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DH and my constant sobbing

I have read some of your posts and I feel terribly guilty about posting at all. My DH has had dementia for about three years and I believe he is in stage 6c. I'm trying to stave off incontinence by taking him to the bathroom at regular intervals. Being the toddler he is, there is no guarantee that this will work. So the only thing I can do to cope is to sob for 20-30 minutes. I'm supposed to be "grateful" that he's not aggressive, or mean. I'm supposed to feel "blessed" that I can get some sleep each night. I'm supposed to feel "lucky" that I am younger and able to take care of him and that I can leave him and not worry that he'll wander off.

I don't feel any of those things.

Thank you for the opportunity to vent. I wish you all the understanding and support you deserve.

Comments

  • SDianeL
    SDianeL Member Posts: 3,173
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    so sorry. Hugs. 💜

  • Biggles
    Biggles Member Posts: 742
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  • jgreen
    jgreen Member Posts: 283
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    Dear @Groovy's Girl Welcome and so sorry you have joined us in this mess! You can vent here any time.

    I am sad you believe you have to feel ‘blessed’ or ‘lucky” in this long, long journey. What I feel most of the time is angry, exhausted, stressed to the max, and heartbroken. On rare occasion do I feel some relief if I can get more than 3 hours of sleep or an “I love you” from my DH; but I definitely don’t feel blessed.

    Please give yourself some grace. You are doing the best you can and your DH is the lucky one to have you by his side.

  • trottingalong
    trottingalong Member Posts: 962
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  • BPS
    BPS Member Posts: 442
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    You said you feel terribly guilty about posting. There shouldn't be any feeling of guilt because we are all doing the best we can, but for me and for many here having feeling of guilt is a recurring feeling. We feel guilt for not being perfect and loosing our patients sometimes. We feel guilty for making decisions without their input, because they can't. We feel guilty for so many things that we shouldn't. We are doing what we think is best and that is all we can do. Post, ask, vent, but don't feel guilty. That is so easy to say, but so hard to do.

  • Chance Rider
    Chance Rider Member Posts: 265
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    @BPS Thank you for posting your comment.

    I particularly needed to read this today… “We feel guilty for making decisions without their input, because they can't. We feel guilty for so many things that we shouldn't. We are doing what we think is best and that is all we can do.”

    I made the decision to go to our tax prep appointment without my husband tomorrow. He would not be able to contribute to the preparation even though he understands what I’m doing. I’ve been feeling very guilty but as you said, doing what I think is best.

    Thank you again.
    ~Eve

  • Dusty217
    Dusty217 Member Posts: 37
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    I read this, I'm not a writer but you gave me a project I can start. I have always been in control and suddenly I'm not. I will follow this example and write what I'm feeling. I may not be a poet but it will be for me.

  • Biggles
    Biggles Member Posts: 742
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    I didn’t realise how much writing down these pieces would help. I called them my mini eulogies 80 of them - a piece of writing that highly praises someone usually delivered at a funeral. Often two or three sentences, often not rhyming just my feelings. I can read these and freely weep and I know why I’m so sad. I hope it helps.

  • Biggles
    Biggles Member Posts: 742
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    It has helped so much

  • Biggles
    Biggles Member Posts: 742
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  • Biggles
    Biggles Member Posts: 742
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  • sandwichone123
    sandwichone123 Member Posts: 1,190
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    There are people who feel that, unless you are literally the worst off of anyone in the entire world, you are not allowed to feel bad. These people will always point out that there's someone worse off. While that's probably true, emotions are not a contest. We feel what we feel, and from day to day we try to do what's right. To deprive us of our honest emotions is not a service. I know people may be thinking they are helping, it's not helpful. Please continue to do your best, learn and grow, and feel what you feel.

  • Russinator
    Russinator Member Posts: 299
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    ((HUGS))

  • howhale
    howhale Member Posts: 269
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    That is the truth and should be on a billboard for all of us. You will always have someone who "knows better" or will make stupid comments to us. If they have not or are not walking in your shoes with this terrible disease, ignore them. YOU are the only one who gets to judge YOU and you should do it with understanding that we all have regrets, so many of them, about our life as the caregiver. There is not one d**n thing lucky, nor anything for which you should be "grateful" about having a loved one with this horror. I am only grateful that I had the privilege of caring for my dear wife and standing beside her throughout this nightmare.

  • Lethe
    Lethe Member Posts: 4
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    This is beautiful. I think if I knew you personally we might be friends. I admire your strength and tenacity. I’m not there yet. I hate everything about this journey. Still trying to find joy but it gets harder and harder. But your words do bring comfort.

  • Jeff H
    Jeff H Member Posts: 117
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    We're in this together brother! You might be one step ahead of me. I feel for you! 🙏

  • Groovy's Girl
    Groovy's Girl Member Posts: 9
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    I've been taking my DH to the bathroom and quietly urging him to sit down. It's a transition that I've had to move to…there are pull-ups in my future.

  • Groovy's Girl
    Groovy's Girl Member Posts: 9
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    "will I just be left with exhausted abandon."…this is a powerful phrase. Have been wondering the same thing myself.

Commonly Used Abbreviations


DH = Dear Husband
DW= Dear Wife, Darling Wife
LO = Loved One
ES = Early Stage
EO = Early Onset
FTD = Frontotemporal Dementia
VD = Vascular Dementia
MC = Memory Care
AL = Assisted Living
POA = Power of Attorney
Read more