Re: Ftd
Joni it would be hard to know for sure whether your husband is having some FTD symptoms or whether it is depression. He is newly diagnosed and as a result he has many things to sort out in his own head. He lost his job, and then was diagnosed with a disease that scares him as he contemplates the road ahead. My husband who has CIDP is a changed man since his diagnosis in 2007. He has not adjusted well to his losses ie. losing his career, atrophied hand and drop foot and generalized fatigue, and having to spend two days every 3 weeks at the hospital getting treatment. At times I think he has tuned out of our lives. I care for our horses, our dog and cat as he is so self preoccupied and distracted. When friends want me to do something with them, I often bow out saying I have to be home to care for the animals as hubby in likelihood would forget to feed them or himself while I was away. Often the premorbid personality of a person will certainly be accentuated when a catastrophic illness happens. I think my hubby was always somewhat self absorbed, and with his illness those self absorbed qualities come out stronger. He will spend hours with the computer just tuning out. I know he can't do the heavy horse chores anymore, but I would appreciate his company down at the barn--but that rarely happens. I got hubby onto an anti-depressant and that helps but he is a changed man.
On this forum, you can see all the personality differences and the different coping abilities when you read what people have written. Some are givers and some are takers. Some have a half full glass and some a half empty glass. I suspect that those traits were present before the disease struck, but they really jump to the front when illness hits. My husband is a good man, but he is one of those personalities that tends to the half empty glass. I am the care giver here (in a much smaller way than those with PALS) and it does take its toll on me. Joni try to take care of yourself during this journey and make sure you can have some time for you. Ask friends to come in and stay with hubby and ensure you get out with a friend to pamper yourself on a regular basis. Don't let hubby's illness swallow you and your personality. You will need to preserve the best parts of you to endure the journey that you are on. Don't sacrifice all of yourself along the way. My words may sound a little selfish, but I think that you and your husband will fair much better if you can keep the best part of you alive along the way by taking care of you too.
Laurel
