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Next Level: Servere cognitive impairment & hallucinations

Posted by justbill123 @justbill123, Apr 21, 2023

When my wife was diagnosed 3 years ago it started with some memory loss and minor cognitive impairment. We have evolved to severe memory loss and severe cognitive impairment as well as hallucinations. She seems to have overnight transitioned to a new level of impairment. She is sleeping a lot more. She started tripping when she walks because she shuffles her feet when she walks. She is in another reality full time now. Has no awareness of time or place. It seems I am saying goodbye again to the friend that used to always be in there regardless of impairments. This is so hard watching someone I love so much slowly fade away like this.

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immaggiemae | @immaggiemae | Apr 27, 2023

Bill, have you had any luck with adjusting her meds yet? You’re doing such a wonderful job of caring for her.

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Colleen Young, Connect Director | @colleenyoung | May 2, 2023
In reply to @justbill123 "She could never get into a hobby or a sport before her diagnosis and it is..." + (show)
@justbill123

She could never get into a hobby or a sport before her diagnosis and it is the same now. The only distraction she knows is work. Even though I have taken over all her responsibilities she still thinks she has got to get stuff done. When she was putting dirty clothes into the T.V. I asked what are you doing ? She said can't you see I am trying to help you ? At that point I just let her keep helping me until she gets tired. I stopped trying to keep up with her. I visualize one of those playgrounds they have at McDonald's and that is my whole house when shes banging around and I'm hiding in my office.

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@justbill123, do you have any breaks with respite care options? This is a lot to handle on your own.

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justbill123 | @justbill123 | May 4, 2023

No respite care. She goes everywhere I go; work, golf, shopping. My respite is meditation, breathing exercises and working out. I was about to make an appointment with her Neurologist when the dementia gods gave me a break and she just calmed down and returned to her sweet cooperative self. Through meditation I am mostly in a calm, relaxed state of mind. It's a gradual process transitioning from a type double A personality to a calm blissed out meditating hippy. Sometimes I flashback to my old type double A self and perhaps she picked up on that vibe and that was her response I don't know. The more relaxed and calm I am able to generate effects her in a positive way so more breathing, more exercising, more meditating. I am definitely enjoying the self discovery part of this journey. Thank you for your concern, for the moment she is doing great.

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