Thank you, everyone...

[Guest guest]

You're all so kind and understanding. I'm so grateful for this group

and for all of you who know what things we're all up against.

There's a comfort in knowing we're not in it alone.

I was reading about others who are having to battle siblings about

care for the LO's and money and all...I am so sorry. That's got to

be difficult. There are four of us siblings, but only two of us (my

sister and I) are able to do any of the caretaking for Mom. My

little brother has just recently had his second surgery on an

astrocytoma brain tumor, and is not doing well at all. We all know

(but do not speak the words) that he is terminal, and it's breaking

our hearts to see him struggle to maintain life and keep up a brave

front. My older brother has just had one surgery to clean out a

carotid artery, and is scheduled to have the other one done, as well

as surgery for blood clots in his legs and for removal of his gall

bladder. All we siblings are so close, and I'm finding myself in a

state of constant grieving. I wish I could find a magic pill to make

myself not feel any more...so I can understand my Dad's desire to be

numb.

I've been given a new task...I'm being dispatched to the small town

where Mom and Dad have their burial plots in a family/community

cemetery, and I have to pick out a gravestone. I don't know how I

can handle this one, guys. While I understand the need to be

pragmatic about death, and about making the arrangements (which Mom

and Dad have done), I am just questioning my ability to continue on

this ride without sinking into absolute despair. I can't take

medications of virtually any kind, being hypersensitive to them, and

prayer helps some, but dang...

It only took me one day of being out of school to slip into this?

I'm feeling virtually paralyzed. I just want to crawl into bed, pull

the covers over my head, curl into a fetal position and not come

out. I know that most of us have felt that way from time to time,

and it certainly helps to know that you guys are here.

Jannis

[Guest guest]

---

Dear Jannis,

I cant even imagine how you must feel.This is a long hard

journey and you are absolutely right , even though were caregiving,

we are also greiving the loss of our lovedones because we know where

this road takes them.And for you right now with so much happening to

your family this has got to seem like the worlds gonna stop moving

and that everything as you know it has changed forever.Please know

that we are here with you and care about you and we will be

traveling every step of the way with you.Please try to laugh when

you can.And no matter what make sure you sleep when you can.I dont

know why some have to face so much strife all at once in there lives

but I do know that I have had my moments in the past and this group

of people practically carried me with their support.It really helps

to know we are not alone and that we are cared about.It can ease up

and get better, I know when your in the thick of it thats not an

easy thing to hear but it is true.Last year when my mom first got

the pshychotic symptoms (she had the parkinsons for a while and was

first diagnosed as Parkinsons) everyone in my family freaked

out.They all turned tail and ran.I had never heard of lbd, I had her

checked for a stroke and after more testing they called it lbd.The

doctors had no clue how to treat it and everything they did made it

worse.There were days at a time whenher and I did not sleep.And she

literally seemed like she was possesed or something.I almost threw

in the towel myself because my family wanted nothing to do with it

all.I found this group and with the help here I gained more

knowledge of the enemy were facing and the meds.Once I got her drs

on the right track things started to line out a bit.But then my

health started failing and I got pnuemonia, and some serious

stomache problems.I started taking anidepressants to no avail.Every

day seemed like It was worse than the one before.One night my

bedroom caught fire and by the time I awoke I got mom outside and

couldnt find the phone, My bedroom was a loss before I could get the

fire out.Its been 6 months and in that time Ive had a serious

relationship which I was engaged to be married all fall apart.This

group time and time again through it all has been my shoulder to cry

on when I need it.The advice here is unmatched.Please lean on us

when you need to.We care about you and your family and if you ever

need someone to talk to, please come here.Big heartfelt hugs to

you Ron

In LBDcaregivers , " janthegoddess2003 "

wrote:

>

> You're all so kind and understanding. I'm so grateful for this

group

> and for all of you who know what things we're all up against.

> There's a comfort in knowing we're not in it alone.

>

> I was reading about others who are having to battle siblings about

> care for the LO's and money and all...I am so sorry. That's got

to

> be difficult. There are four of us siblings, but only two of us

(my

> sister and I) are able to do any of the caretaking for Mom. My

> little brother has just recently had his second surgery on an

> astrocytoma brain tumor, and is not doing well at all. We all

know

> (but do not speak the words) that he is terminal, and it's

breaking

> our hearts to see him struggle to maintain life and keep up a

brave

> front. My older brother has just had one surgery to clean out a

> carotid artery, and is scheduled to have the other one done, as

well

> as surgery for blood clots in his legs and for removal of his gall

> bladder. All we siblings are so close, and I'm finding myself in

a

> state of constant grieving. I wish I could find a magic pill to

make

> myself not feel any more...so I can understand my Dad's desire to

be

> numb.

>

> I've been given a new task...I'm being dispatched to the small

town

> where Mom and Dad have their burial plots in a family/community

> cemetery, and I have to pick out a gravestone. I don't know how I

> can handle this one, guys. While I understand the need to be

> pragmatic about death, and about making the arrangements (which

Mom

> and Dad have done), I am just questioning my ability to continue

on

> this ride without sinking into absolute despair. I can't take

> medications of virtually any kind, being hypersensitive to them,

and

> prayer helps some, but dang...

>

> It only took me one day of being out of school to slip into this?

> I'm feeling virtually paralyzed. I just want to crawl into bed,

pull

> the covers over my head, curl into a fetal position and not come

> out. I know that most of us have felt that way from time to time,

> and it certainly helps to know that you guys are here.

>

> Jannis

>