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Dick, Words of wisdom. How true! Greg 47/35/35 ----- Original Message ----- From: "Dick Swindler" <[log in to unmask]> To: <[log in to unmask]> Sent: Wednesday, July 12, 2000 12:28 PM Subject: Re: doubting Thomas > Alf - > > You've received a whole lot of excellent replies to your question. It must > be one that strikes a chord with lots of group members. I agree that your > wife probably just needs time to adjust to the diagnosis. You have constant > "internal" reminders that it's real, judging by the symptoms you've noted. > Those symptoms probably aren't all that obvious to an observer, so your wife > can more easily continue to deny the symptoms than you can. I liked the idea > of reminding her that you are NOT that old, and that you shouldn't be > experiencing all of the symptoms as a result of aging. If all else fails, > the "You must be getting old, dear," comment about HER complaints might get > her attention! <grin> > > I have one question for you: is your wife employed outside the home, or are > you the only breadwinner in the family? I'd think if you were the only wage > earner, your wife might be more frightened than if she knew she could support > the family if need be. It's a scary thing to suddenly find one's imagined > future, and future security, snatched away. That definitely requires > adjustment time, and as someone else said, time for mourning once the > diagnosis is accepted. In my experience, one can actually mourn the > appearance of each significant new symptom, too. > > I'm glad you've joined the list, and as you've seen from the responses to > your question, this is the place to come to find the kind of understanding > and support you won't find anyplace else. > > Margie Swindler, cg for Dick, 55/18 >