Doesn’t anyone else feel …… ?
Everyone seems so calm and reasonable on here. Am I the only one who gets fed up and irritable?
This evening two things are driving me nuts: one is the constant contrariness, increased from his normal contrariness. (My daughter once said he’s the most contrary person she’s ever met. That was three years ago. Before these unexplained symptoms began.) The other irritation (aaarrrghh!!!) is the nearly always saying “Oh, I know.” When clearly, until it was explained, he did NOT know. (This too is an increase from his normal level of knowing everything.)
It truly seems that all the incompatible characteristics are greatly exaggerated now.
As is my level of irritation, which certainly does not help.
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@sunnygardens I understand the adrenal fatigue, I also have it. Actually have Addison's disease - adrenal insufficiency from taking prednisone forever. It's the same effect. The supplement I found has ashwagandha in it which helps adrenals. I recently fractured spine again and the pain is keeping me down. And, sunnygardens, you are NOT alone. You're human. 🙂 I just don't tell people much these days because everything sounds negative but there are times when everything in life does seem negative. So, I'm running off on vacation soon and I might just lie around like a sofa spud, but that's ok.
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2 Reactions@sunnygardens "Perfectly Patient" now that has a lyrical ring to it! I don't anyone of us that are perfectly patient. Admitting our feelings is a good thing because we're not in denial, we know what we're up against, we may not like it, but we do it out of love. Never think you're failing......that's not a good word in our caregiver vocabulary. We're trying, we're human, we make mistakes, but we show up every day. And someone who shows up is not a failure. Best, Karla
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1 Reaction@sunnygardens
Excellent question: why doesn't he do more around here?
Many folks that meet him and only chat for a bit, may not know he has dementia. Physically he is doing well. We exercise together every morning and he strives to walk at least 9,000 steps/day.
It's hard to answer the question regarding why he doesn't do more. I just feel cheated.
The experts may say it's because his brain is working so hard to keep up with the requirements of daily living, that his body has given up most pursuits (except those he's used to doing daily because of our routine).
Here's an example: he has always been the one to operate the tractor with the field mower attachment. He can no longer drive on public roads, but is allowed to operate machinery on private property. Since historically he always mowed, I know next to nothing about this tractor and all its bells and whistles. I don't want to learn, at this stage of the game.
So, I showed him the price tag when I hired a crew to do some field mowing. I doubt this will encourage him to mow more often. I have to practically beg him to help with anything. When I see him outside mowing he seems happy, and doesn't seem anxious about operating machinery, so who knows what the hesitancy is. It's so hard doing probably 90% plus of everything around here. Especially making all the tough decisions by myself.
Well, I'm hanging in there, and appreciate your support! 🤗
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1 Reaction@tracidw “sofa spud”. 😁 What a multicultural label! Sounds like you have plenty to complain about! That’s why it’s great to have a therapist. They’re paid to listen even when it all sounds negative.
Sometimes one does deliberately search for a positive.
I hope you’re vacation is restful and fun!
🌻
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1 Reaction@sunnygardens
P.S., I realized I didn't answer one of your questions, regarding whether my husband just refuses to help when I ask him.
We had always done onerous chores as a team (like cleaning and cooking), pretty much 50/50, including raising our children.
When I ask him to do things around the house that I think he can handle (I may be deluding myself), he has a few different responses. It's equivalent to responses you'd get from a child, like, 'I don't want to', or, 'I'll do it later', or he just forgets that I just asked him to do something, like chop onions. Since I get so tired of repeating myself I usually just do it myself.
Also trying to balance out keeping him engaged, so he doesn't develop learned helplessness.
Just like being a parent, it usually takes more time/effort getting them to help (but it's worth it).
Bye for now. ☀️
I totally get that. Every frustrating trait from"before" is exacerbated now...ugh! I am with you! This is also consistent with what I have read regarding dementia and cognitive decline.
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3 Reactions@judimahoney wow, that’s brutal.
Hopefully you’re finding the methods that work best for YOU.
Bye!
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1 Reaction@judimahoney I hear ya. We have a lot of gardens and mowing and pruning. It’s more difficult to keep it up even at this stage of my friend’s strangeness when he’s home.
Now he has this hernia, he can’t even do the heavy stuff.
He comes up with more and more ideas for projects (that cost money), but struggles to complete current projects.
For me, it’s less stressful to do everything myself. In my own time and my own way.
Luckily I learned how to use the tractor! Luckily it’ss pretty basic model!
Feel free to moan to me if you need a moan.
🌻
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1 ReactionI wish my husband could still be contrary. In the past he would often challenge anything that I wanted to spend money on that he did not think was necessary. Now, he can barely get out more than 5-6 words in a day. He sleeps all day and is only out of bed when I get him up to feed him or take him outside for some sunshine. This contrariness will end someday because the dementia will eventually take away his ability to speak. I know it is difficult to live with someone that has a contrary personality. I know that with this dementia caregiving journey that I am on, I have become more emotionally fragile. I am not able to tolerate any opposition by anybody not just him. I am trying my best, as I am sure you are, but somehow it seems like it is just not enough. I am tired of this whole thing but realize that I just have to be patient and take it one day at a time. Posting here has been an enormous help knowing that I am not alone in this and that out there in the big wide world there are also people who get what this is like. May God bless you and give you the courage and patience you need.
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1 Reaction@sunnygardens
My husband has a hernia too, and isn't supposed to do any heavy lifting. Sigh...