Good Morning Lawson….
I sorry for the delay in replying, had a few bad days, but ok now!
When you said, 'For you to have insight into your condition is a very unusual thing,’ this struck home as one of my major worries. I’m not sure how unusual this is? I certainly know that I haven’t heard off many that seem to be aware, more than this situation of denial, but if you deny something, are you acknowledging something is different, or are you truly oblivious of it?
I often wish for oblivion, but then doesn’t help those that have to deal with me in their world. If that makes sense?
You say your husband was diagnosed six years ago. Well first, this gives me hope that there is life after diagnoses, which is really different from the message I received when I got my diagnosis. However, I wanted to ask, did your husband go along with this diagnosing process, did he know something was different then? You see, I went to my doctor many years ago, about memory problems I was experiencing while I was teaching, but stress was the then preferred diagnosis.
I truly believe that if my concerns had be looked at further from the outset, I would not be in this state now, where I am disabled, deaf, have Neuralgic Amyotrophy Epilepsy, Meniere’s, addicted to too many tablets and now this final nail.
The biggest pain in all of this, is that I am aware of it all!
I’m sorry, I’m ranting again!
I haven’t met many people with dementia that are overtly happy, but then again, I haven’t met many with dementia, but I think you husband is very lucky and I envy him. You also mention that at 80, he is still a keen Bridge player. Has he always played Bridge? I certainly believe that by keeping your brain active, helps with all aspects of dementia. I wonder if this has led to this state that he is in? Keep playing Bridge I say. I use to play chess, but I cannot keep the moves in my head now, it is like they are there, but just out of reach. This does not stop me trying everything and anything I can. I believe my brain will recover, I have to believe!
Coronavirus doesn’t really worry me! Maybe it should, but I think if people stop acting out of self pity and stop acting as this is affecting them alone, then we will be ok. We are not on our own!
As you say, perhaps an insight and understanding will help me and I will not give up trying to find an answer that will work with my own dementia.
You ended with this; My dad always use to say that to defeat a monster, you first have to look him in the eye.
It made me smile, because it is so true and I referenced a quote from Terry Pratchett in one of my post:
To Beat the Monster...
Check it out, about half way down…
I thank you again for taking the time to reply and wish you and your husband happiness!