Wall 4: Wall of Courage
What positive insights, thoughts and experiences can you offer other caregivers? Through this wall, caregivers can focus on the best part of caregiving–and the life lessons they’ve learned as a result.
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Holly Eburne
This morning I was out for a run with my husband, Dave-dx 3.5 yrs ago with frontotemporal dementia-age 57. The air was crisp, the sky was dotted with clouds of many shapes & sizes, and there was a rainbow of colours around the sun. Dave couldn’t see them but instead commented on the dark clouds in the East.
If I spend more time worrying about the dark clouds of our future with dementia, instead of enjoying the feeling of the glorious sunshine on my face, and the fact that I can still run with my husband, I would have missed the magical moments of this morning.
G-J
Holly, my 57 year old husband was diagnosed with Mild Cognitive Impairment in December. My husband has lately been battling depression as well. Did you ever go through that with your husband?
Holly Eburne
Hi G-J
Yes, depression and feeling sad are common to those people with FTD or for anyone whose brain produces lower amounts of serotonin–our happy chemical. I have noticed that when Dave exercises and sits outside (especially if it is sunny) he is much happier. Dave needs to eat often and he doesn’t do well with too much caffeine or alcohol. It also helps when we have variety to our days and when he has chores to do. He may complain but he feels better afterwards. Yippee for me!
There is a precursor to serotonin (5 HTP) which you can buy in a health store. It didn’t seem to help Dave. The doctors also tried anti-depressants but it made him very sleepy. He was having 3 naps/day instead of 1.
Let me know if you find something that works for your husband.
Warmly,
Holly