Hi,
My husband was diagnosed with primary progressive aphasia at 64. He was also diagnosed with posterior cortical atrophy at that time. That was 5 years ago and in that time he has gotten a lot worse. Most of the tome I have no idea what he is talking about. I am sometimes able to figure it out...that's a good day! He gets really frustrated with his inability to say what he means.
He also has a lot of visual and cognitive issues. I have to help him with pretty much everything. It is a very demanding, stressful, and scary illness.
Stay strong and take care of you!
Hi,
My husband was diagnosed with primary progressive aphasia at 64. He was also diagnosed with posterior cortical atrophy at that time. That was 5 years ago and in that time he has gotten a lot worse. Most of the tome I have no idea what he is talking about. I am sometimes able to figure it out...that's a good day! He gets really frustrated with his inability to say what he means.
He also has a lot of visual and cognitive issues. I have to help him with pretty much everything. It is a very demanding, stressful, and scary illness.
Stay strong and take care of you!
Jules, your husband was so young when diagnosed and still is. I'm sure this is not how you imagined your future together. What thoughts might you have to share about mourning loss of what you thought was to be (if you don't mind my asking)?
@colleenyoung I am interested in this discussion. Thanks for including me. My husband's neurologist & neuropsychologist were very thorough. Testing went on and on. Brain tumor was not in the diagnosis. His first symptom was the loss of ability to express himself. Frontotemporal dementia is specific cause of this cognitive impairment eventually in perception, judgement and memory. It's an ugly disease to be sure.
Jules, your husband was so young when diagnosed and still is. I'm sure this is not how you imagined your future together. What thoughts might you have to share about mourning loss of what you thought was to be (if you don't mind my asking)?
It’s a long journey with this disease that Mayo said is rare. I recently joined a support group through Mayo which I find helpful. I feel I won’t be looking forward to retirement as I won’t have him to share it with. My faith is what is keeping me going and taking one day at a time. God has his plan.
@jules, we were in retirement when this was diagnosed. Going into 5th year since diagnosed & had to make one of the hardest decisions to admit to nursing facility. He is been there for 13 days and it is quite a transition for both of us. The non-communication is the worst part.....other aspects of the dementia are coming on rather quick....he is 79yrs old, we've been married 58 yrs. My faith and family have been my salvation. One day at a time, but some days are harder than others.
@jules, we were in retirement when this was diagnosed. Going into 5th year since diagnosed & had to make one of the hardest decisions to admit to nursing facility. He is been there for 13 days and it is quite a transition for both of us. The non-communication is the worst part.....other aspects of the dementia are coming on rather quick....he is 79yrs old, we've been married 58 yrs. My faith and family have been my salvation. One day at a time, but some days are harder than others.
@jules, we were in retirement when this was diagnosed. Going into 5th year since diagnosed & had to make one of the hardest decisions to admit to nursing facility. He is been there for 13 days and it is quite a transition for both of us. The non-communication is the worst part.....other aspects of the dementia are coming on rather quick....he is 79yrs old, we've been married 58 yrs. My faith and family have been my salvation. One day at a time, but some days are harder than others.
That is the hard part to think about... I don't know how or when I will be able to have my husband go into memory care. He knows who I am still and I know it will be devastating to him. When he was diagnosed I was led to believe he wouldn't realize what he was losing but he does seem to know and is frustrated. He thinks if he tries harder to talk he will get better. Makes me sad that I can't help him.
He is pretty much totally dependant on me so it will be a huge empty feeling for me to. We were forced into early retirement because of this disease not at all what we had planned!
That is the hard part to think about... I don't know how or when I will be able to have my husband go into memory care. He knows who I am still and I know it will be devastating to him. When he was diagnosed I was led to believe he wouldn't realize what he was losing but he does seem to know and is frustrated. He thinks if he tries harder to talk he will get better. Makes me sad that I can't help him.
He is pretty much totally dependant on me so it will be a huge empty feeling for me to. We were forced into early retirement because of this disease not at all what we had planned!
It’s never easy to take that next step. There was a brand new facility opening up close to me and I knew the lady that was in charge of the memory care unit. I just felt in my heart that it was the right time. God’s blessings !
It’s never easy to take that next step. There was a brand new facility opening up close to me and I knew the lady that was in charge of the memory care unit. I just felt in my heart that it was the right time. God’s blessings !
