nsm1376
Member
- Joined
- Jan 25, 2010
- Messages
- 17
- Reason
- Loved one DX
- Country
- US
- State
- SC
- City
- Williston
Hello to all… this is my first post, so please bear with me. By luck I was able to come across this wonderful site yesterday. I spent time yesterday reading helpful posts to my father-in-law, who has ALS & found all very helpful. Many touched my heart & as I read some of the posts made me cry. It’s so crazy how just the smallest things can make you tear up & once you do that it’s so hard to stop.
Anyway… as a caregiver I would like to share my experiences/thoughts, etc…
My father in law was diagnosed almost or right at 5 years ago now. My husband is the oldest son of four children (2girls & 2 boys). We made the decision to move over 10 hours away so we could help care for his father. We have lived with his parents for a little over a year now.
When we first moved, his father was still able to go to work, drive, eat (most of the time with assistance), walk to the bathroom & all the little things that everyone takes for granted. As time went on it was harder & harder for him to do things & needed more & more help. This past July everything went down hill & fast. He made the decision to get a feeding tube due to him losing right at 100 pounds since he was diagnosed.
A few days after the tube, he came down with pneumonia & was hospitalized in ICU for 5 weeks. While in the hospital he had a tracheotomy. Before he was released from the hospital my mother in law & myself had to go through some training such as: CPR, Vent, general care, etc… the part I found to be the hardest was the trache… having to do the suctioning. Just the thought of shoving a tube down his throat made me feel terrible. When it came time for me to do it, I became overwhelmed & started to cry right after I squeezed the saline & I couldn’t stop. Once I completed the suctioning my father in law assured me I did a “GREAT JOB” & family members giving me hugs saying it was alright~ when all I really wanted was to run to the bathroom so I could cry in peace & try to control my emotions. I was able to complete & pass all my training. :razz:
Once he was able to come home, the real work began. No more 24 hr nurse/doctor care, it was all us. By us I mean, my mother in law, husband, our children & myself. My husband’s siblings will come over (they all live about an hour away) at least once a month.
At times it’s a bit overwhelming, its so hard, but I try not to show it. Sometimes when I am sitting in the living room with my father in law, I look over at him and I just want to cry. Just seeing the way he is now, it’s so sad. All he does is sit in his chair all day long watching TV. I know that it will get a lot worse & he will never get any better. My husband & I have come to terms with that. I don’t believe my mother in law has come to terms with everything. I know in her own time she will. I feel right now she is still in her anger stage. I pray for her often & try my best to help her in everyway I can. I couldn’t & wouldn’t want to ever imagine watching my husband/best friend dieing more & more everyday.
Anyway, that’s a little piece of my story. I will share more as I think of things. Thanks for taking the time to read my post. I sure hope this site will help me get through this tough time.
Anyway… as a caregiver I would like to share my experiences/thoughts, etc…
My father in law was diagnosed almost or right at 5 years ago now. My husband is the oldest son of four children (2girls & 2 boys). We made the decision to move over 10 hours away so we could help care for his father. We have lived with his parents for a little over a year now.
When we first moved, his father was still able to go to work, drive, eat (most of the time with assistance), walk to the bathroom & all the little things that everyone takes for granted. As time went on it was harder & harder for him to do things & needed more & more help. This past July everything went down hill & fast. He made the decision to get a feeding tube due to him losing right at 100 pounds since he was diagnosed.
A few days after the tube, he came down with pneumonia & was hospitalized in ICU for 5 weeks. While in the hospital he had a tracheotomy. Before he was released from the hospital my mother in law & myself had to go through some training such as: CPR, Vent, general care, etc… the part I found to be the hardest was the trache… having to do the suctioning. Just the thought of shoving a tube down his throat made me feel terrible. When it came time for me to do it, I became overwhelmed & started to cry right after I squeezed the saline & I couldn’t stop. Once I completed the suctioning my father in law assured me I did a “GREAT JOB” & family members giving me hugs saying it was alright~ when all I really wanted was to run to the bathroom so I could cry in peace & try to control my emotions. I was able to complete & pass all my training. :razz:
Once he was able to come home, the real work began. No more 24 hr nurse/doctor care, it was all us. By us I mean, my mother in law, husband, our children & myself. My husband’s siblings will come over (they all live about an hour away) at least once a month.
At times it’s a bit overwhelming, its so hard, but I try not to show it. Sometimes when I am sitting in the living room with my father in law, I look over at him and I just want to cry. Just seeing the way he is now, it’s so sad. All he does is sit in his chair all day long watching TV. I know that it will get a lot worse & he will never get any better. My husband & I have come to terms with that. I don’t believe my mother in law has come to terms with everything. I know in her own time she will. I feel right now she is still in her anger stage. I pray for her often & try my best to help her in everyway I can. I couldn’t & wouldn’t want to ever imagine watching my husband/best friend dieing more & more everyday.
Anyway, that’s a little piece of my story. I will share more as I think of things. Thanks for taking the time to read my post. I sure hope this site will help me get through this tough time.
