Hi Sue @741215, 🌺
Thanks for your reply. It is good to hear that your trip with grandchildren went so well and you got time to spend with your sister and BIL. Your OH is doing so well. I mean he sounds calm, contended, enjoying the present and children's company without minding their tantrums. He managed to have a good time on his own too. It could be, as you say, down to his medication and personality but I also believe that it has to do with his well structured routine. I realise how important routine is and will try to follow your example although being a South European I have some issues when it comes to keeping time but I am generally all right with organisation and managing emergencies
We are very happy with TES (Transcranial Electrical Stimulation), a research run by Imperial but the journey is long, over 3 hours with return! There are awful traffic jams especially when you cross the river. My OH gets very tired. On the top of it one has to put up with the awful music that the driver likes to listen to. My OH wants to do some work for his tuition but it isn't possible.
I used to love London but now dream of being far away. We stay here for our son but going to his house is an equally long journey. Moving to a new part of the country is a big decision and is always in my mind. My husband is from Liverpool and I love the sea so, for a while I was tempted to get a bungalow in the surrounding areas by the sea. I was disappointed when I found out that care in some places wasn't good and gave up. We are not at an age for adventures. Now we have this upheaval with building works instead. They will start in the second week of October.
My OH has always been a kind and never a violent man but he appears to be more stressed (especially as he has issues with prostrate and being in need of going to toilet so often). He gets anxious with the long taxi rides for instance. He seems to disagree more strongly with me on various issues than he used do. He is also principled and has always been set in his English ways and me not being so English seems to be more of an issue now that we are elderly than it used to be. I guess both of us are returning to being our 'true' selves.
Today he had an afternoon nap and woke up panicking because I had made a noise. He started shouting about what was going on and happening. I told him he was having a nap, the time of the day and the day and he was reassured.
I am every day and any time on call with my daughter who is studying in a French speaking country. I wish I wasn't a French speaker but then she wouldn't have been there. I do some readings or even entire book readings she gives me and I follow a few lectures online to help. I enjoy most of it as psychology is an interesting subject to me but I am often under pressure. Also my daughter can be a 'difficult customer'!
After the diagnosis, we talked with the GP (phone consultation) who prescribed Donepezil and that was it. I want to ask questions as I am confused. He was diagnosed with Alzheimer's and people talk about so many varieties of dementia. What exactly is your OH diagnosed with? Is it also just Alzheimer's. I don't know if we should have another appointment. I think it depends of the GP. Not all of them are knowledgeable on the subject.
I am reading "The End of Memory" by Jay Ingram on Libby. It is very interesting to read about the history of AD, Alois Alzheimer, his first patients, how well his discovery was received in 1905 (not great interest. Freud was so popular at this time and he didn't need money to have a lab) etc. and the real interest in the subject that appeared in 1990's. It took us a very long time to grasp the importance of Alzheimer's work. I love history and have just discovered that the history of psychology, psychiatry etc is equally interesting than the 'usual' history. I wish I had more time to read but don't these days.
Are you back home? How old are your grandchildren? I have none. I wish for them and at the same time I don't. Life isn't always fair or easy.
May all things continue to be well for you both and family.
Have a peaceful and restful end of the week.
A big hug with love,
Mary 🦋💌