@julesa Thanks for your prayers. He still knows everyone. 3rd week in Nursing home still wants to go home. Being encouraged that it takes time! Now saying he's going to shoot himself which he had said in the beginning of his illness. Scarry.... Not sleeping or staying in room at night, sleeping in common room in recliner most nights after 3am, has fallen several times, no injuries so far but at home when fell caused gashes in head. Never need stitches. Having 2nd thoughts about him being the there. Apologies for the rambling. I'm trying to take one day At a time.
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Hi,
My husband was diagnosed with primary progressive aphasia at 64. He was also diagnosed with posterior cortical atrophy at that time. That was 5 years ago and in that time he has gotten a lot worse. Most of the tome I have no idea what he is talking about. I am sometimes able to figure it out...that's a good day! He gets really frustrated with his inability to say what he means.
He also has a lot of visual and cognitive issues. I have to help him with pretty much everything. It is a very demanding, stressful, and scary illness.
Stay strong and take care of you!
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3 ReactionsMy husband hasn’t talked for years and is living in a memory care unit. The staff are excellent and I visit daily. Life is so lonely 😢
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2 ReactionsWelcome to Connect, @julesa. I think @dianajane and @hopeful33250 will also be interested in joining this discussion.
As an FYI, we have a few discussions related to aphasia elsewhere. But I'm really glad that you started this discussion for caregivers.
– Let's "Talk" About Aphasia https://connect.mayoclinic.org/discussion/june-is-national-aphasia-month/
- Brain Tumors and Aphasia https://connect.mayoclinic.org/discussion/brain-tumors-and-aphasia/
- Agraphia and Anomia https://connect.mayoclinic.org/discussion/agraphiaanomia/
Jules, your husband was so young when diagnosed and still is. I'm sure this is not how you imagined your future together. What thoughts might you have to share about mourning loss of what you thought was to be (if you don't mind my asking)?
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1 Reaction@colleenyoung I am interested in this discussion. Thanks for including me. My husband's neurologist & neuropsychologist were very thorough. Testing went on and on. Brain tumor was not in the diagnosis. His first symptom was the loss of ability to express himself. Frontotemporal dementia is specific cause of this cognitive impairment eventually in perception, judgement and memory. It's an ugly disease to be sure.
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Helpful -
Hug
2 ReactionsIt’s a long journey with this disease that Mayo said is rare. I recently joined a support group through Mayo which I find helpful. I feel I won’t be looking forward to retirement as I won’t have him to share it with. My faith is what is keeping me going and taking one day at a time. God has his plan.
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Helpful -
Hug
3 Reactions@jules, we were in retirement when this was diagnosed. Going into 5th year since diagnosed & had to make one of the hardest decisions to admit to nursing facility. He is been there for 13 days and it is quite a transition for both of us. The non-communication is the worst part.....other aspects of the dementia are coming on rather quick....he is 79yrs old, we've been married 58 yrs. My faith and family have been my salvation. One day at a time, but some days are harder than others.
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Hug
1 ReactionMy prayers for both of you.
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2 ReactionsThat is the hard part to think about... I don't know how or when I will be able to have my husband go into memory care. He knows who I am still and I know it will be devastating to him. When he was diagnosed I was led to believe he wouldn't realize what he was losing but he does seem to know and is frustrated. He thinks if he tries harder to talk he will get better. Makes me sad that I can't help him.
He is pretty much totally dependant on me so it will be a huge empty feeling for me to. We were forced into early retirement because of this disease not at all what we had planned!
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Helpful -
Hug
1 ReactionIt’s never easy to take that next step. There was a brand new facility opening up close to me and I knew the lady that was in charge of the memory care unit. I just felt in my heart that it was the right time. God’s blessings !
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Hug
2 Reactions@julesa Thanks for your prayers. He still knows everyone. 3rd week in Nursing home still wants to go home. Being encouraged that it takes time! Now saying he's going to shoot himself which he had said in the beginning of his illness. Scarry.... Not sleeping or staying in room at night, sleeping in common room in recliner most nights after 3am, has fallen several times, no injuries so far but at home when fell caused gashes in head. Never need stitches. Having 2nd thoughts about him being the there. Apologies for the rambling. I'm trying to take one day At a time.
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Helpful -
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1 Reaction