Hi everyone
I have been reading the threads for a few weeks now and today decided to register. My husband was diagnosed with Alzheimers two years ago and apart from being a bit forgetful at that time(loosing keys etc) there were no other symptoms. The news came as a great shock to me and he immediately went into denial. For the following 18 months or so I thought the diagnosis was wrong. He seemed so normal in fact he still seems normal most of the time.
However over the past few months there has been a change. He sometimes finds it difficult to find the right word, referring the other day to his "outer garment I wear to bed" instead of his dressing gown. He is also much quieter in company and has little conversation at times.
What prompted me to seek support today is his manic obsession with money and financial documents. He keeps everything in a locked case and has to sort out the documents at least once every day. He keeps his wallet with him at all times(in his pyjama pocket during the night)and hides it when he goes to shower. Yesterday he couldn't find it when he came out the shower and as usual accused me of taking it. We found it on top of the medicine cabinet. He is now on bank card no.6 as he goes to the bank and says he has lost his card and of course then he finds it in one of his hiding places(under the matress,in a shoe or in the sacred locked case). A couple of weeks ago the case went missing and he accused me of taking it. He was very aggresive and for the first time in 25 years I was frightened of him. It turned out he had phoned a friend and said he needed to see him urgently. The friend was going on holiday that night but said that my husband seemed so agitated he agreed to meet him.He asked the friend to keep the case for him. A few hours later he had no recollection of meeting the friend and giving him the case. A similiar incidence recently occured over his cheque book but this time he had clenched fists inches from my face. I ran out of the house and telephoned our 18 year old son to come home . He does not behave in a threatening manner in front of our son or indeed anyone else. He has cashed in a savings cerificate and opened a new account and then forgotten about it for weeks. I have EPA registered but I know he will be furious and probably violent if I try and take control of the finances.
I am 50 and my husband is 19 years older than me, and is fit though he is not walking as much as he used to. We love to travel and go away somewhere every few months. I feel so sad at what is happening to him and us. I know I should be more compassionate when he does things relating to his condition but I react shouting back etc. I also work full time . He is still driving depite me telling the consultant my concerns and the consultant writing this in his report to the DVLA. His license was renewed for a year to be assessed again.
I am sorry I have rambled on and compared to most of you I dont have any real problems yet. If you have read this far thanks for letting me rant on.
I have been reading the threads for a few weeks now and today decided to register. My husband was diagnosed with Alzheimers two years ago and apart from being a bit forgetful at that time(loosing keys etc) there were no other symptoms. The news came as a great shock to me and he immediately went into denial. For the following 18 months or so I thought the diagnosis was wrong. He seemed so normal in fact he still seems normal most of the time.
However over the past few months there has been a change. He sometimes finds it difficult to find the right word, referring the other day to his "outer garment I wear to bed" instead of his dressing gown. He is also much quieter in company and has little conversation at times.
What prompted me to seek support today is his manic obsession with money and financial documents. He keeps everything in a locked case and has to sort out the documents at least once every day. He keeps his wallet with him at all times(in his pyjama pocket during the night)and hides it when he goes to shower. Yesterday he couldn't find it when he came out the shower and as usual accused me of taking it. We found it on top of the medicine cabinet. He is now on bank card no.6 as he goes to the bank and says he has lost his card and of course then he finds it in one of his hiding places(under the matress,in a shoe or in the sacred locked case). A couple of weeks ago the case went missing and he accused me of taking it. He was very aggresive and for the first time in 25 years I was frightened of him. It turned out he had phoned a friend and said he needed to see him urgently. The friend was going on holiday that night but said that my husband seemed so agitated he agreed to meet him.He asked the friend to keep the case for him. A few hours later he had no recollection of meeting the friend and giving him the case. A similiar incidence recently occured over his cheque book but this time he had clenched fists inches from my face. I ran out of the house and telephoned our 18 year old son to come home . He does not behave in a threatening manner in front of our son or indeed anyone else. He has cashed in a savings cerificate and opened a new account and then forgotten about it for weeks. I have EPA registered but I know he will be furious and probably violent if I try and take control of the finances.
I am 50 and my husband is 19 years older than me, and is fit though he is not walking as much as he used to. We love to travel and go away somewhere every few months. I feel so sad at what is happening to him and us. I know I should be more compassionate when he does things relating to his condition but I react shouting back etc. I also work full time . He is still driving depite me telling the consultant my concerns and the consultant writing this in his report to the DVLA. His license was renewed for a year to be assessed again.
I am sorry I have rambled on and compared to most of you I dont have any real problems yet. If you have read this far thanks for letting me rant on.