Just writing it all down.

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Hi All 

I have been reading some of the posts on this forum, and I can honestly say much of what is written, i have also experienced. 

 I have anger, guilt, doubt, regret, I blame myself not only for things I think I should have done, but also for feeling so very sad even though I had many more years with my husband than the prognosis initially suggested. It is, I think, just the challenges of grief and our minds trying to come to terms with something our hearts will never get over. 

I spend many days crying and then carrying on as if I am OK, when in reality sometimes all I want to do is follow him, but that is just a reflection of how deeply I miss him. 

I am surrounded by love, by people, family, colleagues, but am lonely and lost and a shadow of who I was this time last year, Dal passed in July 25, sometimes it feels so long ago, sometimes it feels like yesterday, but all the time, the pain is like nothing I have ever experienced before in my lifetime. 

I have similar questions to some of you, "how long does this last" "why can't I stop crying" "what now?" and I know that it will last forever and that one day, when the time is right the tears will become less frequent, and the only thing I can do is place one foot in front of the other, so for now, that is what I will do. 

Grief is personal, and for some debilitating, and for me, almost 9 months in, it is life changing on so many levels. I am grateful to the Macmillan community, it gave me an outlet during Dal's illness, and offered me support, whilst I was able to offer some in return, so, I thought, I would just write this all down here, just maybe by way of assisting with the processing of such a overwhelmingly difficult time. 

Thinking of you all, and hoping that light and love come to you and offers some solace when you need it most. 

Lowe'

  • We are stronger than we allow ourselves to believe Shanna, that is something I am sure your husband saw in you. I hate the saying Time is a great healer, because so far for me, time has just made me feel worse, but I have to believe that there is a time, when things will ease, and I hope that they do for you too.. if ever you need to chat, just reach out, I cannot know exactly what you are going through, he was your husband and this is your pain, but I have an understanding. 

    Hang in there!

    Lowe'

    Call the helpline for free on 08088080000, 8am to 8pm everyday.
    Tomorrow is not promised but it always has potential. Aim for your potential!
  • Hi Lowe!

    Thank you for your post and lovely to know that you can identify with everything we all write here. This is a good place to come when you need to offload how you're feeling when you feel you can't confide in those close to you because we all get it. I would be lost without this forum as I don't really have anyone to confide in and I come here in my dark times which I still have after two and half years in from losing my husband to bowel cancer. I wasn't able to cry in the beginning but recently I have been having little spurts of crying and its good to get it out and you do feel better after it sometimes to this day I still can't believe he's gone and it is true as you say its such a change having to navigate through life on your own when you have had someone at your side for so many years. I still have my family close by my son and daughter in law and my little granddaughters and my older sister who I care for who lives not far from me either so I am lucky that way. As I said I still get my dark days and weeks but they eventually leave like unwelcome visitors and then I continue to plod on one foot in front of the other as you said. Wish you well moving on. 

    Vicky x

  • Hey Vicky,  

    It is true what they say, there is no timeline for grief, or a right or wrong way of doing it, in reality, right now, I personally am not sure that it is something that will ever leave me, but I love the forums on here, I spent 5 years in the Oesophageal cancer forum, and have read some positive and negative experiences, but they are all real, and sometimes, it is good for our souls to know that others truly understand. 

    I am glad that you too have family around you, and I am truly sorry that you have had to go through this experience. xx

    Lowe'

    Call the helpline for free on 08088080000, 8am to 8pm everyday.
    Tomorrow is not promised but it always has potential. Aim for your potential!
  • In a way, I am glad I didn’t know it would be this devastating. I, and our two adult children cared for my Paul at home. This was until the last two days, where we managed to get him into St Barnabas. He had terminal agitation, and we had to watch him 24/7. I had to put a chair at the top of the stairs, to stop him going on manoeuvres if I went for a cup of tea. I know that we did our best. I had no more to give. Paul was also not defined by cancer. I still cannot believe how brave he was. He was still trying to protect us, even in the hospice. We love him so much, and that will never change. Kate.xxx