My Dad was diagnosed with AD yesterday

[cdubs]

My 57 year old father was diagnosed yesterday. I am 25 living about an hour aways.

Its been a pretty quick decline for him, so this last year as a whole has been a period of pretty rapid adjustment.. Even though we knew something was wrong, and we suspected AD, having the specialists confirm what we thought might be true was tough.

At first my Dad was very upset, worried for what would happen to my Mom.

But today he seemed in better spirits, almost relieved to have a diagnosis, and something to explain why he has been having such a hard time.

 

[lin1]

Hello Cdubs.
Welcome to TP.
I am sorry to hear about your Dad and so young too.
What I found is, that thought you know something is wrong long before, it is still a shock when you are first told and often you do not know which way to turn for the best.

You have come to the right place for info and cyber support.
Feel free to ask questions , we will do our best we have some very knowledgeable people on here .

I am glad to hear your Dad is in better spirits today. Please don't be surprised if your dad soon forgets his diagnosis or denies it , it can happen , just go with the flow.

I am going to put a link to one of our many factsheets on here, this one is to do with after diagnosis. If you're not in the UK , some of the following may not be applicable
http://www.alzheimers.org.uk/site/scripts/documents_info.php?documentID=122

 

[Grandma Joan]

Hi cdubs
I just wanted to say how very sad for your Dad and all of your family. He is so young to have that diagnosis.
But don't forget that you can live well with Dementia and there is lots of support out there but you do have to find the majority of it yourself, sadly it won't all come to you. Seek it out and make sure your Dad stays on the radar.

 

[jaymor]

Welcome to TP from me too clubs.

So glad you found the forum. Lots of help and support for you and your Dad on here and please do come and ask for any help or advice when needed. We all have experience of dementia and a wealth of knowledge so please use us.

Jay

 

[Trixxie]

Welcome Cdubs, my hubby is 54 and just diagnosed with early onset Alzheimer's. I've been on here everyday and it's amazing support & full of info. There will always be someone online to answer your queries. Stay strong... Easier said than done I know!!


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[henfenywfach]

hi cdubs

My 57 year old father was diagnosed yesterday. I am 25 living about an hour aways.

Its been a pretty quick decline for him, so this last year as a whole has been a period of pretty rapid adjustment.. Even though we knew something was wrong, and we suspected AD, having the specialists confirm what we thought might be true was tough.

At first my Dad was very upset, worried for what would happen to my Mom.

But today he seemed in better spirits, almost relieved to have a diagnosis, and something to explain why he has been having such a hard time.

My father was diagnosed about a year ago. I noticed sometime before that there was a problem when I was in my thirties. The stages from diagnosis are a bit like the seasons, upset one minute and then total relief that you know what youre dealing with then worrying about your mum a lot and then okay wanting to talk about it with some sort acceptance. This happens on and off and where as they are intitled to feel bad about it and then accept it, its the worry about your mum that's the one where my dad would do everything in his power not to worry my mum and tried to do things he struggled with ! I suppose this is natural if they've been together for so long but this meant that when I was spending time doing Alzheimer activites with him id see him in a way socially my mother wasn't. My mum now goes to an actitivity with him to dementia choir once a week. Youll learn your way and I likened my dad to a pear tree as time went on a pear would drop off now and again, and that was his abilities, and the changes happening. read all the factsheets and if you are aware of what can happen eventhough you might think how upsetting somethings sound..you are not waiting for things to happen and then you get constant disappointments. when my dad has a good day we have an uplifting time together. living an hour away and being mid 20s doesn't mean you cant have fun and live your life just make sure you have time with your folks but also have time to yourself...good luck keep typing on talking point.

 

[alz-in-law]

I'm so sorry to hear this...my husband has had a similar experience with his father. We knew there was something wrong years before a diagnosis.

There have definitely been ups and downs. For us, we've watched him go between relief for having an answer, to denial and frustration. I also have two young sisters-in-law, so it's an added challenge.

How's your mom doing with this? How are you handling it?

 

[cdubs]

Thanks everyone for the kind responses! All thoughtful, and insightful. I had a few sad moments when I was left to think about the diagnosis, but I realize, like many of you said, there will still be uplifting moments..

I'll be around the forum, I have found lots of useful discussions on here!

I'm so sorry to hear this...my husband has had a similar experience with his father. We knew there was something wrong years before a diagnosis.

There have definitely been ups and downs. For us, we've watched him go between relief for having an answer, to denial and frustration. I also have two young sisters-in-law, so it's an added challenge.

How's your mom doing with this? How are you handling it?

 

[CollegeGirl]

Hi cdubs and welcome to the forum from me too. I'm so sorry to hear about your dad's diagnosis. We suspected Alzheimer's with my mam but when dad told me she'd been diagnosed officially it still hit me like a ton of bricks. Hearing it made it real, if you know what I mean.

TP has been a lifeline for me as I've struggled to help them, and to cope with the difficult emotions I've felt.

We all help each other through bad and sad times, and celebrate with each other through the good times. Nice to meet you.

 

[MLM]

Hello!

I'm 25 and my father-in-law was diagnosed in May this year age 54. Life has very much continued as normal, though I can't say that things are not getting worse. Still manageable but still worse. I pop on here to be among other people living with dementia even if I haven't got too much to say myself all the time.

I don't worry about the future much but my other half is very forgetful at times so occasionally it does cross my mind that one day he may have the same issues, or even myself. Dementia is an awful condition. I'm not sure I would cope with a diagnosis in as an accepting way as others seem to. My FIL has taken it well but then we aren't 100% sure if he really fully understands or accepts it.


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