Should I be worried about DH?

MamaCaz. Having been in a similar situation to yourself I put my head in the sand and convinced myself it was part and parcel of 'getting old'.It was just the start of what was to be a distressing period for both of us. All I can say is get professional advice see DH's gp on your own, Tell him /her what you are describing to us and take it from there.

I find that my spelling is not what it was in that I write a word and occasionally have to think whether it is right, whereas before it would have required no thought at all. Spelling was one of my few real skills! But at least I look at it and know it is wrong! - I suppose that is something.

YES. A doctor's appointment needs to be made. Perhaps, with a little prompting, your surgery could send a letter inviting him (or both of you, so that it's not so pointedly all about him) to have a routine check. If you explain that without such a letter, he is unlikely to seek a diagnosis and might be cross with you for suggesting he needs one, the receptionist might be able to work a bit of magic.
No-one likes to think that their faculties are slipping but you did well to note this early on and, hopefully, there is a positive response from your doctor which will give your husband (and you) a clear diagnosis and likely outcome.
Best wishes

I agree he needs to be assessed and possibly be referred to a specialist. As his memory and mood are both changing it needs a proper check up.

We all change as we get older. Unless it’s seriously affecting your lives, I would leave it alone.

Forgetting ordinary words is common, forgetting how to spell a very ordinary word is not normal.

My OH had a stroke almost 19 years ago & although recovered well at the time, is now experiencing effects from it as he gets older. He's been checked out by medics who say regrettably this can happen as the body ages. I worry about dementia too, but feel all that I can do if OH doesn't feel up to dealing with these concerns at the moment, is watchful waiting as others have advised.

Yes, I think you should be concerned and should seek professional help and advice.

You mention being out in the car and him asking about a road sign. Please tell me he wasn't driving, you were the driver? Please!!!!!

As you say your DH is keen to go to the GP for physical issues (unlike a lot of men), why don't you wait until he has his next appointment. You can phone the surgery/book a phone consultation beforehand and raise your concerns and explain that your DH won't bring this up but you are worried. They can then discretely assess him when he is there.

Poor MamaCaz I feel for you. You've been given great advice already, I'd just say that I would be inclined to take these concerns to your GP and ask for help.

There are other conditions that can mimic dementia, such as anemia and low thyroid levels, which are easily treated. So it would be a pity not to persuade him to get checked over

If he has any friends you could talk to that might help. Ask if they have noticed anything. Sometimes a suggestion to get checked out may be taken more seriously from a male friend. Annoying I know but sadly true unless you have a very enlightened husband. Good luck

As we get older we DO have to accept dementia as a possibility.
It may be worth YOU having a conversation with your GP and see what your GP would suggest regarding what would be the best way to approach this.

www.alzheimers.org.uk/info/20012/helpline
If you are worried, MamaCaz, then you should seek some support. The link is to the helpline for the Alzheimer's Association in the UK and I am sure they will be happy to listen to your concerns about you OH and offer encouragement and support. I also think that the advice above - that you speak to his doctor privately - is excellent. Your doctor should respect your confidentiality, but you will have prompted them to widen the scope of OH's next routine visit. If it is difficult to get the GP on the phone, you can write to them. I have done this for my Dad and it has helped enormously. Best of luck.

I forget ordinary words and struggle at times to remember where I put things etc. Good to be cautious but try not to worry too much.. . Old age is a horrible thing but then the alternative isn't much better.

I'm sorry that you have these worries and I suspect your OH is also aware but he may be too worried to investigate in case he has developed dementia, which would be very frightening. This often express itself as angry outbursts.

If you could talk to him calmly it would help to get him assessed as soon as possible.

I was similarly worried about my DH. Then he took himself off the beta-blockers the doctor had prescribed and the man I knew was back. DH apparently was one of the few people that has the side effects, but then he gets those with most of the medication he is on. So always check the medication first.

It is easy to worry about little things. You'd be right to keep a watch on him and of course try and get him to speak to someone if it gets any worse. My hubby is 65 and I have recently noticed a few changes - I often think he is forgetting stuff when actually half the time he is just doing the men thing and not listening! He too is often grumpy - the state of the world and politics and all sorts really annoys him to the point where sometimes he forgets any good stuff! Good luck hope all is ok, hope it's just grumpy old man syndrome!

My DH is currently on such strong meds that I am hoping that is all it is!

I am in the same position MamaCaz and I am doing the 'watchful waiting' myself and also hoping it is just my imagination. My DH is constantly monitored due to ongoing health problems and the things which I notice are pretty nebulous although our DC have noticed odd things now and then which reassures me that I am not going crackers! He would be incandescent if I even hinted at such a thing to him never mind a health professional.

He drinks plenty, so i don't think that's a problem.

He already has plenty of visits to the doctor, as he is very quick to get any physical problems checked out, but he would associated symptoms I've described -if he is aware of them at all - with mental health, and would rather ignore them. I don't think he would mention them to the doctor even if the doctor asked.

Mini strokes can cause these kind of symptoms, but its impossible to know without it being checked out properly.
Could an M.O.T type appointment be 'due' at the doctors, perhaps? Then they could do a few routine tests.

Dehydration and UTI’s can mimic the symptoms of dementia.
Have you told us how old he is?
I would still see a Dr though, make up an excuse if need be.

mamacaz, a very simple thing. Is he drinking enough? No not alcohol, but dehydration can cause similar problems to those you describe. So keep plying him with cups of tea/coffee and have water on the table at meal times and make sure it is consumed.

If that isn't the problem, I would encourage a visit to the Wellman clinic that most surgeries run.

Dementia can creep up very slowly we first noticed Mum when she was about 73 she was deaf and had applied and been accepted for a dog for the deaf She adored any dog and was thrilled to bits She had to go for a few days to learn the commands and interact with the dog Dad asked me if Id go too She was so excited the first day she met the dog which was gorgeous The second day she came back in such a bad mood and said she didn’t want the dog it was horrible and didn’t do anything she told it It was only afterwards we realised she really couldnt understand or remember the commands She told everyone it was a horrible disobedient dog After that it was very very grandual over ten years sometimes you would hardly notice anything but by 83 it was horrendous and the last seven years of her life were dredfully tragic
If you do feel it might be that the earlier he can get on medication the better My friend managed her husband who she suspected was going down that route by saying the surgery had booked them both in for an MOT strangely enough they also found she had a not serious lung problem she knew nothing of and that at some point she’d had a heart attack which again she never knew shed had They also found it was sleep apnia that was causing the husbands problem