Thanks, Dr. Hilfiker, for sharing your thoughts. My psychiatrist has given me a preliminary diagnosis of early onset dementia. I'm going to begin a lof of neuro psych testing tomorrow. I'm also currently trying to help my 84 year-old mother care for my gravely ill father, who is 85 and in in-home hospice care. I haven't told anyone in my family because I don't think they could handle dealing with my father and my news. I'm sure they've noticed some of the symptoms I exhibit, but I think they chalk it up to the stress of helping my parents. My symptoms of dementia began long before the circumstances with my parents occurred.
I'm thankful for my ability to maintain insight up to this point and the ability to write. I can't do much else. I'm getting lost and disoriented while driving and can't do simple things like work a vacume cleaner or write a grocery list. I can't follow a recipe and cooking is too overwhelming. When I do try to cook tge food doesn't "come out right". I'm getting along well with my smartphone so far and am still working. Doing dishes is difficult, getting dressed is difficult. My short term memory is pretty much shot, but fortunately I haven't yet begun to forget who people are. I even have difficulty swallowing sometimes. It seems that the symptoms have really escalated since last autumn. If it continues at the pace of the last several months, I will be fairly incapacitated soon. I am really scared about it--but like I said before, kind of relieved as well.
It will definitely be a relief to get a diagnosis. I think having dementia will be much harder on my family and friends than it will be on me. I'm trying to figure out when I and my family will know it's time for me to sign off. I am a firm believer in assisted suicide and have already decided for myself that when I forget who my son is...that's when it's time for me to go.
Thank you, Dr. Hilfiker for your candor in writing about your journey. I find your approach refreshing and encouraging for those who will one day have cognitive issues that will be some form of dementia. Allowing yourself to be free of daily expectations is great --- please keep writing for as long as you can. Dotty
2 Comments
First Oldest
First
Why Am I So Happy With My Alzheimer’s?
I'm thankful for my ability to maintain insight up to this point and the ability to write. I can't do much else. I'm getting lost and disoriented while driving and can't do simple things like work a vacume cleaner or write a grocery list. I can't follow a recipe and cooking is too overwhelming. When I do try to cook tge food doesn't "come out right". I'm getting along well with my smartphone so far and am still working. Doing dishes is difficult, getting dressed is difficult. My short term memory is pretty much shot, but fortunately I haven't yet begun to forget who people are. I even have difficulty swallowing sometimes. It seems that the symptoms have really escalated since last autumn. If it continues at the pace of the last several months, I will be fairly incapacitated soon. I am really scared about it--but like I said before, kind of relieved as well.
It will definitely be a relief to get a diagnosis. I think having dementia will be much harder on my family and friends than it will be on me. I'm trying to figure out when I and my family will know it's time for me to sign off. I am a firm believer in assisted suicide and have already decided for myself that when I forget who my son is...that's when it's time for me to go.