My mom was diagnosed in early June. One year before that she married her high school sweetheart. He had been recently widowed. He took care of his ailing wife (cancer) for nearly 5 years before she passed away. For obvious reasons my mom feels hugely guilty that he's "burdened" with another sick wife. He has jumped through so many hoops trying to convince her that he's right where he wants to be and loves her like crazy, in spite of her diagnosed.
She's still ambulatory with a walker, but wears out pretty quickly. She has a fabulous scooter, but refuses to use it. She can still eat by mouth without much problem (but not enough--is losing weight like crazy), has some slurring of speech, and can still care for her basic needs. She needs help with some small motor skill things (tying shoes). He badly wants to do some "living" with her while she still can. She feels so guilty about the entire thing that she wants to stay home and do nothing (which I'm sure furthers the guilt). In short, she's very depressed. I would be too!
She's seeing the psychiatrist at the ALS clinic today. I'm hoping like crazy that he/she will put mom on an anti-depressant.
My question to PALS or CALS--------Are there folks that just never come out of the depression? She seems like she's just wasting away. There was a movie a while back that had a line, "Get on with living, or get on with dying, but pick one....". I'm thinking she's getting on with dying because she can't stand the thought of her new DH doing this one day longer than he has to.
Your insight is much appreciated.
Carla
She's still ambulatory with a walker, but wears out pretty quickly. She has a fabulous scooter, but refuses to use it. She can still eat by mouth without much problem (but not enough--is losing weight like crazy), has some slurring of speech, and can still care for her basic needs. She needs help with some small motor skill things (tying shoes). He badly wants to do some "living" with her while she still can. She feels so guilty about the entire thing that she wants to stay home and do nothing (which I'm sure furthers the guilt). In short, she's very depressed. I would be too!
She's seeing the psychiatrist at the ALS clinic today. I'm hoping like crazy that he/she will put mom on an anti-depressant.
My question to PALS or CALS--------Are there folks that just never come out of the depression? She seems like she's just wasting away. There was a movie a while back that had a line, "Get on with living, or get on with dying, but pick one....". I'm thinking she's getting on with dying because she can't stand the thought of her new DH doing this one day longer than he has to.
Your insight is much appreciated.
Carla