Information is hard to find.
I'm looking for information so I can help my in-laws and wife through this.
My mother in law (mid60s) was recently diagnosed with LE. Just a few days ago. We're still waiting on test results but they've started treatment with steroids.
My mother in law last week suddenly didn't recognize my father in law. She walked out of the house and tried to drive away. My FIL got the keys away from her, and when he went to grab his phone, she walked away and ended up just walking into a neighbors house.
She was taken by ambulance to the hospital and spent 4 days there, had MRIs done, a lumbar puncture and other tests. Alzheimer's and dementia were ruled out and the doctors ended up saying it was LE. I can't say much about the physical symptoms, but she's having a lot of cognitive problems. She kept thinking that the hospital room was her sisters apartment. At one point she called my wife (her daughter) her niece. She still had problems recognizing her husband.
My MIL is home now, and will look at my FIL and not recognize him. She says she feels uncomfortable getting into bed with him. They've been married for 40 years and this is killing my FIL and my wife is a mess.
I know we're still waiting on test results, and appointments for treatment and therapy. But I'm just trying to educate myself to help them. I'm also hoping to find any advice on how to handle this. I had my wife print out a picture of my FIL and MIL together and wrote "this man is your husband, he's safe" on it for her to put in her pocket hoping it could help her feeling of unease when she doesn't recognize him.
I'm just at such a loss on how to help and be supportive.