Hi all,
I am new on here today, so just wanted to say hello and see what advice I can get on how to manage my own wellbeing!
My mum (85) was diagnosed with Alzheimer's 4 years ago, was put on Aricept and has been pretty amazing ever since. Her decline seemed to stop and she was forgetful but manageable.
Over the last year, my dad (88) has had a dreadful run of ill health (Gall bladder infection and subsequent removal, fall resulting in Subdural Haematoma needing to be drained, 6 UTI, 4 bouts of pneumonia, 9 hospital stays and a series of mini strokes), and is now in a nursing home. From a very fit man, still playing golf in Jan 2014, he now has pretty much lost control of bodily functions and has had several falls and yesterday was diagnosed with Alzheimer's.
Since Dad became ill, the stress on my Mum has kick started her decline and, although still slow, I can see the little parts of her brain slowing falling out... We go to see dad and have the same conversation over and over and over. She still thinks he is coming home (and tells him that regularly, which makes him upset as he really misses her and usually after her doing this, he wanders the corridors at night looking for her - ending up in other people's rooms!).
My sister and I have been trying to cope with all of this and are both struggling emotionally to cope.
I am a single mum with 2 teenagers and a really busy job, and have no weekends because of the travelling to see Dad with Mum. University visits are also beckoning in the next few weeks.
I am managing not to go down the anti-depressant route, but I am exhausted and not sure where to turn.
People always say "you must look after yourself. Make time for you", but as I am sure you know, that is completely impossible. Every spare moment is spent driving (2000 miles in a month) and then not sleeping at night. I feel like I am heading for the edge of a long drop, but determined not to fall in.
Sorry - this sounds really moany, but it feels better getting it all out to people who know where I am at.
Any tips (apart from drugs and alcohol!!)
I am new on here today, so just wanted to say hello and see what advice I can get on how to manage my own wellbeing!
My mum (85) was diagnosed with Alzheimer's 4 years ago, was put on Aricept and has been pretty amazing ever since. Her decline seemed to stop and she was forgetful but manageable.
Over the last year, my dad (88) has had a dreadful run of ill health (Gall bladder infection and subsequent removal, fall resulting in Subdural Haematoma needing to be drained, 6 UTI, 4 bouts of pneumonia, 9 hospital stays and a series of mini strokes), and is now in a nursing home. From a very fit man, still playing golf in Jan 2014, he now has pretty much lost control of bodily functions and has had several falls and yesterday was diagnosed with Alzheimer's.
Since Dad became ill, the stress on my Mum has kick started her decline and, although still slow, I can see the little parts of her brain slowing falling out... We go to see dad and have the same conversation over and over and over. She still thinks he is coming home (and tells him that regularly, which makes him upset as he really misses her and usually after her doing this, he wanders the corridors at night looking for her - ending up in other people's rooms!).
My sister and I have been trying to cope with all of this and are both struggling emotionally to cope.
I am a single mum with 2 teenagers and a really busy job, and have no weekends because of the travelling to see Dad with Mum. University visits are also beckoning in the next few weeks.
I am managing not to go down the anti-depressant route, but I am exhausted and not sure where to turn.
People always say "you must look after yourself. Make time for you", but as I am sure you know, that is completely impossible. Every spare moment is spent driving (2000 miles in a month) and then not sleeping at night. I feel like I am heading for the edge of a long drop, but determined not to fall in.
Sorry - this sounds really moany, but it feels better getting it all out to people who know where I am at.
Any tips (apart from drugs and alcohol!!)