Single mother of 3

My husband Phil and I have been married for 15 years. We met and started our family later in life than most. He is now 51 years old and our two daughters are just 12 and 11 years old, I feel as if he is my oldest child. He was having problems with his memory and his speech starting back in the Fall of 2011. It got to the point where he was afraid of driving. it was hard to get him to the doctor especially if they were not close by. We started with a neurologist, he said we needed a psychiatrist since Phil was having hallucinations. The psychiatrist said he needed to see a neurologist because of the speech problems, memory and balance issues. He was able to get disability in Feb 2012. he hasn’t gotten any better, only worse. I kept trying to find someone to help him. A neurologist sent him for testing and they said possible LBD. I was able to get an appointment with the Cognitive Neurologist at Hospital of University of PA (HUP). based on the symptoms he feels he has LBD. What? What is that? Phil is having more and more problems walking, balance is an issue. he forgets to eat, I need to help him get dressed and take his pills. then there are times when he’s not so bad. how did this happen? I tell people I have 3 children ages 51, 12 and 11. he’s not able to find the remote, the phone etc and his memory continues to deteriorate. I never expected it at this age, at 81 yes but not now. I feel so alone. we were to grow old together, and play with our grandkids, not worry about if he is safe when I am at work or if he has eaten. the kids don’t understand what dementia is I have tried to explain it on terms they can understand, but I guess I am having a hard time myself. I feel like a single parent, the glue holding everything together. Mostly I feel betrayed by LBD and the havoc it has made of my life. How much longer can I keep this up?


Joan

Oct 05, 2013