Good blog Ann. I know a lot about dementia in the elderly from having Mum here and am now learning about dementia in the middle aged from Ray. I will be a real expert when all this is over.

Hope things work out as planned with Bill's homecoming. I'm glad you got the insurance worked out and don't have that hanging over your head. Life is hard enough without feeling your finances are up the creek as well.

None of this is easy. Having a husband with early onset dementia was not part of my original game plan. And as you said it is like being a Mommy again. With many medical problems added to the mix and with them far beyond childhood in size and age. It really breaks my heart sometimes.

As I say every day - so far, so good.

Sue. :friends:

Thanks Sue.

I guess I should quantify the "obvious to the eye" piece. Since we are such a visual lot, it has always been my intent that Bill dress and generally present himself in the same manner he did pre-stroke. I know there are short-cuts, and since he's been in the SNF he's been dressing in gym shorts and golf shirts because he's been exercising. The other day he didn't want to wear a particular golf shirt because he'd worn it too many times while there!!!!

Another comment one of the therapists made to me was his apparent lack of sense of humor - however, she said every once in awhile he came out with a really funny comment. That's Bill - plays his cards close to the chest, then drops the hand for the win. I have learned that emotional lability entails more than the crying, or laughing - it takes on many forms and his seems to be a solemnity.

Once again I say it, one ... day ... at ... a ... time.

Ann,

Dementia is dementia. It really doesn't matter if it comes from old age related things effecting the brain or a stroke (or series of strokes) effecting the brain. The symptons, prognosis and treatment is the same no matter your age or gender---I take that back, a person 56 years old is more likely to get some form of treatment that, at best, just attempts to hold back the tide. That's the heart-breaking part for caregivers of loved ones with dementia, isn't it. We don't want to accept what we know in our heads is true. It's too hard. Way too hard.

:friends: Jean

Ann,

Rob didn't laugh for a month after his stroke. This was very hard for me, as he and I both laugh a lot. In the hospital we had one episode we both will never forget where we both laughed really hard about something he said about the cauliflower in his soup.

He still doesn't laugh as much as he used to, but much more than he did the first month.

I wish there was an answer to the alternative to private insurance - man it's frustrating.

Take care Ann.

-Karen