I guess there are worse combinations of illnesses. I am thankful that both illnesses are not leveled at only of us.
My husband has moderate Alzheimer's disease and I finally found my voice and joined the Alzheimer's Organization seeking guidance and writing on their message boards.
I already am a member of the National MS Society and their message boards.
These message boards are font of information. Mostly good ideas and a few bad notions. It takes sorting and a sense of equanimity to plow through these thoughts and ideas. However eventually you can draw good conclusions.
Sometimes, I start a thread on the boards and the responses are generally informative. I value this source of information.
My sweet husband who wants to take care of me in my hours of need. I think it gives him purpose to help me into and out of my wheelchair, to put my scooter away, and to help fold the laundry. He can still drive a car, whereas, I relinquished my driver's license. He helps me whenever and however he can. Sometimes, he is smothering me with kindness. He would be hurt if I complained, so, like a good wife, I don't.
On the other hand, his confusion is apparent, but usually only if you ask him to do two tasks at once, or if he somehow forgets what he had set out to do. Usually he figures things out by himself. It is worth my total restraint not to butt in and try to help him. If, by chance, I do interrupt the process he feels as if I am criticizing him. So, there I am, caught between a rock and a hard place, with my mouth itching to say something and plugging up the urge!
We are lucky, he and I, we have each other to lean upon. We share the burden and thank our lucky stars that it is not any worse.
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