I just joined this site. I am so happy that I found it. My DH was diagnosed four years ago at the age of 61 and until I found this site I was so very much alone. There have been several topics that while reading the posts sounded just like me but the ones on husbands wanting sex all the time has gotten me through some rough days lately. I'm not sure of his stage because he seems to have some symptoms from several different ones but I believe he is in stage 5. He is on namenda, aricept, and prozac for is EOAD and several other medications for other health issues. I just want to thank everyone for the support given to each other on this site. I'm on others but this one is great!!
Rebeccap, welcome to this wonderful site. My husband was dx'd 6 years ago with "presenile dementia" at age 58 and later that year he was dx'd with bvFTD. I could never have survived this journey without this site and the generosity of the members in sharing their advice, practical tips, caring and support. It has been and still is my primary means of support and information.
Ahh, I remember the "sex" days well and I'm so very glad they're over. They were mostly during the moderate stage (stage 5) which he was in for 2-3 years, so it lasted for us for quite a while. Our situation is well chronicled in the older posts you reference.
As for stages, almost all of our spouses have symptoms/behaviors from several different stages at once, so it's not an exact science. I always "staged" my husband by the symptoms he most demonstrated from a particular stage. Foe example, he didn't know dates, season, who was president early on, long before he lost other abilities, but he was still independent, could do all ADLs, could complete crossword puzzles, etc. It affects each person so differently.
Welcome and sorry you have to join joan's group but it will definitely help you in so many ways on your caregiving journey.
Welcome to my website. I am on my way out to the nursing home to see my husband, but when I return, I will give you a more detailed welcome. I just wanted to acknowledge that I saw your post.
You can go to the top of this page, click search, type in sex,making sure that the topic circle is filled in, and hit enter. All of the topics on sex will come up. You will find that we deal with honesty and raw emotions here, always monitored for dignity and respect.
Welcome again. I started this website in 2007 because I couldn't find anyone who would talk about how I felt - I thought I was the only one feeling the way I did about what Alzheimer's Disease was doing to my marriage. (As you said, you felt very much alone until you found this site) I needed a place that dealt with my unique issues as a spouse of an Alzheimer patient. This site is now a place of comfort for spouses/partners who are trying to cope with the Alzheimer's/dementia of their husband/wife/partner. The issues we face in dealing with a spouse/partner with this disease are so different from the issues faced by children and grandchildren caregivers. We discuss all of those issues here - loss of intimacy; social contact; conversation; anger; resentment; stress; and pain of living with the stranger that Alzheimer's Disease has put in place of our beloved spouse/partner.
The message boards are only part of this website. Please be sure to log onto the home page - www.thealzheimerspouse.com - and read all of the resources on the left side. I recommend starting with "Newly Diagnosed/New Member" and "Understanding the Dementia Experience". As you mentioned, your husband has EOAD (Early Onset Alzheimer's Disease - criteria is to be diagnosed under the age of 65). On the left side of the website, there are sections on EOAD that I would suggest you take a look at. Also, you can search for EOAD topics at the top of this page, as I suggested you do with the "sex" topic.
Do not miss the "previous blog" section. It is there you will find a huge array of topics with which you can relate. There is a "search" feature on the home page that allows you to look up different topics that may have been explored in a previous blog. Log onto the home page daily for new blogs; news updates; important information.
I altered the title of your post a little to alert people that you are a new member, so they can welcome you and give you some support and advice.
Thank you so much for the welcome. I have been exploring the entire site. It will keep me busy for many sleepless nights. I have so many questions and am finding so many answers from your past blogs and message boards. You are so right. Unless you've been through it you can't possibly understand. My mother died from dementia and my brother from lewey body dementia but it is very different this time around with my spouse having it. Everyone seems so understanding and nonjudgmental here. I am just so very thankful to have you all.
welcome Rebeccap to the forum. difficult to say we need to be a member but its a lifesaver for those of us caring for dementia spouses. hope to see you posting when you can! divvi