How fast does this progress??

Posted by LinaXYL @linaxyl, Aug 9 10:42am

Husband has alcohol based dementia. Not sure if he's continuing to drink behind my back, but if he is it's not the falling down passing out binge drinking that caused the damage. But suddenly he's not only forgetting the past, but things I told him hours ago. I had a fall a few weeks ago and told him about it. We discussed it - how I fell, what I hurt, do I want to go to the hospital, etc. Then he went to bed to nap. In a couple hours I decided to go to the ER because I had hit my head very hard and I was really in pain. I didn't wake him because he would just sit there being rude to nurses and generally make the experience worse than it would already be. After I'd been there a few hours he sent me a panicked text - Where are you? I said at the hospital getting the damage from my fall checked out. He said - Fall? What fall? Are you OK? It's happened several times since then. I know sometimes we don't listen well, but this was not that. We discussed it. This seems to be a big change to me.

Interested in more discussions like this? Go to the Caregivers: Dementia Support Group.

jimandkaren | @jimandkaren | Aug 11 4:54pm

In reply to @katrina123 "You sound like a really nice person. She is lucky to have you." + (show)

Thank you.

sivad | @sivad | Aug 12 6:27am

In reply to @sivad "My wife was diagnosed about 12 months ago and has been steadily getting worse. She forgets..." + (show)

Thank you to all those who hugs at we are not alone.

Pops | @bstahl | Aug 12 5:20pm

In reply to @sivad "My wife was diagnosed about 12 months ago and has been steadily getting worse. She forgets..." + (show)

I can relate, my wife is going through the same things. Been about 10 months.
Tough on everyone

steilacoomcaregiver | @steilacoomcaregiver | Aug 13 11:15am

In reply to @sivad "My wife was diagnosed about 12 months ago and has been steadily getting worse. She forgets..." + (show)

I guess I am lucky because my husband listened to my concerns and willingly participates in getting help. He expressed concerns about driving so that wasn't a battle either. Two of his family members had dementia so I think he is frightened of going down that road alone.

turtle4115 | @turtle4115 | Aug 14 11:28am

In reply to @laura1970 "A sudden change in mental status, even with a known history of dementia, warrants a medical..." + (show)

Mine too! I've had a Doctor tell me that. Any sudden change should be checked for infection or other medical cause or new medication.

georgescraftjr | @georgescraftjr | Nov 16 8:34pm

Hi family!

A friend just told me a book (The 36-Hour Day: A Family Guide to Caring for People Who Have Alzheimer Disease and Other Dementias (A Johns Hopkins Press Health Book) that might be helpful to all of us. (I haven't read it yet.)

labrown | @labrown | Nov 17 6:31am

In reply to @georgescraftjr "Hi family! A friend just told me a book (The 36-Hour Day: A Family Guide to..." + (show)

@georgescraftjr It was one of the first books I purchased after my husband’s diagnosis. Many people had recommended it to me. It contains a wealth of information that will be very beneficial to you.

longboat1 | @longboat1 | Nov 17 11:07am

In reply to @sivad "My wife was diagnosed about 12 months ago and has been steadily getting worse. She forgets..." + (show)

@sivad my sig other is at that stage now. Short term memory and time are her biggest issues now. She has been taking memantine and donepezil for about a year. Recently she had an amyloid petscan to see if she's eligible for Leqemba injections. Not sure if she will go that route because of potential side effects. It's not a cure. Supposedly slows it down. I am going to order the book mentioned in this string.

saraemma3709 | @saraemma3709 | Nov 17 2:12pm

In reply to @georgescraftjr "Hi family! A friend just told me a book (The 36-Hour Day: A Family Guide to..." + (show)

It is great book as you start your journey….
The journey is long and filled with ups and downs…
Right now, I am sitting with my husband, knowing that the end is near.

sivad | @sivad | Nov 17 2:16pm

In reply to @longboat1 "@sivad my sig other is at that stage now. Short term memory and time are her..." + (show)

@longboat1 Thanks for the comment. My wife has still not accepted that there is anything wrong with her memory. She never knows what day it is and is constantly asking the date and the day and what month we are in. I know it can only get worse. At present she still enjoys her Line Dancing classes. I have taken out LPAs for us both with my daughter as attorney just in case anything happens to me. I wish you well and hope you find the strength to deal with this, Stay well and stay safe. Sivad