My 88 yr old Mum is not coping very well with chemo, she’s on Mini R-CHOP.
she has no appetite and won’t eat except for occasional Fortisip drinks. She’s sick and has diarrhoea - upsetting for her and for me! I’ve managed to get some anti sickness pills from the GP (who refused to visit her at the hospitals request) and they help.
we have no help, my two brothers live 130 miles away and work full time so are only able to visit occasionally. I don’t think they really understand just how ill mum is, one of them just cries whenever I call him. I feel so alone - and I’m indulging in self-pity today, sorry.
the hospital says that she’s not I’ll enough to qualify for a care package yet she cannot even attend to her own personal care anymore. Social services don’t want to know. The only help we’ve had is the provision of a commode by the hospital. I’ve had to buy her a wheelchair so that I can get her to and from the hospital. Oh, and they’ve provided her with a wig as she’s losing her hair.
I really don’t know where to turn, or what support we could expect or where to ask for it. I’m drowning here....
Hi @linpandy, sorry to hear about what your mother and then you are going through. Your local council has a legal duty to do a needs assessment on your mother and a carers assessment for you.
Glad the anti-sickness pills have been helping; did you manage to ring the helpline here? They can be really helpful in suggesting things local to you that might be of help.
Perhaps the most important thing for you now though is to know you are not alone - we have all been there and really understand how difficult this can be.
<<hugs>>
Steve
