How would you feel if it was your dad?

[Fortunesrocks]

Posting in AIBU for traffic.

Just in need of a hand hold really. My dad was diagnosed with Alzheimer's yesterday at 62. And I'm absolutely fucking heart broken if I'm honest.

I have worked with elderly dementia residents for the last 7 years so I know what this disease will do to him, and it breaks my heart to ever imagine my dad becoming a shell of who he was.

Any experience of a love one going through it? It's so much different when it's someone you adore.

@thebearwentoverthebumble

Oh I'm so sorry. It's such a weird path to walk down because you just feel so damn helpless. I just don't know how to feel. That would be great, but without sounding stupid, how do I message you? Relatively new to mumsnet.

My beloved Dad had A, It's true you don't & won't know how he will evolve. it could be gentle bumbling, or violent & heart breaking.
One of the things that stays with me, was how much my Dad adored babies & toddlers, when all was lost for almost everything else. So keep the faith.
He was very angry with my Mum. (So was I,) she shunted him off to a "home" that was not at all adapted for A patients...
He also developed vascular lung problems, the consultant said at least he doesn't remember the distress.
It is the very saddest illness. If broke my heart

@Fortunesrocks yes, it's tough and your so young, it's horrid having the expectation of what you hoped are happy years to come with a young family and grandparents doing what you expect grandparents to be doing.
But like many of the previous posters have said everyone's journey and deterioration is unique and you may find you have the next few years to enjoy, my mum's symptoms were never 'typical' and so we had a very different experience. I think that can be true with younger onset. Keep going, keep talking to your support team, whoever they are, and take cliche up now, bit take each day as it comes. It's surprising what provokes emotions for me now. Not the stuff you expect. X