Hello everyone
This is my first proper post on here. I've been reading this forum for a while (since my mother was diagnosed with Alzheimer's) and found it to be really reassuring knowing that I'm not alone.
Today it's really got me down though, and I fancy sharing if that's okay...
I'm 29 and my mother was diagnosed at the age of 63 (she's now 65). Me and my sister had noticed her memory fading amongst other things for a while, but it wasn't until her second 'memory clinic' test that she got diagnosed. It's great having the diagnosis and knowing what we are dealing with, and knowing that we weren't going mad and seeing problems where there weren't any.
Just before she was diagnosed, her husband left her (not my father). Because she cannot understand or remember most of what happened during their relationship, my sister and me have dealt with the divorce, which subsequently has dragged out for all this time. It's incredibly wearing and tiring, and I am convinced that her solicitor is taking advantage of her condition in order to get more money from her.
It's an incredibly complicated divorce, involving several properties, and has inevitably brought up a lot of past feelings about when my parents separated (over 20 years ago).
On top of that, last year my father passed away very unexpectedly. He was an incredibly reassuring man, and would always be able to comfort us and help out in times of need. So right now I need some help, and he's not here. She needs help and we just have to do all of it, on top of trying to look after ourselves and trying to sort out his estate.
It's so hard talking to people my own age, because they are all seemingly having fun and living life, and I feel like I'm constantly sinking lower and lower with sadness trying to deal with all of this. And her condition is only going to get worse too!
Knowing that there is still so much to do regarding this divorce is a nightmare, and it's only made more difficult by her Alzheimer's. I know it can't be helped, and we're helping her as much as possible, but it's so hard already, and I know that this is the tip of the iceberg, given how young she is.
I hope it's okay for me to vent on here. By no means am I trying to make a pity party, but it's very difficult explaining her Alzheimer's to people who have not experienced it themselves. No one has constructive advice, and if they do try to listen to you, they think less of you for saying how frustrating she can be.
This is my first proper post on here. I've been reading this forum for a while (since my mother was diagnosed with Alzheimer's) and found it to be really reassuring knowing that I'm not alone.
Today it's really got me down though, and I fancy sharing if that's okay...
I'm 29 and my mother was diagnosed at the age of 63 (she's now 65). Me and my sister had noticed her memory fading amongst other things for a while, but it wasn't until her second 'memory clinic' test that she got diagnosed. It's great having the diagnosis and knowing what we are dealing with, and knowing that we weren't going mad and seeing problems where there weren't any.
Just before she was diagnosed, her husband left her (not my father). Because she cannot understand or remember most of what happened during their relationship, my sister and me have dealt with the divorce, which subsequently has dragged out for all this time. It's incredibly wearing and tiring, and I am convinced that her solicitor is taking advantage of her condition in order to get more money from her.
It's an incredibly complicated divorce, involving several properties, and has inevitably brought up a lot of past feelings about when my parents separated (over 20 years ago).
On top of that, last year my father passed away very unexpectedly. He was an incredibly reassuring man, and would always be able to comfort us and help out in times of need. So right now I need some help, and he's not here. She needs help and we just have to do all of it, on top of trying to look after ourselves and trying to sort out his estate.
It's so hard talking to people my own age, because they are all seemingly having fun and living life, and I feel like I'm constantly sinking lower and lower with sadness trying to deal with all of this. And her condition is only going to get worse too!
Knowing that there is still so much to do regarding this divorce is a nightmare, and it's only made more difficult by her Alzheimer's. I know it can't be helped, and we're helping her as much as possible, but it's so hard already, and I know that this is the tip of the iceberg, given how young she is.
I hope it's okay for me to vent on here. By no means am I trying to make a pity party, but it's very difficult explaining her Alzheimer's to people who have not experienced it themselves. No one has constructive advice, and if they do try to listen to you, they think less of you for saying how frustrating she can be.
) and very few of my friends, save one who is very understanding, have the faintest idea what this disease is like. Funnily enough my latest post today is about having had a particularly difficult week!
