When will the ball drop?

Care4Mom2

My DH has seemed "normal" for the past week. It is times like this, I think, he doesn't have (early) Alzheimer's. 

Have you experienced this in the early stages? Is this normal? Can I expect this over a long period of time? 

I keep waiting for the ball to drop....

toolbeltexpert

Care4mom2 yeah unfortunately some days are crazy others leave you wondering I have had several bouts of what your describing. This is a slow mo ball drop. I try to live in the moment especially when things are going good.

JJ401

Slow mo ball drop is the perfect description. DH is in the early stages. We lead a very predictable life (if it’s Tuesday we… type). He does well in this context. But, when the unexpected occurs, he gets thrown off and his difficulties are obvious. Previously presenting difficulties I expect. When new difficulties show up, somehow it still surprise me.

Arrowhead

Dementia is a rollercoaster. There are ups and down, twists and turns. Sometimes the progression is slow and sometimes it's fast. It continually changes. Symptoms may occassionally appear to improve, but it's only tempory. You will never know what's next until it happens.

CStrope

I have been writing down when something unusual happens.  It helps to remind myself on those good days, that there is decline and that things aren't going to just suddenly be better.  When you're dealing with these very small changes on a daily basis, it can be hard to look at the overall situation objectively and see what is really happening.

Crkddy

Care4Mom2, my DW is 4+ years since EO diagnosis.  I have experienced the same.  There have been good days and bad days, and more often good and bad within a day.  I was told by others to expect a long slow decline, and that is proving true.  I'm thankful for the glimpses of "normalcy" that I know will not last long.

DrinaJGB

In our case at least that ball will drop and then it will bounce back again. DH had another assessment with his neurologist yesterday.No changes.

  Last summer after testing he was diagnosed with mixed dementia and nothing has changed much since then except he had to be taken off aricept due to side effects.

 What I have noticed is his short term memory has actually improved somewhat. He had a set back from the medication which caused nightime incontinence but now that issue is resolved once again.He has dealt with incontinence since his brain inury so that in itself has been a roller coaster.

  Doc indicated that this mild state can last years, and here we are in year 12 since the viral invasion of his brain which caused near fatal encephalitis.

It seems to be up to the universe how these things progress. And we as caregivers are often left just scratching our heads.