FTD – Mission Impossible!

“It always seems impossible until it’s done.” – Nelson Mandela

Work – it means something different to everyone. What is it anyway? I have written about it here before, about what it means to someone with FTD. It represents having control over one’s life, contributing to life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness. As much as we all say “Oh God, it’s Monday already?”, work gives context to our lives, it gives us purpose and drive. If you’re lucky enough to love what you do, then it isn’t “work” in the true sense of the word.If you have a calling, a vocation, then your work is the very meaning of your life.

Three weeks ago, I went into my job of more than ten years as usual. It was the place where I had received a huge amount of support during our FTD years. The place where I felt safe from the ravages of the bastard disease, if only for a few hours. Work was my savior on those days when my world was closing in and FTD commanded my every waking moment. In a responsible, high-level position, I had to focus on other people and their needs, instead of mine and those of my husband. It gave me a wonderful sense of pride and humanity to be in a place where only those closest to me knew what was happening in our lives and those I served had no clue.

Three weeks ago, I went there as usual, bright and early. Two hours later, I was in my car on my way home from that place for the last time. Ten and a half years finished and over. My supporters and antagonists left behind to move in the “different direction” that, it had been decided, did not include me or my position. It’s ok. I tell you this not to glean sympathy or pity. I tell you this because I am happy that I am healthy enough, mentally and physically to understand what freedom this new turn of events will offer.

It has given me fresh perspective. I don’t think that the decision was intended to please me, or make me happy, but it actually did and does. Now I have the time and energy to devote to –well, whatever I damn well please. Now, I have the benefit of knowing that I have spent the last ten years working towards this moment. Five of those ten years have been spent in grief and loss. But those people, that place, gave me the strength to get through whatever FTD had to throw at me. My work sanctuary sufficed to give me the stability I needed to survive the last five years and I did.

Actually, I did more than survive. Because, despite the best efforts of the bastard disease, I not only survived, I thrived. I thrived because I had the support, the love and the salvation that I needed to get through it all. All those things that you are going through are survivable. I’m pretty sure you don’t think so, I never did. Actually, I never even really thought of it in that way, I simply got through the day-to-day, just like you do. But now, on the other side, I can see that everything I had in place – my family, my friends, my work, were all just crutches that were available to help me. I know that some of you feel that you have little or no support., your families, or those of your loved one having abandoned you in some way, or they just don’t get it. But, even though you may feel alone, be patient, because someone, somewhere will be coming along I am sure. Not in the romantic sense, but a person or persons who will be a support and comfort to you.

Along my journey, not long after Alan died, I met a woman, a minister no less, who had also lost her husband to FTD. The chances of this happening are pretty random, but meet we did and share we did. She was just in my life for a very brief time before our paths parted, but I believe she came into my life for a reason and I am very grateful for that. She was part of my “life in progress” situation.

The FTD path is never easy, and I mean , never. You all have a different story to mine and to everyone else who is caring from someone with FTD. Some of you work outside the home in addition to caring for your FTD’er and that is challenging indeed. At the various stages, some of which only last for a few days, you come up with ways that will ease your path and get through this particular stage.

For example, when my husband’s sense of time was slipping, I would leave for work before he was awake,  prepare his breakfast, leave a note out on the counter to tell him his lunch was in the fridge and put a note on his sandwich in the fridge saying “Lunch”. Phew!  One time my son went over to check on him at 10 am and he had already eaten his lunch. Hm. So my devious plan didn’t work then.

So with FTD, your new mission, should you choose to accept it, is to invent and reinvent new ways in which to keep your FTD’er alive and well. Every single day. If you’re lucky, you may get through a few weeks, or even months, without a significant change. But change will come, as sure as the sun rises in the morning. It will keep you on your toes that’s for sure. Reinvention of yourself and your routines and schedules is the only way to cope.

• A sense of humor will keep you sane. Laugh at the ridiculousness of it all. Cry at the futility of everything, then laugh again in the face of FTD and give it the bird.
• No matter how ridiculous a solution seems, give it a try. You never know. Chocolate ice cream for breakfast? If it gets you out the door to work and them to day care, what the hell? Puddle jumping in wellington boots? Sure. Reruns of “Two and a Half Men” on a loop? Heck yes, if it gives you 10 minutes of uninterrupted time to do something you want to do. Fake ID/credit card? Thank you. When it doesn’t work?- “Oh those things are hopeless, I’ll call the bank/DMV tomorrow and complain”. Kid’s toy paper money? Oh yes.
• Flexibility with work schedule is a godsend if you can do it. I used to go in at 4am so I could be home at noon. Since my husband rarely rose before 8am, it worked. I realize that’s not for everyone, but it doesn’t hurt to ask.
• “Therapeutic fiblets” are invaluable. “The car is in the shop”, “I will call _______ tomorrow”, “That door lock is broken”, “The store is closed” etc etc.

As you can see and you know, being an FTD caregiver is in itself a full time job. Being inventive and creative about your life is a necessary part of it. Don’t be too hard on yourself is probably the single most important thing. No-one ever died from not getting a shower today, or eating vanilla ice cream for three meals a day, even with diabetes. Co-morbidities, or other illnesses that your loved one may have in conjunction with their FTD, become insignificant once you’re faced with the inevitability of FTD. Keeping them healthy is a poor second to keeping them safe.

One of the hardest things sometimes is to do what everyone urges you to do – “cherish every moment”. Good advice indeed, but sometimes that takes work too. Sometimes all you want to do is lie down and sleep, even if it means missing a momentary spark of lucidity. There comes a time when you have to give in to your own emotions and exhaustion and give yourself some succor. Being an inventor is exhausting. You come up with a million ideas, but only one of them works. It’s worse than being on Shark Tank. Your efforts will be dissected and rejected. Your FTD’er will give you that glazed-eye look and your plan will bite the dust. Oh well, on to the next thing.

The constant need for change is defeating too. You are trying to keep all the balls in the air – work, home, children, school, aging parents, and that annoying ticking noise in your car. And then come up with a solution for how to hide that bag of Doritos in a place where it cannot be found – again. If you are like me, your job is a haven of non-FTD related stuff. The people there are demanding in a different way and, for some reason, don’t seem to be nearly as much trouble as the one you have at home. The separation is bliss. Of course, many FTD caregivers don’t have the luxury of going out of the house alone every day. For them, life is a constant loop of invention and distraction, cleaning and hiding. You people are warriors of a different nature. Hardened to the sights, smells and sounds of your love slowly drifting away. I for one feel that I got off lucky in some respects. Going out to work saved me from my own insanity. I salute you for being there 24/7 and giving your all. Caring for someone with FTD is definitely not for wimps and Mission Impossible is handled every day.

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