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Picking Skin
There is a big fancy word called Dermatillomanina which is a OCD thing of picking one's on skin. My spouse picks her arms over and over and over. They bleed. It is messy and it is frustrating. The Doc raised the antidepressant but it didn't help. Just curious if anyone else has had this issue and any luck of how to control…
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At My Wits End
At 830 tonight, my DH called the paramedics on me. So I’m in my locked bedroom and I hear footsteps…. 2 paramedics and 2 policemen are banging on my bedroom door. I’m shaking so bad I can’t even type. He told them I’m not taking my medicine ( I only take one blood pressure pill and a Zyrtec for allergies ). They were…
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Any spouse caregivers of Alz patient with teens in the house?
This is my first post. My DH was diagnosed with Alzheimer's in February with APOE3/APOE4 variant. He has had two Kisluna infusions. I am 56 and he is 70, and we are both still working, though he will not be as actively working now. We have a 10th grader at home. She knows about the diagnosis. I am so worried about her and…
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Unusual Question
When moving to MC, should I take lots familiar photos in frames….or will this make DH realize people/dogs are not around and be a constant ‘where is everyone’ thought. Any advice of things to take/not take will be appreciated..
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What next when they can't swallow pills?
I know from experience that today's occasional problem is tomorrow's permanent limitation. In recent weeks, my DW has struggled with swallowing her pills. What comes after unable to swallow pills and how do I know it when it is time for that?
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Gotta work, DH can't be alone but not ready to be placed, holy Cr. what do I do?
I work part-time because we can't make it without the extra income. Both of us are on SS. I've been able to leave my DH for 6-7 hour stretch for the last year an a half but that's coming to an end. He is good when I'm home and can take care of him and make sure he's safe, but in the past month I am realizing that he's not…
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Freedom feels so good!!
I’ve been the solo caretaker for my DW for almost three years. We moved back to California after her diagnosis to be closer to her family. Well to say the least it didn’t help me with her. Virtually no support except maybe a short visit every couple of months. Her best friend since the third grade lives about 900 miles…
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Dementia, meds, alcohol
This has taken me a very long time to post and I'm not sure why. Perhaps because I'm disclosing the thing that my DH would most like to keep secret, but I need help. In addition to dementia, hubby has had multiple health problems, including numerous surgeries which have left him with chronic pain. As a result, his pain…
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Buproprion vs. Seroquel
DW has been taking buproprion for many years for anxiety/depression. She has been in MC for three weeks now. She seems to be having some trouble adjusting, and sometimes she's very down. The facility's psychiatrist plans to wean her off the buproprion and start Seroquel. Does this sound like a good idea? (I realize I…
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Hospice care
Today I called hospice care and will be waiting to see if my DW is eligible for their care . This was a very hard decision but I feel that if I can't get my wife to eat and all the weight that she has lost it would be best for both of us .
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How to arrange a week of respite
I know that all the facilities around that say they do respite care will only do it for assisted living, not memory care, and my DH needs lots of assistance with dressing and navigating. MC facilities don't do it because it's too much work (all the paperwork for placement) and because they are usually full. I have a…
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Resources
Could someone recommend a book that you like that explains stages and symptoms of Alzheimer’s? Thanks
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Period of inactivity
My DH sat down in a chair in our den the other night at 8:30 and sat there with his eyes open and didn’t move for 6 1/2 hours. I checked on him every hour and ask if he wanted to go to bed and I could tell what I was saying wasn’t registering with him. At 3:00 am he finally would get up and go to bed. Has anyone else…
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Anger and anxiety
I am looking for ideas to help my DH deal with anger and anxiety. He is in the Moderate Stage. He seems to be jealous of me and our Grandchildren. He is taking Seroquel, but it might be making things worse.
