beginning stages of dementia or als
husband is only 56 years old but in reflecting I can say he has always been odd. He is extremely paranoid, smells his food, stacks money and items unevenly, and even dog ears items in a joint drawer that we share, folds clothes neatly however, he leaves an item out of place also so he can detect when I enter the drawer. He cannot recall whole events even a car accident, he is now forgetting what he eats and says he ate a candy bar yesterday when it was only a few minitues earlier. He gets lost while driving but is still able to get bearing enough to get back on track. He is a short fuse, throws things, shouts, paces, contorted face over small things. cannot even remember things he said 10 minutes earlier yet he is still working. His brain scan shows possible mini strokes and aged brain of a much much older man. I just wish his condition would be identified so I can get some help with him. How long does it take to move through the stages because this one is soo hard for me. He takes ages to dress and is like a child going to try on clothes in his closets, interreupts me to have me check to see if they fit him or are they too short etc; This is child like behavior and gets on my nerves but even though I tell him to stop, he repeats this behavior, he repeats himself a lot with phrases etc; and events. He lies to the doctor saying he has No problem with memory and is angry because I shared a log with his doctor who insisted that he get a brain scan. he lashes out that I just want to put him away and he will never give me power of attorney over him (we were not even discussing this) after he blows up, he will go do something nice for me, like pop some popcorn and bring to me but he NEVER apologizes about his behavior. He cannot organize his actions, and constantly goes around asking me questions as to what to do, even once where do I get chicken mcnuggets from? I cannot understand why or how he yet functions at work when I am able to see all of this behavior at home? I just want somebody else to see although my daughter has observed that he is child like and asks crazy questions demanding answers. Is my only option to just wait and see? we have an appointement with neurologist where I know he will lie and sometimes he is convincing. Give me hope that it will hurry and get to a stage where I can have more control to at least get meds for depression or anxiety for him.
beginning stages of dementia or als
husband is only 56 years old but in reflecting I can say he has always been odd. He is extremely paranoid, smells his food, stacks money and items unevenly, and even dog ears items in a joint drawer that we share, folds clothes neatly however, he leaves an item out of place also so he can detect when I enter the drawer. He cannot recall whole events even a car accident, he is now forgetting what he eats and says he ate a candy bar yesterday when it was only a few minitues earlier. He gets lost while driving but is still able to get bearing enough to get back on track. He is a short fuse, throws things, shouts, paces, contorted face over small things. cannot even remember things he said 10 minutes earlier yet he is still working. His brain scan shows possible mini strokes and aged brain of a much much older man. I just wish his condition would be identified so I can get some help with him. How long does it take to move through the stages because this one is soo hard for me. He takes ages to dress and is like a child going to try on clothes in his closets, interreupts me to have me check to see if they fit him or are they too short etc; This is child like behavior and gets on my nerves but even though I tell him to stop, he repeats this behavior, he repeats himself a lot with phrases etc; and events. He lies to the doctor saying he has No problem with memory and is angry because I shared a log with his doctor who insisted that he get a brain scan. he lashes out that I just want to put him away and he will never give me power of attorney over him (we were not even discussing this) after he blows up, he will go do something nice for me, like pop some popcorn and bring to me but he NEVER apologizes about his behavior. He cannot organize his actions, and constantly goes around asking me questions as to what to do, even once where do I get chicken mcnuggets from? I cannot understand why or how he yet functions at work when I am able to see all of this behavior at home? I just want somebody else to see although my daughter has observed that he is child like and asks crazy questions demanding answers. Is my only option to just wait and see? we have an appointement with neurologist where I know he will lie and sometimes he is convincing. Give me hope that it will hurry and get to a stage where I can have more control to at least get meds for depression or anxiety for him.
Hello anonymous,
Thank you for sharing your situation with the community. I am very sorry to hear about what you've been going through lately. That must be very hard on you.
One great place to connect with other Alzheimer's caregivers is in your Stage Group.
We also offer a lot of great information on how to handle the symptoms of Alzheimer's disease in our Alzheimer's topic center and in your Custom Care Guide.
I hope that helps.
Take care, Emily | Community Manager
Hello anonymous,
Thank you for sharing your situation with the community. I am very sorry to hear about what you've been going through lately. That must be very hard on you.
One great place to connect with other Alzheimer's caregivers is in your Stage Group.
We also offer a lot of great information on how to handle the symptoms of Alzheimer's disease in our Alzheimer's topic center and in your Custom Care Guide.
I hope that helps.
