Dealing with illness
21 Feb
Being terminally ill is never easy for the one who is ill, or the family dealing with their loved one being terminally ill; my situation is testament to that. Last weekend was tough for us all. I’m slightly tired and although I am okay mentally with what’s happening, keeping up with it all can be tiring.
It’s important to spend as much time with someone who is terminally ill, but I have chosen to focus on both because that’s important too. It would be easy for me to spend every waking moment in the hospital, but my family and I are choosing not to do that. We’re doing other things so that we get to spend time with each other and me time. Our physical health is just as important as our emotional health and so we’re concentrating on both.
This time round with my father everything seems different. I don’t seem hung up on feeling guilty about not seeing him all of the time. I’m not panicked about what will happen either, or what I’ll do if the worst should happen.
My father on his part although he seemed ready for the inevitable, he’s changed his mind now from wanting to end his life in the local hospice to wanting treatment. I know he still knows that his long-term prognosis isn’t good, but he has decided he wants more control over what happens to him.
I think the not knowing, the waiting, the coming and going and the in-decisions is making me more tired. It’s the uncertainty of the outcome and watching my father struggle, that is adding to how I feel. Give me a conclusion and I’ll deal with it any time. Give me uncertainty and I’ll go round the block a few times. I don’t usually work this way.
I am eating and sleeping okay (that’s important) and don’t feel stressed about it and as I wait for more news from the hospital, I’m relaxed about the next step.
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I’m glad your handling things well and taking care of yourself. A lot of people don’t do that.
They spend all their time with the person that is ill and no time is spent taking care of themselves. I was a wreck after my dad died, but during his illness I took care of him and myself too.
I think it just all hit me when he passed on. I’ve not gotten over losing my father and I probably won’t for a long time Hang in there and take care of you!
Thanks Lisa I will.
Sounds like you have really come to terms with what is going to happen, which is a good thing.
It took me a long time to deal with it when my mother was finally passing and I’m glad that I had a chance to grieve. You are doing the right thing by making sure to take the time to take care of yourself.
Hopefully things will settle down for you in the very near future.
I hope things settle down too. Thanks Randy.