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Resentful and Losing patience
Truth, my DH and I had problems and about 10 years ago I asked him to leave and we moved to separate bedrooms. I became complacent, we shared the household expenses and eventually became friends and occasional travelling companions. I'd ask him to leave occasionally, he would say no, and that was it. No one with the…
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Sleeping so much
My DH, age 75, is in stage 6 Alzheimer's. He is still physically in pretty good shape, just mentally compromised. In the last month he's been sleeping 18 - 20 hours per day. Is this common? Does this mark a step toward the end of this road? He always says he is tired. He eats well (often only one meal per day because he…
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Betrayed
my lo knew he was having serious cognitive impairment. I knew long before he was willing to admit it and long before his law firm asked him to step down. He was aware enough to prepare legal action including DPOA of his finances. He named friends rather than me. I cannot even describe the nightmare that has ensued. He…
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DW despondent and feels useless
DW used to be a college professor. She still thinks or hopes that faculty or students will come to the house (or, well, she's now in MC) for her advice and guidance. The fact that they don't (she's been retired for 13 years) makes her feel useless and despondent. She sometimes talks about death and doesn't see the point of…
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Long overdue update
We hit the 3 year mark in MC a couple of months ago. It's been a 15 year trip with dementia so far. I know I posted here before about how I feel so "old" because this is typically a disease that hits older people. Managing end of life decisions and all that planning at 50 makes you feel old. Currently DH is 61, I'm 57. The…
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My new tattoo
I’ve begun the process of touring memory care facilities and the costs are sometimes just ridiculous. Today I visited a nice place, not grand but nice. The price for a private room in MC was $12,245 with an additional fee of $600 per month for incontinence. So I’ve decided I should tattoo that total on my wrist so I can…
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Long Geri-Psych Stay!
At the end of last month/beginning of this month, I posted that DH had a complete mental breakdown at his rehab center, where he was recovering from a fractured tibia. He was transferred to the local ER. Here's the update: After 2 days in the ER, on April 2, he was transferred to an inpatient Geri Psych facility. He's…
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Reminders that don't remind.
My spouse is at the point where she functions normally for most things: caring for herself and the house, driving, shopping, vising friends, etc. We create a to-do list every day, and although it's right in front of her, she doesn't follow it. She understands its importance, and knows that it's there, but doesn't do any of…
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Updating 602A Report Annually
Here in CA it appears MCFs are required by law to have residents' 602A doctor's report updated annually. Currently, with the addition of Depakote it would appear on paper that DH seems highly functioning and doesn't need memory care. I suppose the only ADLs he can't do is cook meals, drive, and that he requires supervision…
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Constant eating
My DH eats constantly. He goes to the refrigerator every 10 minutes. Is there a medication I can ask the doctor about to help with this? He has been on palliative hospice care for about six weeks. Any help would be appreciated.
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Just need to talk to my friends (204)
Time to begin segment 2O4 of our thread. Thought this would be a good time before morning posts. GG, if you stew the prunes, they won't be shriveled. My day was good. I may take Stormy for a ride everyday. the enjoys it so much. I need to get a pair of safety glasses for him. He likes to ride with the window down. This is…
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17 Months in Care
I'm sure this has been discussed... my wife has been in residential care for over 17 months now. Her main deficit is short term memory loss. Incontinence, doesn't walk. Predominantly in bed except for hospice showers, there is sooo much more to this. She was a registered nurse, bright, still sweet in so many ways. I see…
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I just have got P.O.A for husband - how or if to communicate - any ideas?
My husband is still pretty "with it", spends lots of money at yard sales and has accounts at building supply stores. Yesterday I got POA and feel terrible - he will go ballistic when he finds out and I am looking for the least ballistic way of working with this and wonder if anyone has any ideas? I am going to the bank…
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Weight loss in late stage
My DH is late stage 6/early stage 7 and under hospice care. From the first of March to the first of April he lost 3 lbs. I weighed him yesterday and since the first of April he has lost 6 lbs. He is eating what I give him at meals and I make him a milkshake nearly every day and always give him snacks as well, but is still…
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Hospice qualification
Thanks to all of you who responded to my recent request for information about hospice. I took your advice and worked with his doctor, and yesterday he qualified. It isn't about how long he will live, since no one knows that, but about his level of compromise. Even though nothing has happened yet, I feel immensely relieved…
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Learning to live with the sadness
That's what I was thinking about driving home from MC today. DH has been in MC for 15 months and I am still so very lonely at times that I start crying. I thought he was adjusting well after a rough time last summer. The last two times I have visited however he has asked to come home. It broke my heart when he said, " I…