Take care, Emily | Community Manager
thank you for caring and your suggestions. The doctor's are not giving me any help at this time so he is just in denial and acting like I am the one who is having a problem. Just yesterday, I had a skillet on burner to heat, he engaged me in so many questions from the other room so I stepped in there to respond to him. The grease was heating up and I had my back to it, he entered the kitchen, returned and opened the patio door when I questioned him as to why. He said the grease was too hot but I turned the fire off. I entered the kitchen, the fire was still under the pan and he had NOT turned it off, nor did he simply move the pan to a cool place. He is about to drive me crazy, simply because he is not on meds. thinks nothing is wrong but shawdows me all day asking questions and changing moods.
thank you for caring and your suggestions. The doctor's are not giving me any help at this time so he is just in denial and acting like I am the one who is having a problem. Just yesterday, I had a skillet on burner to heat, he engaged me in so many questions from the other room so I stepped in there to respond to him. The grease was heating up and I had my back to it, he entered the kitchen, returned and opened the patio door when I questioned him as to why. He said the grease was too hot but I turned the fire off. I entered the kitchen, the fire was still under the pan and he had NOT turned it off, nor did he simply move the pan to a cool place. He is about to drive me crazy, simply because he is not on meds. thinks nothing is wrong but shawdows me all day asking questions and changing moods.
My suggestion is that you call his doctor and ask if the doctor will issue a section 12 and assess if he is a danger to himself or others. Describe the stove incident and any other incidents that could have hurt someone.
Then, if he is taken in inpatient ask for a psych evaluation. Find out what his actual problem is, senile dementia (Alzheimer's is one type of it) or something else.
There is a medication called Namenda and others in its class, my experience with the affect of Namenda on my mother's cognitive functions was very positive and had no side effects that we found. I wish she had been on it much sooner, but it had results that were measurable. Arricept is apparently the more well known but has many side affects. If it is affective for him, you may find that you both having breathing space to plan things out.
If you don't have Power of Attorney or are not his health care proxy, your next step is endless court. You should consider talking to your husband about it and also deciding for yourself who you want to be your health care proxy.
If he won't, get whatever your states version of a medical certificate with Rogers order (in MA it is some boxes on the medical certificate) filled out by the psychiatrist. You can apply to be his guardian in lieu of the health care proxy or P.O.A.
The Rogers order allows you and health professionals to give anti-psychotic medication to someone without their permission. Even if you don't need it now, you may and you will be tortured by the legal system when you do try to get it.
This is the stage I am at now, with lots of mistakes made, including having siblings that left our mother to live or die on her own for years before I discovered it. Now I am fighting on all fronts to try to help my mother and oh baby is the system against me.
Good luck.
My suggestion is that you call his doctor and ask if the doctor will issue a section 12 and assess if he is a danger to himself or others. Describe the stove incident and any other incidents that could have hurt someone.
Then, if he is taken in inpatient ask for a psych evaluation. Find out what his actual problem is, senile dementia (Alzheimer's is one type of it) or something else.
There is a medication called Namenda and others in its class, my experience with the affect of Namenda on my mother's cognitive functions was very positive and had no side effects that we found. I wish she had been on it much sooner, but it had results that were measurable. Arricept is apparently the more well known but has many side affects. If it is affective for him, you may find that you both having breathing space to plan things out.
If you don't have Power of Attorney or are not his health care proxy, your next step is endless court. You should consider talking to your husband about it and also deciding for yourself who you want to be your health care proxy.
If he won't, get whatever your states version of a medical certificate with Rogers order (in MA it is some boxes on the medical certificate) filled out by the psychiatrist. You can apply to be his guardian in lieu of the health care proxy or P.O.A.
The Rogers order allows you and health professionals to give anti-psychotic medication to someone without their permission. Even if you don't need it now, you may and you will be tortured by the legal system when you do try to get it.
This is the stage I am at now, with lots of mistakes made, including having siblings that left our mother to live or die on her own for years before I discovered it. Now I am fighting on all fronts to try to help my mother and oh baby is the system against me.
Good luck.
Thank you so much for the information even in light of your going through so much, you have taken the time to share and that is compassion. You have been an asset to me. I had no knowledge of most of these suggestions so I will seek them out. Much prayers for you and all the others who are going through this, it should not be this difficult when all you are trying to do is get some help for the loved ones.
The system and the loved ones act as if we are the enemy when indeed we are the ones to love them and are being an advocate for help for them.
needs to understand
Thank you so much for the information even in light of your going through so much, you have taken the time to share and that is compassion. You have been an asset to me. I had no knowledge of most of these suggestions so I will seek them out. Much prayers for you and all the others who are going through this, it should not be this difficult when all you are trying to do is get some help for the loved ones.
The system and the loved ones act as if we are the enemy when indeed we are the ones to love them and are being an advocate for help for them.
needs to understand