Telling my boyfriend about my diagnosis

Today my boyfriend and I went to the beach. When we went back to his truck, I decided that it was time that I talk to him about my diagnosis. We have only been dating about one month but I knew that I needed to tell him about my diagnosis. I was afraid!

I held his hands and looked into his eyes and then told him that I needed to talk to him about something. I said remember when I told you that I had some health issues, such as my high cholesterol. I also said that you know how I sometimes make fun of my bad memory. There really is something wrong with my memory. I think that at this point, I started to cry and he just held me and comforted me.

He said that whatever it is, we would get through it together! I apologized to him for crying and he said, no problem because it just meant that I cared. Then I told him about my diagnosis of Early Onset Alzheimer's Disease and Mild Cognitive Impairment. He said, “is that all it was? Some day you might not recognize me.” I said, “yes, there is a possibility of that happening.” He said, “walking away is not an option because I'm in love with you! We hugged for a really long time. I told him that over the past three days, I had been planning on telling him and I was feeling very stressed about it. I told him that I was afraid of losing him!

My boyfriend said that he felt bad and asked what he could do to help. I told him that I didn’t want him to feel bad for me but that I needed his understanding and love. I explained that sometimes the problems weren’t just with my memory but word finding issues and comprehension problems. He said that if he said something that I didn’t understand that I needed to tell him and he would word it differently to help me. I felt so much love from him and I was so relieved and happy!

He said that he hoped that I wouldn’t forget him and that he would just have to tell me all the time how much he loved me. I told him that I wanted him to know that I wasn’t looking for someone to care for me and that I’m able to live on my own, take care of myself, pay my bills on time and work two jobs.

I also asked if he would walk with me next month at the Walk to End Alzheimer’s and he said absolutely, just tell me when and where! I don’t think that I could have asked for a better reaction from him!

The next day I talked to him on the phone and we talked about what I told him in his truck last night. He said that he had done a lot of thinking last night. He told me that he was a little concerned that someday I won't know who he is, but he said that leaving me is not an option. He said that he cares for me too much to not fight this fight with me. He said that he will try to be like me and not worry about things unless we need to. I'm so relieved that after he has had time to think things through, that he has not changed his mind.

UPDATE: In May 2017, I ended this relationship of almost five years. My memory impairment was not the reason that this relationship ended but I'm happy with my decision!