So on the last check up with ENT a week ago there is still no re occurrence of cancer. Everything looks 'good'.
We both sighed at that thinking soon the endless appointments and follow ups regarding the dreaded 'C' word would slow down to a six month break.
However Neuro-Surgery called and scheduled a CT scan to check out Rich's brain and to see if there were any changes to his brain aneurysm. After we got home a Neurosurgeon called to let us know that no significant changes had occurred but we were still scheduled to see them for his one year follow up.
The results from the tests with Neuro-psychology were in. Cognitive Disorder...Vascular Dementia. The full results will be mailed to us in two copies. One for Rich and one for me.
I think they will write up and include their recommendations. There was almost too much information given at our meeting of nearly 90 minutes.
My take away was the following.
Are POA's in order? Yes.
Driving? That will be addressed with OT/PT.
Could I now prepare his meds? Yes.
They are ready to invoke POA for Medical as they don't feel Rich can make decisions for himself.
I did explain that all of our decisions were made together and had been since he'd had cancer.
The best thing I liked about these doctors is that they looked Rich right in the eye and explained things to him. They also confirmed that I understood what was going on.
I'd already had an inkling of the possibilities before the appointment.
The signs were all there. The confusion, the far away looks, the getting lost in 'No Where Land' as Rich had told me over and over again. The lack of ability to make an easy decision like to call to have his truck fixed, or to arrange to have some cattle shipped is now beyond his reach and thought process.
As I explained to our Farmer Friend, I wanted to let Rich feel like he was making the call, that he was still in charge. But I realize now that he may not be capable any longer. He has become mostly apathetic to what is going on around him.
It seems that decision making is too difficult for him. I've resisted that thought, I've resisted that conclusion and I had even decided that Rich was just too lazy or unconcerned to make these important decisions. I'd leave a phone number in front of him to call for his truck. He'd push it away and not look at it. I nagged, cajoled, and begged for him to call.
I got an irritated look in return and then nothing.
The shock for me is that it was there in front of me and I didn't want to believe it.
Yesterday morning I felt lost. I felt panicked with the sudden realization that indeed my world had flipped again and so had Rich's. He was slowly drifting away into a place where I couldn't find him.
He can sit and have coffee with me in the morning. But I look at his face and find him not there.
His eyes are blank.
I ask him what is on his mind. And he blinks, then looks at me with a question on his lips and says, "I am nowhere."
My husband is leaving me. No dramas, no slammed doors - well, OK, a few slammed doors - and no suitcase in the hall, but there is another woman involved. Her name is Dementia. ~~ Laurie Graham.
