In the last three days my husband has had a big decline, in that he can't remember what to do when he gets up in the morning. Up until this point he would get up shower, shave, make the bed, get dressed...granted it did take a really long time and I have to remind him not to wear the same clothes every day...but he was doing okay. Then on Friday, I'm rushing around getting ready for work and he comes in the kitchen and asks me "what do I do". He had showered but didn't know what to do next. I walked him through it and with 30 minutes the fog had lifted and was back to its usual level. Then this morning, he couldn't figure out how to get in the shower, had to be reminded to use soap and to rinse off. Again in about 30 minutes the fog lifted.

Is this how it happens? Is this what moving from late mild to early moderate stage is all about?

Anyone have any strategies they'd care to share? He is not at the point where he would let someone else help him shower (besides me) and I have to leave for work by 645 am. I am going to get someone to come and take him to exercise everyday. This all feels so overwhelming....

This has been going on with my husband for about six months now. The minute his feet hit the floor, he's asking what he should do. He can't remember which is the shaving cream, after shave,etc. After he's dressed and had breakfast, he seems to get back to somewhat normal. Guess we're all going thru the same thing.

I also notice if my husband falls asleep in the recliner before bedtime, he is so confused as to what to do about getting ready for bed.

It's called "bouncing" and it sure drives caregivers up the wall. Never know what to expect.

Just think about when you had kids (if..)

Kids change stages sometimes overnight, sometimes it takes a week, or a month, and sometimes they've changed, and then they change back, and then back again. Not much difference with the AD patient.

Starling, I'd heard of Bigtree and even visited her site, but I didn't find those particular pages. I've only had a chance to glance at them, but they appear to be extraordinary. I'm going to spend a long time reading them when I've finished catching up on the posts here.

THANK YOU!!!

Starling, I have just been to bigtreemurphy.com. Thank you so very much!!! There is a lot there that we have discovered here by hook or crook, but there is so much more that will help us now. Some of what she says about the early years of AD we have been through and come to the same solutions she did; and I've been reading what we're facing, and though I don't want to go there, we won't really have any choice. I keep saying someday - later......I don't want to think about it any more than I have to, yet if I am aware of what is to come and where to go to find what I need, I can put it in the back of my mind for now.

I was a good Girl Scout - and have lived by "Be prepared"

Shoegirl, my husband has had a few mornings where he got off of his schedule (either after we had company or returned from a trip) but then reverted back to his old schedule. Sometimes one or two things will drop off the schedule, so you wait and see if they come back. If not, I just adjust. If we aren't going anywhere, and he goes a day or two without shaving, that is okay. When I tell him we're going out to dinner, and set out clean clothing in the bathroom and start his bathwater, he will bathe, shave and dress. (I give him half an hour now. Later it will take longer, I'm sure.) For a control freak like me, this adjusting and going with the flow has created a new me! <grin>

For the last 3-4 days, DH has got up in the morning, and has been completely confused about everything for a couple of hours. He's also been rubbing and scratching his left hand. Telling me it looks funny. Says his fingers are numb. I thought maybe he'd had another TIA so, called Dr.'s office, got an immediate appointment, we caught a bus and went over there. Got right in. Had a good checkup, good consultation. Dr. paid a lot of attention to him. Took my BP (it was high). His diagnosis? The rubbing and scratching is a arepetitive motion that goes along with AD. His concern is getting an infection in his hand. Told me to watch it. Then he says he thinks my BP is due to stress. He said this with a slight smile on is face. I asked: "ya' think?' Great dr. Like him a lot.

I looked up bigtreemurphy.com. Great site. I ordered her book. Should be here in about 7-10 days.

Thanks, Mary. That's another reason I love this site. If there's something going on, there seems to be someone out there who's been through it and has the correct information for you. I'll try the lotion and let you know how it works.

I hate to make it sound like a broken record, but when my hubby gets mass bouts of different behavior then normal, its almost always a uti. And the changes come and go. Its always worthwhile checking that out when they act in an unusual manor, Also as divvi stated, could be medications. Or even a virus. Mine can no longer tell me he feels pain so I have to use these changes to guide me. Also, check for dehydration.

magnoliarose, don't feel like a broken record. I'd never heard of UTIs until I came here, but it was the first question asked when I reported my husband's sudden changes. In his case I don't think he ever had one becuse by the time we went to the doctor he was back to his normal. But... All of his doctors take the concept of UTI seriously. I've got a promise from the family doctor that if I think he has one I can bring him in for testing WITHOUT an appointment.