Your comments make complete sense. Since summer break is only 2.5 mos away I will look for a support group in the summer. This past year I took a lot of time off to go up to NY and take care of my Mom w/AD and my dad who had a valve replacement. I have been trying not to take off too much more except for illness or emergency.
If the the group is helpful I will ask my Headmaster for occasional time off during the day.
Good plan. I forgot to mention that I was also my Dad's main caregiver for many years until he passed in 2011, but fortunately, he was local. Adding that to caring for a spouse with dementia certainly is a heavy load. You have more going on than a person should, juggling responsibility for your husband and parents. Do you have any siblings who can pitch in with your parents? I gradually shifted the responsibility for my Dad to my brother, as Steve became worse.
Feeling so sad again today. Some days I just feel soo weighed down with sadness maybe mourning . Tears are hard to fight when I look at him and feel his essence leaving me. He has lost so many memories we shared and can't make new ones with no short term memory! As I write this it dawns on me , I am so pained because those memories are our love connection. As he loses them, I feel some love lost. Tears flow as I write this. I HATE THIS AD. It has taken away our future and is stealing our past!
Lorrie...so sorry you are hurting so much. Hopefully for you when your dh does come to the end of this horrible condition your memories, like my memories now will be 99% of the good times and the love you have for each other. The hurt will be there but I do get some joy now out of remembering the good times. The bad times during the terrible journey seem to get less and less...and I just refuse to think about them when they do crop up. Take care of yourself and always remember, we are here to support you when you need to vent.
Thank you JudithKB for your understanding and kind words. Sometimes, I just need to express my feelings somewhere I know people understand . My friends are caring but Haven't been in my shoes. I am going to a support group now .
I am here in NY. My mom wants to contact my dead grandfather, is yelling at her health care worker and hardly knows me. My Hb w/AD just asked me the same question 5 times in a row Feeling more than sad.
It sounds as if you are carrying a double load. Is there anyone else that can help in some way? In some areas, local Alzheimer Associations might steer you in the right direction. Or your Community Health Care Center. We need all the help we can get from whatever direction we can get it.
Judith - I too am just trying to remember the good old days and skip over the awful ones. Now almost six months since I added the * beside my name and I find writing down the good times helps on bad days.
Lorrie - I hope things are better today. It is a tough journey. Hugs to you.
EKL How overwhelming and painful for you to care for your mother and husband both with AD. Certainly too much for one person! Any way you can leave your husband behind when you go to New York for your mother? I have no answers, just sending understanding.
I had a nice weekend with all the family. My husband was happy too! Today, we go to neurologist for three month check. I know this always is emotionally draining. Dealing with the reality of AD today is not something I want to do!