Hello everyone
My husband has been developing symptoms of dementia over the last 4 or 5 years, and we have finally had an initial GP assessment and are waiting for a CT scan before being referred to the local memory clinic. At least we can talk about it now (it was the elephant in the room for a couple of years) but the wider family are having problems coming to terms with it (“he seems fine to me”) and we are still living under a veil of shame and secrecy (making excuses to friends about why he is no longer driving). I feel like I am caught in some sort of weird parallel universe- is he still my husband or an impulsive 8 year old? Is it safe to leave him alone, and if so for how long?
I have been reading books about how I need to be mindful of his needs but no one seems to care about my needs. I know this is only the beginning of a one way journey that won’t get any better. When I read your posts I am cheered by your support for each other but alarmed by the relentless downhill direction we are probably going in. My mental health is not great at the best of times but I am committed to do my best for my best friend and I will do my best to never let him down. It seems a long and lonely way ahead though.
My husband has been developing symptoms of dementia over the last 4 or 5 years, and we have finally had an initial GP assessment and are waiting for a CT scan before being referred to the local memory clinic. At least we can talk about it now (it was the elephant in the room for a couple of years) but the wider family are having problems coming to terms with it (“he seems fine to me”) and we are still living under a veil of shame and secrecy (making excuses to friends about why he is no longer driving). I feel like I am caught in some sort of weird parallel universe- is he still my husband or an impulsive 8 year old? Is it safe to leave him alone, and if so for how long?
I have been reading books about how I need to be mindful of his needs but no one seems to care about my needs. I know this is only the beginning of a one way journey that won’t get any better. When I read your posts I am cheered by your support for each other but alarmed by the relentless downhill direction we are probably going in. My mental health is not great at the best of times but I am committed to do my best for my best friend and I will do my best to never let him down. It seems a long and lonely way ahead though.