Hello all.
Joseph & I are in some sort of horrible medical limbo. I just need reassurance that I'm doing the right thing, trying to get him diagnosed, by hook or by crook. His PCP (GP) here in the USA prescribed Donepezil for him on Monday, on the advice of a neurologist. Joseph fetched the prescription, saw the hand-out that went with it talking about Alzheimers and dementia, and has been completely freaking out ever since. The neurologist who prescribed Donepezil has offered two emergency appointments, both of which Joseph refused to go to. The second time this happened we had an ugly scene, because I started screaming at him, and the police were called.
Joseph called the PCP to ask to speak to him, and this doctor, who has been kind and responsive up until now, got his secretary to call back and tell him that he indeed has dementia. I have emailed him to ask him to call Joseph directly; he has not done so. Joseph is increasingly anxious, hostile towards me, and very upset.
Joseph has, understandably, refused to take the Donepezil, until he talks to a doctor… He is still on the waiting list for a cancellation appointment with the neurologist, who is going to be away all next week.
It's a relief just to write all this stuff down. I know nobody can do anything practical, but I need some comfort! Our daughter is coming this weekend, so that should help. We're trying to deal with all this, and in the meantime the Capgras episodes (where he thinks I'm an impostor) are becoming more and more frequent. I haven't been able to stay in the house for a single evening this week; I have to go out and then come back as his wife many times a day. But…to look on the bright side, I've managed to sleep most nights, because Joseph seems to sleep quite well.
I know others are going through much worse, and my heart goes out to all of you. Thank you.
Joseph & I are in some sort of horrible medical limbo. I just need reassurance that I'm doing the right thing, trying to get him diagnosed, by hook or by crook. His PCP (GP) here in the USA prescribed Donepezil for him on Monday, on the advice of a neurologist. Joseph fetched the prescription, saw the hand-out that went with it talking about Alzheimers and dementia, and has been completely freaking out ever since. The neurologist who prescribed Donepezil has offered two emergency appointments, both of which Joseph refused to go to. The second time this happened we had an ugly scene, because I started screaming at him, and the police were called.
Joseph called the PCP to ask to speak to him, and this doctor, who has been kind and responsive up until now, got his secretary to call back and tell him that he indeed has dementia. I have emailed him to ask him to call Joseph directly; he has not done so. Joseph is increasingly anxious, hostile towards me, and very upset.
Joseph has, understandably, refused to take the Donepezil, until he talks to a doctor… He is still on the waiting list for a cancellation appointment with the neurologist, who is going to be away all next week.
It's a relief just to write all this stuff down. I know nobody can do anything practical, but I need some comfort! Our daughter is coming this weekend, so that should help. We're trying to deal with all this, and in the meantime the Capgras episodes (where he thinks I'm an impostor) are becoming more and more frequent. I haven't been able to stay in the house for a single evening this week; I have to go out and then come back as his wife many times a day. But…to look on the bright side, I've managed to sleep most nights, because Joseph seems to sleep quite well.
I know others are going through much worse, and my heart goes out to all of you. Thank you.