Hello everyone
I have only just joined. I am so glad this exists! My M.I.L. was diagnosed with AD just before Christmas, although we had our suspicions for a while. Things with her are deteriorating quite rapidly. She lives in her own home at the moment, but for how much longer I don't know. Social services are coming to assess her in the near future. I am cooking for her so at least I know she is eating. My husband is her only Son. It is so hard not being able to have another family member to talk to/share problems. I have had a quick scan through letters here and you all seem so supportive to one another, I hope I can help someone and that I may get help too.
My M.I.L started Aricept as soon as she was diagnosed. So far it hasn't made any difference at all. Maybe the only thing it appears to have done is make her more withdrawn. She doesn't seem to want to come out of the house anymore. Even though she only lives a few doors away from us and used to be on the phone many,many times a day, she doesn't even do that now. She goes to bed at strange times. She also thinks that someone is stealing her belongings and is getting quite paranoid about that. Next week I have to take her back to the doctor, he said he wants to increase the dose of her Aricept. I think he is going to get quite a shock when he sees her. Her deterioration is quite dramatic. Is this normal? Is there a normal with AD. Patients seem to vary so much . My M.I.L is one of seven children and four of them have AD. I find that scary!
Anyway, I will close for now as I seem to have gone on a bit!! It's just nice to have some much needed support.
Love and stuff
Diane
I have only just joined. I am so glad this exists! My M.I.L. was diagnosed with AD just before Christmas, although we had our suspicions for a while. Things with her are deteriorating quite rapidly. She lives in her own home at the moment, but for how much longer I don't know. Social services are coming to assess her in the near future. I am cooking for her so at least I know she is eating. My husband is her only Son. It is so hard not being able to have another family member to talk to/share problems. I have had a quick scan through letters here and you all seem so supportive to one another, I hope I can help someone and that I may get help too.
My M.I.L started Aricept as soon as she was diagnosed. So far it hasn't made any difference at all. Maybe the only thing it appears to have done is make her more withdrawn. She doesn't seem to want to come out of the house anymore. Even though she only lives a few doors away from us and used to be on the phone many,many times a day, she doesn't even do that now. She goes to bed at strange times. She also thinks that someone is stealing her belongings and is getting quite paranoid about that. Next week I have to take her back to the doctor, he said he wants to increase the dose of her Aricept. I think he is going to get quite a shock when he sees her. Her deterioration is quite dramatic. Is this normal? Is there a normal with AD. Patients seem to vary so much . My M.I.L is one of seven children and four of them have AD. I find that scary!
Anyway, I will close for now as I seem to have gone on a bit!! It's just nice to have some much needed support.
Love and stuff
Diane