Dealing with a Spouse with a “Mild Cognitive Impairment”

I can certainly relate. My husband was diagnosed with MCI about 3 years ago. Every month he seems to get a little worse. It is a frightening feeling that the person you have depended upon (married 56 years) is not "there" in the same way. I am usually patient but I find that rather than repeat the same story from the beginning again and again, I just don't bring it up. I try to get him to do some games like crosswords, but he isn't interested. I signed up for this group about 3 years ago when he got the diagnosis, but haven't found it necessary to follow. Now I do, and I thank you all for being there for support.

@grandmajoan —I hear you! At every turn, we hear “exercise is very helpful for memory patients” but when the patient can no longer walk that far, or has pain when they do, well…not only does it take away the beneficial movement for the patient but also another way of doing health things together. I find myself forgoing walks, for fear of making him feel even worse…and that isn’t good for MY health! I also feel I’m missing out on some things for not wanting to leave him alone too long. And he says “May I borrow your brain for a minute….” You and I are in a similar place. 52 years married, here. Take good care of yourself! (Sometimes it’s difficult to figure out how, with the limitations? Be well.

@2me
I wonder if movement in water, any form of semi-swimming, may be less painful as a form of exercise. Sometimes I do a mini workout in the hot tub; that may feel good and hopefully not painful and keep his muscles from atrophying.
All the best. 🌺

@agnes01 I could have written most of this. Diagnosis for my husband was in 2021, but for awhile memory loss was on a plateau. Things seem to have speeded up in the past several months…and, like you, I’ve not given details of upcoming events until it’s almost time. And I’m sad not to be able to discuss some things that all of our 52 years married, would have been mutual discussions/agreements on things. Flying solo was not on my radar, but here we are. Like you, I lurked once in awhile on this group, and now, I rarely miss a day of checking in with my “friends” here. Thank you all!

@judimahoney Thanks, Judi! We do have a pool…and maybe this week it will get warm enough for him to swim. That will help a lot, as he does love swimming! 🌻

These are are very good questions. I was followed by a Neurologist for a couple of years. Every year she gave me a written test with a supervisod
Psychologist.
When she saw a my numbers are going down she started testing with pet scans, blood test to see if I hv the dna other test
Pet scans saw I had plaque on on brain. I did a lot research there are 2 infusions Laquembi and Kasula the first 2 X month the second once a month stronger
I went the 1st one
Let me know if you want to talk
Joycel10

@2me rs years.
Be very careful getting him in the pool; my husband was always a very strong swimmer.
A couple of summers ago, my daughter and grandson were here swimming, and my husband jumped in to join them. He couldn't keep himself up. Using a float, my daughter was able to help him to the stairs; it took two of us to get him out. If she hadn't been here, I don't know if I could have gotten him out by myself.
I'm not sure if he forgot how to swim or was too weak, too.

@joycel10 My husband just made that same decision this past Friday at the Neurologist’s office. All the tests seem to point to it being a good idea, to help slow the memory loss. He will be starting Lequembi as soon as insurance is sorted out, which hopefully will not take long. Best wishes to you!

@2me I'm getting the insurance sorted also to start Leqembi . I have been taking 5mg Donepezil for about a year and feel my memory is pretty stable. I am hoping the infusions will clear out some of the gunk in my brain, but worry about the effects of such an invasive medicine. Anyone out there getting bad reactions from the infusions? I don't know if I continue the Donepezil--will have to ask...so many questions, so few concrete answers in this new world. Going to be 80 this year so really can't complain.