I have been a regualr viewer on this site since my Mother's diagnosis six months ago but have always been reluctant to dive in. So here goes.
My Mother is driving me crazy !! OK, I've said it. Yep she is the sufferer, she is losing her memory, she is the once fit, active and independant person now regressing as the disease kills her brain cells but I don't know how to handle this.
I feel anger, frustration, despair etc etc. I have two young boys of my own who no longer enjoy their Grandmother and can see that their Father doesn't either.
My Mother has lot's to be proud of. She was born in the depression years, became a highly proficient musician, survived the horrors of WWII, raised children in difficult circumstances, lost two husbands to cancer (first my father at 14yrs old) and now is losing her most valued faculties. Her son doesn't understand and fails her in giving the support that she needs. Her and my Father gave me everything as I grew up but I find it so hard to adequately reciprocate.
She is fortunate in that through the badgering of her GP by myself and my sister, she was prescribed Arocet (is that how you spell it ?) in January. It's hard to say that she is improving but she isn't getting worse. For this we are all thankful. She is still able to look afer herself in her home carrying out all daily routines without risk. Fortunately I live less than 10mins drive from her and can make sure she is ok. Our hope is that this situation stays stable for as long as possible - a home would surely kill her and we won't let that happen.
I am concious that the disease (I assume) seems to have emphasised the more negative aspects of my Mother's personality - a tendancy to focus on the negative. It is this that we (me) find so hard. We rarely meet now without a disagreement on something, which casts a shadow over the time we have left. how can this change now .....
My Mother is driving me crazy !! OK, I've said it. Yep she is the sufferer, she is losing her memory, she is the once fit, active and independant person now regressing as the disease kills her brain cells but I don't know how to handle this.
I feel anger, frustration, despair etc etc. I have two young boys of my own who no longer enjoy their Grandmother and can see that their Father doesn't either.
My Mother has lot's to be proud of. She was born in the depression years, became a highly proficient musician, survived the horrors of WWII, raised children in difficult circumstances, lost two husbands to cancer (first my father at 14yrs old) and now is losing her most valued faculties. Her son doesn't understand and fails her in giving the support that she needs. Her and my Father gave me everything as I grew up but I find it so hard to adequately reciprocate.
She is fortunate in that through the badgering of her GP by myself and my sister, she was prescribed Arocet (is that how you spell it ?) in January. It's hard to say that she is improving but she isn't getting worse. For this we are all thankful. She is still able to look afer herself in her home carrying out all daily routines without risk. Fortunately I live less than 10mins drive from her and can make sure she is ok. Our hope is that this situation stays stable for as long as possible - a home would surely kill her and we won't let that happen.
I am concious that the disease (I assume) seems to have emphasised the more negative aspects of my Mother's personality - a tendancy to focus on the negative. It is this that we (me) find so hard. We rarely meet now without a disagreement on something, which casts a shadow over the time we have left. how can this change now .....