MaryGrace and Richard

Facing Alzheimers Together
by MaryGrace Patterson
Tuesday, October 28, 2008
Rated "G" by the Author.

Life is not easy when husband and wife both have Alzheimers. Every 72 seconds someone gets Alzheimers.Its progressing at an alarming rate. There is also a genetic factor involved within some families

I was diagnoised with Alzheimers in May 2007. It was a devastating blow to me and my family. I was on an emotional rollar coaster trying to cope with memory loss, new medications
and facing the gradual decline of my mental and physical capabilities.

What a difference a year has made!
My whole outlook on life has changed. I went through the process of anger , denial, frustration, depression. With the help of medications, the disease has been slowed down, and I can remember things much better. I still forget a few things , but I accept the fact that its normal to do so and I don't go to pieces like I once did.

My husband ,Richard, has been having memory problems. He stated he felt like there were blank spaces in his brain. He was having many of the same symptoms I had the previous year.

At the end of August, 2008, his Doctor ordered a PET scan .
The results showed that he has Alzheimers, plus another form of Dementia. The news was overpowering!

He has been quiet and does not discuss it much. He does not want to take medication to help slow it down and had refused too, until a few weeks ago. He has finally started taking Exelon 1.5mg once a day. He needs to take it twice daily , plus start on Namenda. The doseage increases monthly until a certain dose amount is reached. I'm trying not to push him too much. I just don't understand why he doesn't want to help himself !

We're a married couple who have been through so much together. We've always been open and able to talk about things and now he's shutting me out!

I realize he needs time to adjust and cope with the diagnosis. He has Lupus and a metal aortic valve which was put in ,in 1984, plus a few other medical problems. He states Alzheimers won't kill him , something else will.
That might be true , one never knows what's ahead, but that's no reason not to take his medication. I feel he's not accepting it, and perhaps is withdrawing so he doesn't have to face it.

It's real and it affects both him and me. He's placing more of a burden on me and I worry about him. The changes in him are suttle, but I see a small decline in cognative thoughts. He also gets angry quicker, then it subsides.

Our lives are changing more and more, and I feel helpless to stop what's happeneing!
He will be seeing his Doctor soon, perhaps she can talk with him and help in some way.

Please keep us in your prayers.

A FOOT NOTE:
My husband saw the Doctor on Nov 5. She talked with him and he is now using the Exelon patch. He will start on Namenda in Dec. Miracles do happen! Thanks for all your prayers and support!
God bless all of you! MaryGrace