Hi, my mum was diagnosed with mixed dementia last May/June at 83. She won’t accept it and says her friends all forget things.
I’m joining because I need support. I’m not the sort of person who usually asks or share but I’m sitting here after a particularly stressful visit to mum, just wanting to sob my heart out.
There is a lot to say about mum (we have always had a volatile relationship) and I’m struggling to hold it together. I’ll just give you a flavour of the situation:..
We lost my dad 5 years ago February and he used to dote over mum- she hardly lifted a finger. So we (my brother/sister in law, and me and my husband) have been taking care of things like finances, utilities etc since he died.
She has a lot of health problems (diabeties not well managed, high BP, high cholesterol and a drink problem).
At Christmas she had several TIAs and a small stroke so came to live with me to recuperate as she couldn’t go back home on her own. She continues to be very ill and experience regular small TIAs. After each one, her memory gets worse. She can’t even remember being so ill over Christmas.
Lately her physical health has improved, we’ve got her off the booze, her blood sugar is excellent, her BP getting there and not had TIAs for some weeks. She wanted to go back home and she’s been back a couple of weeks to see how she goes but with me or my OH going round to give her meds (and the dog’s). It’s hard work and I’m finding it hard not to row when she forgets to feed him or doesn’t lock the front door etc. I know it’s not her fault but that’s the sort of relationship we’ve always had.
Sorry for the outpourings