...just wanted to introduce myself. :wave:

my mom is in the moderate stage of AD. i seem to need a place to go when the realities of this horror pierce through my denial about her condition.
she lives with my stepfather but he's 84 and increasingly confused so medical stuff, eldercare planning, and definitely emotional needs are all up to me. my sister is available in a limited way b/c she has kids, where i only have a cat :rolleyes:

my mom hasn't gotten too difficult yet (at least from afar) and is actually quite sweet and more affectionate than she was before. so i get lulled into liking how that feels, until she asks me something like "what was your mother like"? i've gotten pretty good at just going with the tears when they bubble up however unexpectedly, but lately i've been pretty pissed off at this wretched disease.

that's it for now. thanks for listening...
suzanne

Hi Suzanne! Welcome!

I'm very sorry that you and your family have to go through this awful disease. But you'll find the experience, strength and hope here that will help you to be able to deal with this better. I know I have.

I have one suggestion that may help you and it should make your mother happy. When she asks you "what was your mother like", share your fondest memories of her with her.

Oh and read the thread about a memory book. I think that is the best idea!

Love, Barb

Hi Suzanne,

Sorry you need to be here, but you very welcome! There's a lot to be learned from the threads - not least of which is that you're not alone on this unwelcome path.

Blessings - Barbara :)

Hello Suzanne, come and vent here whenever you need to, however trivial it may seem. WE UNDERSTAND ... we are also there, or have been there .. we care about each other. God bless you.

Love,

Martha

Hi Suzanne,
wellcome, i'm my self new here & every one is so helpful & kind,i hope u'll feel the same.
i'll tell u what i think ......... i think that u should be as close as u can from ur mother couse she will be happy to have someone she loves close to her & always smile at her even when ur sad, mad or even crying,it will make both of u feel so much better.(thats what i think & feel) :)
if u need any thing just tell us, we will be here for u inshaAllah.
take care.....bye.

HI Suzanne ...

this Board has been my salvation .. somewhere to run to to see a friendly word, some common sense, some UNDERSTANDING ........

Welcome .. welcome .. welcome !!

Hugs
Sally

thanks for the warm replies everyone. i'm definitely going to try the memory book barb, thanks for pointing me to that thread. one of my moms most consistent symptoms has been thinking that photographs are real so i think it will be great for her. (she's got a couple favorites including a baby picture of me - she doesn't know it's me - thinks she had a baby "at this age, can you believe it"???! lol). no, she never knows when i'm sad although i'm sure she notices my face suddenly frozen in a bizarre half-smile but it probably just fits into all the ways that life feels bizarre to her now. we actually enjoy one another - she laughs a lot, worries that 'baby' isn't rolling over yet (my picture), laughs at me when i try to help her while she's showering, etc. last night she was crying as she 'remembered' feeling like her parents never really cared about her and she lets me comfort her. i feel lucky that she's mostly happy now and hope it doesn't change. but it's still dreadful.

thanks again for the welcome everyone.... : ) hope things aren't too overwhelming on your ends.
suzanne