Can MSA people get overly demanding?

Selfishness - increase in unreasonable behaviour or requests? It has improved since we have had counselling but sometimes my husband has days where he asks things of me that are ridiculous and cant seem to see why it's not ok. He wasn't like that before this illness came along is it the MSA or is it something with him we need to look further into?

[Derkie54]

This time you're talking about my wife Lydia, quite often I think you're joking.

As I said in one of my posts you seem sometimes to be just the support act and overlooked. But they have it worse I mean we wouldn't want to change places. I think that sometimes you just get worn down with it all. Terrible disease.

[Hellebelle]

I am afraid my dad became very demanding and unreasonable at times. His behaviour could be described as selfish and we used to think he would be devastated if he knew how he was behaving. My mum really struggled with this as they had always had such a loving marriage and dad was very kind and gentle. It became easier to deal with when we thought of it as stemming from his condition rather than from him. He went through various stages and this phase was replaced by him becoming far more calm and accepting.

I hope that you are receiving some help from services or a hospice? We found the palliative care team at the hospice invaluable.

[FredaE in reply to Hellebelle]

Hellebelle you are so right and in our case it would go away again and he would be himself again with no memory of how he had been

[Hellebelle in reply to FredaE]

Yes, the same with dad. I remember one time he was shouting at mum and I intervened very firmly but gently and he looked at me with a really confused expression not understanding what he had done wrong. It was times like this that were heartbreaking for us all.

[FredaE]

Yes. We used to call it Mr Nasty. A lovely man became totally obnoxious and qyute out of character at times. You have to let it wash over you while at the same time not putting up with any nonsense.

[chester2107]

my dad used to shout at my mum and me which was so upsetting as he’d never done it before , but yes he would get fixated on something, like a tree being cut down , and go on and on , his brain function was all there , just couldn’t speak properly.

but yes i would say part of the condition

i hope you can get some help xxx

[Tommytoothpaste]

Yes, this has happened with my husband. He thinks he is reasonable and easy going when in fact he can be really demanding. I feel for you and as it’s a change in character it’s difficult to accept. What I do is pick my fights with him carefully and let the rest go. This is a very frustrating condition for spouses/partners as well.

[Hellebelle in reply to Tommytoothpaste]

I agree with you. It's very hard on the nearest and dearest. My mum used to say that at times it was like living with a stranger, but there were flashes of my lovely kind and gentle dad right up until the end.