Connect
What were the first dementia signs you noticed?
My husband has vascular dementia as a result of at least 7 TIAs and 1 larger stroke as shown on an MRI. The only one we were aware of was a TIA in 2016. I'm guessing that some or all of the others may have happened in his sleep because there were no obvious signs like there were with the 2016 one.
Anyway, I've been thinking back to things that seemed "off" well before I started suspecting a problem. One thing was that he started mixing up pronouns. He'd refer to a female pet as "he" and vice-versa. He still does and he mostly does it with animals. He'll also tell a male pet that's he's a "good girl" and vice-versa.
When it first happened, it became a joke, but now I wonder if that was one of the first signs that something wasn't functioning the way it should. I'm curious if others can think of things that seemed "off" before the problem became obvious.
Like
Helpful
HugInterested in more discussions like this? Go to the Caregivers: Dementia Support Group.
Connect
Same thing with DW, she always asks, "Did we have breakfast?" Then, "What did we have?" Likewise lunch and supper.
-
Like -
Helpful -
Hug
5 ReactionsI put those things on my locked screen. Having a loved one with many health problems can wear
you out
Guilt sets in!
But I have learned that life gives us situations that are not what we signed up for. We are not always at are best.
.but as long as we have an outlet it seems to validate us and know we are not alone.
-
Like -
Helpful -
Hug
9 ReactionsExtremely poor decisions and falling for any scam!
-
Like -
Helpful -
Hug
4 ReactionsThe very first thing I noticed was my wife complaining that her memory was failing, and I was unable to detect any memory issue at that point, nor for many months afterward. She scored normal on the MMSE (mini mental status exam, a simple [and quite limited] screening test). It was a year or two later that neuropsychological testing revealed MCI (mild cognitive impairment). She has always been aware of her memory loss, but she lacks insight into the various ways it affects her (especially loss of executive function).
-
Like -
Helpful -
Hug
3 ReactionsOne day my wife went to unload the dishwasher and could not remember where to put things away. It was very sudden and scary.
-
Like -
Helpful -
Hug
6 ReactionsFamily and close friends began telling me I was repeating myself, and the surgreon who had been keeping track of a menigioma I've had for decades, without any problems, discovered a problem when he did a brain scan. Apparently, there is not problem with the benign.
-
Like -
Helpful -
Hug
2 ReactionsAn early sign…
My husband began requesting the same 3 or 4 books from our public library and rereading them .
-
Like -
Helpful -
Hug
2 ReactionsMy husband started laughing inappropriately.Acted like everything was a joke when people talked to him.
-
Like -
Helpful -
Hug
3 ReactionsInability to learn how to operate tech gadgets like the DVR or even the TV remote. And he was an engineer. Also, extreme loss of name recall, even of close friends.
-
Like -
Helpful -
Hug
2 ReactionsMy husband is in his early 70’s was an engineer.
Cell phone, he took it apart thinking he would repair it.
Took apart our ice maker and keep ordering replacements and couldn’t get it installed. Finally bought a free standing counter top ice maker. Still an issue. He also tells me something is wrong with me.
-
Like -
Helpful -
Hug
7 Reactions