I don't even really know how to start this. Bear with me.
My father was diagnosed this morning. We're told it's a relatively early diagnosis. He's had serious short term memory problems for some months, signs of severe depression and anger/irritability that come and go. He still has days where he's fully 'him', funny and silly and active and energetic.
Looking at the overall pattern, in some ways it's not a surprise. But I still feel in total shock. Stunned. My dad???
He's devastated. Understatement Very very very tearful and upset. My mother is terribly upset obviously, but I do think she knew it was coming.
I'm an only child - in my 40s - and I'm beside myself. I can't describe it. Terrified, crying with sadness for him and how is feeling, for us all at what this means, and for me 'losing' my lovely dad. It feels like a nuclear bomb has gone off in our family. Like the start of the end. Not MY dad, surely??
Where do I go? What do I do? Where do we go from here?
How did you deal with the diagnosis? How do you move forward from this absolute bombshell of grief? How do you just get on with life ever again?Can anyone please give me any advice or reading suggestions?
My father was diagnosed this morning. We're told it's a relatively early diagnosis. He's had serious short term memory problems for some months, signs of severe depression and anger/irritability that come and go. He still has days where he's fully 'him', funny and silly and active and energetic.
Looking at the overall pattern, in some ways it's not a surprise. But I still feel in total shock. Stunned. My dad???
He's devastated. Understatement Very very very tearful and upset. My mother is terribly upset obviously, but I do think she knew it was coming.
I'm an only child - in my 40s - and I'm beside myself. I can't describe it. Terrified, crying with sadness for him and how is feeling, for us all at what this means, and for me 'losing' my lovely dad. It feels like a nuclear bomb has gone off in our family. Like the start of the end. Not MY dad, surely??
Where do I go? What do I do? Where do we go from here?
How did you deal with the diagnosis? How do you move forward from this absolute bombshell of grief? How do you just get on with life ever again?Can anyone please give me any advice or reading suggestions?