once, earlier on, what it felt like inside of his mind. Here's his answer with a little twist from me to help people better understand. Close your eyes. Imagine that you see dozens of little people smaller than the "Keebler" elves in your mind. They're running around with papers, pencils, clipboards, laptops, you name it. It's utter chaos. Someone asks you a question and you're waiting for an answer to come. Everyone is sending things and you find that by the time you get an answer, you realize upon noticing the other person's face that it is not a viable answer. Open your eyes. This is similar to how an Alzheimer's sufferer feels. This really helped me put things in prospective when I'm getting impatient. I hope it helps someone else too. Love the poem. Val
How sad, and I guess as time goes on, the little people become more and more lost as they look for the answer. I know for so long my DH would say I don't know for almost anything I asked. Now I know he really did not know.