Hello JTSA. Your contribution has opened my eyes to the possibility of an alternative approach to vascular dementia (so much nicer than VD) and its effects on sufferers and carers. The first thing that struck me was your "early stage" and your Join date of Jan 2011 - perhaps the CADASIL (which I had to google) is the lead factor.
I care for my wife of 79 who suffers from COPD and was diagnosed with vascular dementia 12 months ago. I have felt quite guilty about the difference beteen our life styles. She goes to bed at 10.30 and stays there until 9, sometimes later. I stay up until 2.00 and arise at 7.30. The difference in the times is classed as "my time" and is jeaslously (albeit guiltily) guarded. During "my time" I ensure she is OK by means of a baby monitor and I take extreme care to avoid making any noise that might disturb her.
Like you and many other sufferers as described in this thread, my wife spends much of the day asleep but more often than not she complains about how badly she sleeps at night and utters "I never closed my eyes all night". My protestations that sleeping during the day is the probable root cause and "You are supposed to close your eyes" fall on deaf ears.
I suspected that the daytime sleeping could be a way of coping with loneliness so some afternoons I sit with her only to find that I too have fallen asleep - not because I am tired but because she is asleep. On awakening I cannot help thinking about the time I have just wasted.
In September we are going to Skegness for a week. This will be our first time away from home for three years. We are both looking forward to it but privately I am dreading that it will turn out to be a rather expensive SLEEPover. Ever hopeful I will pack her bikini, sun lotions and our surfboards.
Thank you again for your contribution JTSA, best wishes. I am certain that my thoughts will be with you.
I care for my wife of 79 who suffers from COPD and was diagnosed with vascular dementia 12 months ago. I have felt quite guilty about the difference beteen our life styles. She goes to bed at 10.30 and stays there until 9, sometimes later. I stay up until 2.00 and arise at 7.30. The difference in the times is classed as "my time" and is jeaslously (albeit guiltily) guarded. During "my time" I ensure she is OK by means of a baby monitor and I take extreme care to avoid making any noise that might disturb her.
Like you and many other sufferers as described in this thread, my wife spends much of the day asleep but more often than not she complains about how badly she sleeps at night and utters "I never closed my eyes all night". My protestations that sleeping during the day is the probable root cause and "You are supposed to close your eyes" fall on deaf ears.
I suspected that the daytime sleeping could be a way of coping with loneliness so some afternoons I sit with her only to find that I too have fallen asleep - not because I am tired but because she is asleep. On awakening I cannot help thinking about the time I have just wasted.
In September we are going to Skegness for a week. This will be our first time away from home for three years. We are both looking forward to it but privately I am dreading that it will turn out to be a rather expensive SLEEPover. Ever hopeful I will pack her bikini, sun lotions and our surfboards.
Thank you again for your contribution JTSA, best wishes. I am certain that my thoughts will be with you.