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Anger
My DW was recently diagnosed with ES. She suddenly turned angry at me as if I was to blame. She is violent in her behavior with horrible language, extremely scary facial expressions, and on a couple occasions physically striking me. Should this type of behavior be expected or is it evidence of another behavioral issue? At…
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Snacking problem
My DH (stage 4-ish ALZ) is snacking constantly. I've stopped buying anything "junk food" (nuts, cookies, etc) and have been buying him grapes, raisins, and mandarins which he will consume as much of as I leave out. I've hidden most of the foods that he can snack on but I'm at my wits end. He goes through the fridge,…
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The final blow to my Christmas spirit.....
My DH is in hospice care, and I know this will be his last Christmas. I have been trying to find some joy here and there, but on Wednesday my beloved 14-year-old kitty had to be put down. He had a mass in his abdomen and had stopped eating. His brother, my other kitty, died in September. I just feel like everything from my…
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Impulsive
DW decided this morning that she "had" to be at church early this morning to tell the pastors something. I caught myself realizing that this was one of those situations where I knew there would be no reasoning with her broken reasoner so we went early and upon arrival I just dropped her off at the door and parked the car…
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I wish you all peace
This is an extremely difficult, unexpected journey we are all on. Every day has so many challenges, it sometimes feels like the rest of life is passing us by because our loved ones and our focus have become narrower. While everyone else is getting ready for Christmas, we struggle every day to give our very best and run on…
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Newly diagnosed with Dementia. Caregiver.
I am a caregiver for my husband who has Dementia. I am very sad to see my partner in life in this stage. Some days he is better than others. What book or reading materials would you recommend for me? Thank you.
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Interesting article
After reading this, I truly believe that Gabapentin caused my DW’s EOAD. She was taking this prescription for her lower back pain caused by a car accident many years ago. Chronic and interventional painRisk of dementia following gabapentin prescription in chronic low back pain patients…
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VETERANS NEW BENEFIT - Accelerated Benefit life insurance option
If your spouse is a veteran and has Veterans Group Life Insurance the new benefit allows a family member or an alternate applicant to apply for an Accelerated Benefit Option (ABO) on a member’s behalf, such as when a member is medically incapacitated. With accelerated benefits, you can get up to 50% of the face value of…
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DH with mild dementia, sleeps a lot
DH sleeps 3 hours in the afternoon, @ 9 pm his eyes are closing. If I mention that he sleeps a lot, he gets angry and verbally Abusive. He is unable to help me in simple chores around the house that he used to. He doesn’t do much all day except go for one mile walk twice a day. Is this normal? How do I tackle this?
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Wanting to go home...
I saw this on a Facebook post by Creative Carer. Great tips on what to say or do when our loved one says they want to "go home"… The desire to “go home” is heartbreakingly common in the later stages of dementia. During the last few years of my mum’s life, she often spoke about her parents and longed to be back with…
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Feeling lonely and loosing hope.
This is my first post here, as I just joined today. My dear wife (DW) was diagnosed with early-onset Alzheimer’s back in February of 2022. I have been doing the best I can since the beginning, but I now realize I need some outside help. I’ve always been the type of person who thinks they can handle a lot and get things…
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Our 1st day
My wife (65) had lab work done recently and today the results were posted to her account that the lab work indicated that she has Alzheimer’s and we received a referral for a PET scan that is needed by insurance to ok the IV treatment. My wife is devastated and I have no idea how to begin to comfort her.
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Move to an apt. as a second home
Does anyone have experience with splitting time between two places? My dh is at his worst when it’s just the two of us home alone; he struggles with people and place recognition, including not knowing me probably 75% of the time. We live in a rural area on a lake and love our home, but given how difficult it’s becoming to…
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Door Locks
Any recommendations for door locks to prevent loved one from wandering outside?
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Acting out dreams while sleeping
My DH has started being vocal during his sleep and kicking and swinging his arms sometimes. I wake him up as he seems distressed. He says he was dreaming and was acting something out from his dream. He’s never done this before. Is this something typical for someone with dementia? Thank you.
