Oh, Ed ... Many (most? all?) caregivers of an AD spouse stop feeling desire for that spouse. Your wife is no longer the woman you fell in love with and desired -- she is becoming child-like, and you naturally don't have the same amorous feelings for a little girl that you used to have for an adult woman. Spouse caregivers feel a special loneliness, a unique loss, that is hard for anyone else to understand.

OF course you're welcome here,FTLD is a "form" of dementia. And there are others here whose LO has the same form of dementia.

I"m really sorry to hear that your Mom was diagnosed with that,,,and I would recommend that you "not tell your Mom" and I would also encourage the Dr to not tell her the exact medical diagnosis,,cause she will go into an absolute "rage".

If he can "candy coat" the diagnosis,,and also give her the medications to help control the anger and outburst,,by simply telling her something that won't anger her,,but yet she will take the meds,,that will be great.

Risperdal or Seroquel usually help tremendously with FTLD...however,,I'm no Dr and of course discuss this with him to see what he recommends.....

I do hope that they don't try to push Aricept or Namenda,,both are useless for her illness.

Keep us posted on things,,please. Johanna has a LO that has what your Mom has,,and she is also an RN,,and an absolute "wealth" of information.

Best of everything. Peace

Yes she is more child like.. Often I have to bribe her with ice cream after she has her evening meal so she will eat.

quote:

Originally posted by JAB:
Oh, Ed ... Many (most? all?) caregivers of an AD spouse stop feeling desire for that spouse. Your wife is no longer the woman you fell in love with and desired -- she is becoming child-like, and you naturally don't have the same amorous feelings for a little girl that you used to have for an adult woman. Spouse caregivers feel a special loneliness, a unique loss, that is hard for anyone else to understand.

quote:

Originally posted by Raven:

"Risperdal or Seroquel usually help tremendously with FTLD"...however,,I'm no Dr and of course discuss this with him to see what he recommends.....

Thanks Raven. She was given Zyprexa at an emergency room in Georgia a few months ago and hated it. She only took two doses and quit because it was too sedating. I know both of the others can have the same sedating effects and Seroquel can cause significant weight gain, but so can Zyprexa. I was wishing I had grabbed the pills when I had a chance so I could mash them up and add to her food.

I will look into getting her some meds for her behaviors.

Thanks again,
k