californiaDana
10-13-2006, 05:14 AM
I have had it both ways a care giver and a person that needed to be cared for. Our first daughter had a genetic disease Sandhoffs that took away her ability to do anything even swallow. I took care care of her till she died right before she was 2. I had to suction her throat day and night because she couldnt swallow all the time and feed her through a tube that I put in everv 6 hrs through her nose. She couldnt do anything but an ocasional smile. She died while I was holding her at home.
then I took care of my Mom when she got colon cancer for 2 yrs. taking her to chemo and holding her hand while she through up from the chemo. Having family get togethers she looked so much for every weekend, feeding all my brother and sister and their kids and spouses and anocasional friend of my moms and of course Grandma and Dad that got along like cats and dogs lol.
Then it got worse and I took care of Mom full time along with her hospise nerse to give her meds so she wouldnt hurt so much and still knew I was there to crack a joke with. She died hollding my hand.
Then my 11 yr old daughter and her Dad fell 3 floors in an elevator. my husband got under her when he felt it was going to fall more so she wasnt hurt physicaly very much but it did bring on post tramatic stress disorder and triggered bipolar. She has never been the same. She is in independent study one hr a week with her teacher in the library and does the rest herself, but no friends they turned on her so she is with me all the time.
That brings you to the other part of my life, instead of caretaker Im the one that gets taken care of now. I have Chronic Inflamitory Demylizing Polyneuropathy. Im in a wheelchair, cant feel my feet or legs, though the burn so much. I take morphine, cymbalta, oxycontin and valium. sometimes lidocane patches on my feet if the pain gets grelly bad. I can walk a few steps if holding on to something for balance but tend to fall a lot when I do that. I huurt like you wouldnt believe. My husband and daughter take great care of me so now I'm on the OTHER SIDE!
When I was taking care of everyone else it felt much different. Now I know how it is to be on both side the care giver and the one that is taken care of.
I know how you all feel and you all are doing so very much. Remember what goes around comes around and I can feel for you all.
lots of love
Dana
then I took care of my Mom when she got colon cancer for 2 yrs. taking her to chemo and holding her hand while she through up from the chemo. Having family get togethers she looked so much for every weekend, feeding all my brother and sister and their kids and spouses and anocasional friend of my moms and of course Grandma and Dad that got along like cats and dogs lol.
Then it got worse and I took care of Mom full time along with her hospise nerse to give her meds so she wouldnt hurt so much and still knew I was there to crack a joke with. She died hollding my hand.
Then my 11 yr old daughter and her Dad fell 3 floors in an elevator. my husband got under her when he felt it was going to fall more so she wasnt hurt physicaly very much but it did bring on post tramatic stress disorder and triggered bipolar. She has never been the same. She is in independent study one hr a week with her teacher in the library and does the rest herself, but no friends they turned on her so she is with me all the time.
That brings you to the other part of my life, instead of caretaker Im the one that gets taken care of now. I have Chronic Inflamitory Demylizing Polyneuropathy. Im in a wheelchair, cant feel my feet or legs, though the burn so much. I take morphine, cymbalta, oxycontin and valium. sometimes lidocane patches on my feet if the pain gets grelly bad. I can walk a few steps if holding on to something for balance but tend to fall a lot when I do that. I huurt like you wouldnt believe. My husband and daughter take great care of me so now I'm on the OTHER SIDE!
When I was taking care of everyone else it felt much different. Now I know how it is to be on both side the care giver and the one that is taken care of.
I know how you all feel and you all are doing so very much. Remember what goes around comes around and I can feel for you all.
lots of love
Dana