Hi All!

Sophie06

Registered User
Apr 26, 2006
9
0
The last time that I posted on here was when my father had just been diagnosed from the University/College London with AD. It has now been over a month and it still hurts.

My mother was made redundant soon after my father's AD was diagnosed. He is in his late 50's and the future is going to be great struggle. My sister has just moved out of the family house to leave me and my mum to care for dad.

ITS AMAZING HOW FAST THIS IS DEVELOPING! Within the last week his speech has totally gone and the random things that he comes out with suprise me. He is scared and now refuses to use the oven and sits outside the house on our wall on the street for the majority of the day. Everyday day i lose some more. He has started to say things that hurt. He said that my mum was agressive and nasty and she has never done such thing. The simplest thing like picking something up from the floor is practically impossible. Its getting very sad and fustrating. He crys even more now.

I have good days and bad days. I miss him when I think back to past memeories and they seem so far away. I am embarassed when he is out with us in public with his random comments and actions. I get worried that my boyfriend doesnt want to be with me because its a burden and its embarassing.

Still life goes on. I hope everyone is well on here. Just felt I had to get that out. It helps me to except it a bit better I think.

Sophie
 

Margarita

Registered User
Feb 17, 2006
10,824
0
london
Hi Sophie

I do feel for you as you must still be in shock about it

Is your dad on any medication? I know it does not stop AD ,but it can slow it all down & give your dad & your family a better quality of life

I am sure if your boyfriend really love you his not going to judge you on your dad behaviour & see it as burden and embarassing.
 

Sophie06

Registered User
Apr 26, 2006
9
0
He is not on medication yet. He has an appointment at the memory clinc. Can you explain how the scoring works? He is also going back to the University/College London for more tests.
 

Michael E

Registered User
Apr 14, 2005
619
0
Ronda Spain
Hi Sophie,,
I am living in france so it may be different but I think not.. there appears to be a mini mental test - knowlage of basic things like who is the prime minister to drawing the numbers round a clock face to counting backwards from 100 subtracting 7 all the time (I still can't do that!!! oops) and a top score for the whole thing is 7 and the bottom is 1... There is then a more sophisticated test with a booklet that is more signifigent perhaps..... However.. people with AD have good days and bad days so it just depends on what sort of day they are having as to how 'good or bad' the score is..

It is really all a shorthand way for doctors/specialists to decide how rotton the paitients memory actually is. Moniques neurologist does not bother any more - she does not know what day of the week it is far less who is prime minister.
Sophie06 said:
Also what is Respite?
It is what you really really want when you have been looking after someone with AD for a while. Either they go into a 'home' for a few days/week and you are free to just be you... Or you get someone to lookafter them for 24/7 for a few days and you go off somewhere for the duration... It is a sort of pardise!

love

Michael
 

cathy z

Registered User
May 23, 2006
7
0
gloucestershire
Dear Sophie, i'm sorry your having such a hard time my mum has just been diagnosed and she is a lot older than your dad so I can imagine what a shock it is for you.Make sure that you have time out for yourself doing something that you enjoy that is relaxing, so you can stay well enough yourself to help your parents. Is there someone in the local alzheimerrs society branch that you can talk to?Best Wishes,Cathy z
 

Libby

Registered User
May 20, 2006
625
0
66
North East
Hi Sophie

I really feel for you - your dad is so young and it must be terrible for you. You're obviously quite young yourself - are you looking after your Dad full time with your Mum, or do you work as well? My mum is 76 and after my dad died last year, had to go into a home as she couldn't be left on her own - she was just so frightened - especially when it was dark. I found this hard, but I know how much harder it would have been it I'd had to look after her full time, and to be honest, I don't think I could have.

Don't feel embarrassed though, as I'm sure that the majority of people aren't thinking anyhting horrible. Your dad can't help the things he does and if people can't accept that, then they're the ones with a problem. Make sure that you talk to your boyfriend, and also make sure that you go out and enjoy yourself. I'm sure that your dad would have hated to think that an illness of his would stop you from living your life.

Take care

Libs
 

Lila13

Registered User
Feb 24, 2006
1,342
0
Respite is where I wanted to go for a rest when my mother was put there for 12 days.

Lila