Scupper
Thanks so much for sharing this comment with me. Just to know that others are having a similar experience with the angry outbursts. I am functioning for two people; it is so easy to get resentful. He is often blaming me for his behavior; says he gets angry and short with me because I am “not paying attention “ to him
It is as though I am being gaslighted, but I am not. Because he is not doing this on purpose

Thank you for sharing this. I thought it was just me having those reactions to my husband’s MCI. Just knowing others are in the same place is extremely helpful.

You are describing exactly what is happening at our home. He was diagnosed with MCI about a year ago. The angry outbursts in response to a simple comment, such as, “I’m going to bed, should I turn off the TV or are you staying up?” WOW, did I get an earfull! I was quite hurt by his comments and I just emotionally shut down the next day. I figured that I have to try to keep my tone light and say it with a smile to avoid these situations but it’s really hard. It shouldn’t have to be this way but here we all are, living it. We will be celebrating 44 years together and never in a million years did I see this coming. Thank you for opening the discussion on this topic. I don’t feel so alone trying to deal with this.

My husband was diagnosed with MCI in 2012, his decline was slow for the first 8 years, but he has rapidly gone downhill since then.

Trying to manage his moods and difficultness is certainly a challenge. I work hard to keep our days calm and, on a routine, although his agitation can rise from nowhere. Especially late afternoon when he’s tired and not my best time of day either.
I try to keep a smile on my face and a happy tone in my voice, although I’m not always successful.
When he gets agitated, sometimes I leave the room for a few minutes and come back with a big smile on my face and some distraction or a story. It doesn’t always work and trust me I don’t always feel like it either.

No, you aren't the only one with similar feelings. I find myself being very weepy in response to watching and listening to my husband struggle with newly diagnosed Parkinson's Disease and his lack of insight. And no, there is no appreciation - for us it has meant leaving a much-loved mountain cabin and moving the whole family down to a more oxygenated elevation (from 9300' in Rocky Mtns); healthy diet; regular visits to a gym and the library; managing his meds and medical appointments; setting up and getting him to at least one social event a day so that he interacts with (or at least sees) other people. Both of us have given up many things we loved doing and this is far from what we had planned to do in retirement. He refuses to discuss PD let alone read anything about the disease; and sarcastically tells me and health providers that the only person who thinks he has problems is me. (But so far, every sign and symptom I have identified has been substantiated by lab work and testing by professionals) Best wishes to you in your continuing care for your partner. Onward and upward!