Dealing with a Spouse with a “Mild Cognitive Impairment”

@upgirl2013 You are so right about the inconsistencies in his thinking. My husband remembers complicated things that he learned 50 years ago, but can't tell me what he thinks of something that he recently has seen. It is disconcerting to drive with him and he can't remember a street a couple of blocks away or remember where he parked the car. He doesn't talk to me. He was always very introverted, but now I don't know if it's his introversion, or depression or brain fog. I don't understand why he sits all day and reads the paper when he doesn't remember anything. I feel very lonely.

@joannahoward I agree. Some ppl are just not that sentimental. I'm not, but my dad is super sentimental and we (adult children) believe he may be thinking he hears my mom respond when she doesn't and doesn't acknowledge that sometimes he is actually filling in the blanks and /or guessing what she would say, so he thinks she's better than she is... I can understand she maybe senses mood, but I'm not even sure about that, really. She doesn't like yelling or nasty voices so she's not sensing it - she probably is just hearing it. Alas, he is still determined that she's absorbing certain knowledge & emotions. Maybe she is, but last night she kicked him while he was trying to help with her PJs - she often sleeps in her clothes anyway. She also pooped in the shower not the toilet which was also right there. It's just such weird disease it's hard to know 99% of the time what's really happwning.

@judimahoney - we are fine from the wreck and thank you for asking. It is comforting to know that not wanting a hug can be a part of this horrible disease therefore I will not take it personally. I feel badly that you are experiencing the same.
You share a lot of worldly wisdom and I thank you.

@upgirl2013
Luckily I love to bake but also need to hold back so neither of us gains too much weight. 🤭

My husband also has MCI. He has been stable but lately he has been paranoid- accusing me of things I do not do. He is also not keeping his dates straight such as wanting me to cancel services because he thinks it interferes with a luncheon date he has that day when in reality it is a month away. He just is mean sometimes.

@minniem
I learn a lot from this blog, and from numerous classes I am taking.
Thanks. 🙂

@judimahoney

This immensely helpful information! I’ve thought as my husband has become increasingly stubborn about not eating green vegetables and insisting on having a muffin every morning. He bootlegs dessert stuff when he’s out, and I’m not around.
Perhaps his mother’s hiding sweets around the house and later taking sweets from others in her care facility was not because of diabetes, but she since she had dementia, too, it was a side effect of that?

@judimahoney My husband also eats sweets all day if they are around and he never did that. He also suddenly says he doesn't like certain foods he ate all his life.

@kmliste I know how you are feeling. My husband has MCI or early Alzheimer’s - they’re not sure which. Last year he started accusing me of things I didn’t do. It really upset me and was getting worse and worse, so I finally went to our family doctor who prescribed an anti-depressant (Lexapro) for him. It made a huge difference. The accusations basically stopped, so now I am better able to handle everything else (memory, functioning, etc.) that is also happening.

Good luck - I hope you also find something that helps your LO and yourself.

elm123 This sounds familiar. My husband was Dx a few years ago and he was also given an anti-anxiety/depression med. He has been mostly stable until the holidays.
The way MCI was explained to us by the psychiatrist was that it may not go farther but it could go as far as Alzheimer’s . He has been very stable but during the holidays he has started being paranoid and confused at times. I don’t know if it is the holidays or if he is progressing.
Initially he had started some fires, was scammed (I told him it was a scam but he would not listen) had me purchase all new coffee cups of a certain size…then started drinking only out of styrofoam cups. His personality changed. When he was originally tested (pen and paper type) I told them he would score off the charts and he did. It is exhausting at times. Is it for you? I am learning to smile and walk away.