Ten years of progression

Arrowhead

Ten years ago this month, my wife reported memory loss to her doctor. She was 58. This is a summary of her progression. 

January 2013; age 58        Reported memory loss to her doctor.

2 years, 9 months; age 61 Problems at work; attendance and work quality

3 years, 0 months; age 61 Short term leave of absence

3 years, 6 months; age 61 Diagnosed with Alzheimer’s

4 years, 0 months; age 62 Retired after 37 years with AT&T

5 years, 1 month; age 63   Forgot she was married; has come and gone several times since

5 years, 2 months; age 63 Forgot she had children

                                          Unable to cook

5 years, 3 months; age 63 Unable to drive       

                                          Unable to keep house

5 years, 5 months; age 63 Started sleeping in her day clothes                                      

5 years, 6 months; age 63 Started talking about going “home”                                     

5 years, 11 months; age 64 Husband retired to stay home with her

6 years, 5 months; age 64 Unable to take her medication

                                          Walked away from home for the first time

6 years, 7 months; age 64 Trouble signing name and writing date

                                          Began being unsure on stairs

6 years, 8 months; age 64 Began daily attempts at walking “home”

6 years, 9 months; age 64 Alarms added to doors

7 years, 0 months; age 65 Doctor declared her unable to make independent decisions

7 years, 7 months; age 65 Gates replaced and locked; going “home” stopped;

                                          attempts continued for another year

8 years, 4 months; age 66 “Alzheimer’s proofing” parts of the house needed

8 years, 8 months; age 66 Started needing help dressing

9 years, 4 months; age 67 Started wearing diapers for bladder incontinence

9 years, 6 months: age 67 Unable to bathe herself

10 years, 0 months: age 68 Spends her days wandering the house, moving things from one                                                  place to another

ladyzetta

Dear Arrow.

Your DW is so blessed to have you there for her. You're amazing with all the loving care you give her. Please take care of yourself, she needs you. It amazes me to see how gentle you men can be when it comes to taking care of your LOs. Hugs to you, Zetta 

mommyandme (m&m)

Thank you for sharing her journey so far. This is very insightful. Although each dementia patient is different, the parallels that seem to be somewhat consistent are fascinating and so sad. You are a wonderful caregiver to your wife, I’m so sorry you two are having to endure this horrible illness. I’m sending thoughts of strength and peace your way.

Quilting brings calm

Arrow - thank you so much for keeping these notes and for making this post.  It’s very helpful.  My mom’s  progression seems a little different than your wife’s in terms of order of steps.  She’s also not as far along in terms of  progression is length of illness .

She was older than your wife and retired when this started. She knows everyone that she has regular contact with- the extended absent  family not so much. She’s been unable to cook, handle her meds or finances or drive for several  years, her bathroom issues are related to mobility issues. Still dressing and bathing ok. Knows where she is and isn’t wandering.  

SusanB-dil

Wow, Arrowhead - what a journey!  unfortunately, not the good kind. She is blessed to have you.

Thanks for posting that timeline. (Both MIL and mom were already retired upon onset, but as others posted, I see a few similarities.)

Marie67

Thank you for the timeline. And I'm sure everyone is different. I know my husband's is...He was just diagnosed in July 2022, and we have pretty much experienced all of these issues already. Neurologist does seem to feel he was experiencing signs of dementia a few years before diagnosis. Yeah, before being diagnosed he was just loosing his car keys or misplacing his wallet. But it was like a light switch had been suddenly turned on back in July. At first it was a month before I saw the diease progress. Then it was weeks.  Scares me, how fast the diease is progressing.

GothicGremlin

Hi there Arrowhead -

I've always thought that your wife and my sister are fairly close with their progressions.  And I see that even more with your timeline.

As far as I've been able piece back, Peggy started showing signs of MCI as far back as 2011 (per a conversation I had with her ex-manager). She wasn't diagnosed until 2018 (when she was 59, so a little younger than your wife), although I bet she moved from MCI to Alzheimer's sometime in 2017.

These days Peggy is in memory care and she tells me that she helps "clean", although "cleaning" means wandering and picking up leaves in the garden. I always tell her she's doing a great job.

It's so weird how different each person is, yet how similar they are too.

Your wife is so lucky to have you.

ninalu

Arrowhead,
There's so much love in your post. It made a tear well up in my eyes. Sending you and your wife a hug. What a blessing you are in her life. 

My mother's progression is both similar and different. Same losses, but slightly different order. Thank you for sharing your journey.