Repetitive questions

I'm so very sorry that this is happening to you both. Your sense of trepidation must be overwhelming, like experiencing the sinking of RMS Titanic in slow motion.

I pray that you are able to find moments of peace, love, and joy.

Yes we're rearranging deck chairs on the Titanic. If you're on this site you must be traveling the same path. I liken it to being on an island. Some days it's lovely, others windy, wet and stormy. I live for the good island days. Thanks for your support.

My path is a bit different -- I'm building a new life, nearly six years after a stroke that left me permanently disabled. (My personal Titanic hit the iceberg but didn't sink, only lost half its power and maneuverability, and is hobbling along.)

The struggle is to recover while resisting the natural decline of aging. It's a tough fight, and I'm not sure how much progress I'm making.

Because my mobility is so limited, I participate in this online community to learn from others and try to offer help where I can.

I record my experiences and observations in my YouTube channel. You may find it interesting and even helpful:
https://www.youtube.com/@srlucado/videos

Hi Suzy,
We are on a similar path…don’t know about the genes, but my husband’s sister passed away of Alzheimer’s and one of his cousins also. Some days, as you said, are ok…and I like your island analogy….we seem to have also taken a turn for the worse of late. Our son has glioblastoma, and that seems to have caused sudden changes in my husband. Repetitive questions are so very difficult. Best wishes to you both.

Stress seems to take him down. Our dog pulled a muscle in her leg and was limping. My husband seemed to go down with that. So that may be what your partner is experiencing. Got his DNA results through 23nMe the DNA testing site. He's adopted and we learned alzheimers was rife in his birth father's family. Sounds like it might be the case in your partner's. One last thing..I actually have a note in my phone to keep my mouth shut about the repetitive questioning. It helps. It's hard to have these conversations even with family. I don't want him to be relegated to 'crazy uncle' territory because he's so normal except for this short term memory veil. We walk a tricky path. He's out buying printer cartridges right now. Normal. Aaaargh. Give yourself a pat. You're OK.

Stress is definitely key here, too. And I think it might be “especially” difficult to feel free to discuss with family-just for that reason you stated. I dread the day my husband can no longer drive. He is an excellent driver, and loves being able to go buy printer cartridges etc…all normal. But then…there’s the other side of normal. Stay strong!

Getting lost is the one I fear. That will go with driving. Still, he seems to have returned to his new normal for now. One day at a time....my new mantra.

@suzy123 Thank you for sharing your story with us. I am going through a similar journey with my husband who has MCI. Lately though I feel like he is losing ground. His memory loss has worsened, as well as his visual perception. Sometimes he seems so normal and other times he has trouble using his phone. It's up and down... He recently had a PET-CT that revealed amyloid plaques in his brain. It looks like he will qualify for the drug Leqembi. One day at a time...

The visual perception thing goes with MCI (I discovered). It's called posterior cortical atrophy. I first noticed my husband getting confused and dropping things about seven years ago. Now, he can often look right at the item he's looking for and not see it. Can't see small things like toast crumbs or coffee grounds, which drove me crazy until I figured out (Dr. Google) it went with the disease. His eyes are fine, his brain, not so much. He has difficulty with technical things and can't learn anything new anymore. Used to be an avid reader, but he can't keep track of the characters now and has to keep starting over. I'm a writer; he can't read my books because he can't stick with the plot. (Disheartening, but it is what it is.) Our doctor suspected a brain tumor, but he won't go into an MRI machine, so following that up is out. He has a heart condition, so there is only one of the Alzheimers drugs he can take. It made him itch all over. So much for that. Having fun yet? I'm not.

Hi Suzy.... first of all....HUGS to you!!!! My husband is 63 and has been on this "journey" for 3 years and it's been happening alot faster than I thought it would 🙁 He has both alzheimers AND dementia. And I just learned through a caregiver support group led my nurses and other professionals educated (for lack of a better word) in this field, that he will eventually lose his peripheral vision so he WON'T be able to see as much. His memory loss and cognitive impairment is pretty prominent, He too can look right at something and not see it or know what it's for. He also has primary progressive aphasia so communication is very hard because most of the time i'm not sure what he's saying, and this is where my patience really has to kick in and just listen to him and just nod or agree because I know in his mind what he is trying to say to me is very real. Conversations are pretty much non-existent because of the aphasia so I'm grateful when we get together with friends and have real adult conversations. I learned quite a while ago that he won't be able to learn anything new so I am introducing "kid" toys or books, etc and see how he responds or if it'll hold his interest...and it's hit and miss but I'll take what I can. 🙂
Another big hug to you!! Just remember that you're strong and will get through this one day at a time!!!
Hugs and Happy Holidays!