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The Caregiver’s Brain
Greetings Friends, I have not posted here in six months. My wife’s dementia has been moving at a snail’s pace. The days, weeks, and months have melded into a fuzzy blob of time, and one day is exactly like all the others. I am nine and a half years into care giving, and the word “decade” will soon be added to the divisions…
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New to this whole thing
My husband, my best friend, was just diagnosed with AD. He is 65. He's had a amyloid/tau protein blood test, MRI, PET scan, neuropsych testing and it was determined that was the diagnosis. The neurologist was very scientific about what AD is but wouldn't tell us anything about progression or what to expect or what stage he…
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Sleeping is increasing
My DW has been sleeping 10-13 hours a day. Until recently this sleeping has been all together. Bed at 5:00pm and up between 3:00-5:00am. Of course a couple of times each night to wander the house and return to bed. We were up this morning at 4:00am and it is now 1:00pm and she has already tucked herself in for the night.…
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Angry
I’m not sure why, but all of a sudden I find myself angry at my husband. I snap at him when he asks me the same thing over and over. When he was diagnosed with ALZ I was able to stay calm and compassionate. Now I feel like I’m falling apart. Has anyone else experienced this. He’s in the early stages so he’s not even bad…
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Leqembi Infusions
My husband is in early stage Alzheimers and our Neurologist recommended Leqembi. After much discussion my husband decided he wanted to try it even withe the serious side effects. After 3 infusions they did an MRI to look for side effects (brain bleeds). All was good. After the 5th infusion they repeated the MRI and it…
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Taking a Patient out of Memory Care for Christmas?
This is my first question to the group - my mother has pretty severe Alzheimer's and is in a lovely memory care facility which she believes is temporary while we are putting an addition on our house for her. I live close by the memory care facility and some times take her our for a meal, for church, even over night for…
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Doctor prescribed 2 different medicines at the same time.
My sister is the main caregiver, but I have concerns. My mother, who has the dementia, went away for a week and had a uti, and loss of appetite, and lots of picking. She put a call into doctor and doctor prescribed antibiotics, and remeron, and zoloft. Took her off the buspar. And added the 2 new meds. My concern is that…
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Wife with Early Onset Alzheimer's
Hello, My wife is almost 41 and late stage 5 with EO. Both her brothers as well as her mother have already passed from the disease. Its been a struggle lately to say the least but both my parents and her parents are watching her during the day. We need to transition to a caregiver for 30-40 hours a week while I work. We do…
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The Cavalry Is Not Coming
Reposting for the new platform. I have not posted here for quite a while, and I want to let you know that I am still here. I hope you all are doing well, and I also have a thought process to share with you. October 1, 2022 will mark seven years since my wife’s dementia became obvious, and that I knew for certain that this…
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Neurological Symptoms
I am here because my DH has been struggling with short-term memory loss for a couple years now. We don't have an official diagnosis yet, but the general consensus seems to be vascular dementia. He asks the same questions over and over again, as if on repeat. We went to his niece's wedding, and then he forgot she got…
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Take a cruise?
DH sooo wants to travel still. He is in late stage 5, some into 6. He is continent, unstable but still walking especially with me beside.. He is very opposed to using a wheelchair. He knows me, does not sundown, is compliant. He has limited vision so doesn't wander. I would like to travel, too, and I worry about logistics…
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What do you do with your big feelings?
What do you do to keep from exploding inside? (That’s an exaggeration of course.) I’m at the beginning of this long ride and I don’t know how you all do it. My DH keeps forgetting things we’ve agreed to, like replacing our old couch, or planning a trip to visit our grandkids, etc. So, we have the same…
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Not Sure Where to Turn
The last 5 years have been a roller coaster. No doctors agree. Some say dementia. Others say not. We've been chasing a diagnosis and hopeful for any help. It's gotten to the point where I know it is dementia. My wife and I are 61 years old. I need a doctor who cares and doesn't want to spend 5 minutes once a month and then…
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Frustration and Delay getting ID
Yesterday was a day filled with frustration trying to arrange what I would think would be a simple procedure. I want to replace my DW's (now expired) real ID driver's license with a Massachusetts real ID. The procedure is handled by the RMV. I've now realized that my DW no longer has any kind of valid ID for government…
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More about spitting…
It’s been a long time since I’ve checked in. My husband is still going strong physically and he’s on eighteen years since learning he had a diagnosis of MCI. Probably twenty five years if counting behavioral changes proceeding memory loss. He’s considered to be in advanced stages of loss of cognition, but I’m not…