You have my heartfelt sympathy. My husband has Alzheimer's (diagnosed 5 years ago) and I have M.S. (for 35+ years). Both of these diseases are so variable, there is no single timeline to expect. My gut feeling is that somehow they are working synergystically and speeding up the progression of each. You are no doubt in shock and are still trying to catch up to the reality of your dear wife's two diagnoses. Please seek as much support as you can for yourself. Be kind to yourself. Hospice is for family as much as for the patient. Please avail yourself of grief counseling services as you bear witness to her journey. Peace, peace, peace.
It is difficult to tell at this point which is causing what when you have a diagnosis of both MS and dementia. Your wife must have been one of the more rare in which MS was either diagnosed late, or struck her at a more advanced age than normally it does. I am so very sorry. We often see people with mixed diagnosis, and most normally it is Parkinson's and Dementia.
I sure wish you good luck. Even if some of us here have a similar story of diagnosis do know that progression, illness is just so individual for any one person; it is like our own thumbprints. Few people diagnosed with like conditions progress like others do.
Is your wife presently in care? I am so sorry for all you're trying to deal with.
Your profile does not show wife's age. This may have something to do with how fast things are going. Your wife could have had MS for years before it was diagnosed. Its one disease that is hard to diagnose. My cousin was diagnosed at 50 and passed at 70 from respiratory problems. Everyone is different.
How old is your wife? My cousin was diagnosed with ALZ at 68 (which means she had it before her symptoms were obvious). She just turned 70 and is already in hospice, bedbound, not opening her eyes, talking somewhat, barely eating. I've known others with ALZ and comparitavely, am shocked at how fast my cousin's progressed.
I'm so sorry for your wife's condition. I think since she is already in hospice a second opinion to confirm a diagnosis may not provide any benefit. May you both receive peace in your hearts.
I did a little bit of web searching and did find mention of dementia associated with MS, as well as MS and other kinds of dementia occurring concurrently. The very rapid pace of her MS seems to be less well documented and even PPMS seems to have a longer timeline than this. If you are concerned about a misdiagnosis you could ask for a second opinion, but otherwise I think your only option is to deal with what is happening now and to take things one day at a time. I'm sorry.
I sure wish you good luck. Even if some of us here have a similar story of diagnosis do know that progression, illness is just so individual for any one person; it is like our own thumbprints. Few people diagnosed with like conditions progress like others do.
Is your wife presently in care? I am so sorry for all you're trying to deal with.
I'm so sorry for your wife's condition. I think since she is already in hospice a second opinion to confirm a diagnosis may not provide any benefit. May you both receive peace in your hearts.