Good Morning everyone. I’m seeking advice, help, support - basically anything that can be given, so that my mother and myself can help my 75 year old father cope better with what’s becoming a bad situation.
He was diagnosed completely unexpectedly last October. He’s received chemotherapy and radiotherapy & a couple of weeks into lockdown was told that he was effectively in remission.
Since however - he’s developed back problems. Haematology have already arranged an MRI scan which is due to take place next week. The pain is severe & in order to cope with it , he’s been needing to take a lot of painkillers. He’s diabetic, has high cholesterol and high blood pressure. This is the 1st problem - my mother is desperately worried that he’s taking to many but he won’t listen to her.
We also think that he’s suffering from depression . This seems to be due to a combination of pain and because of the shielding process . He’s not willing to eat very much at all . He’s unwilling to do anything to help around the house & is very, very difficult to live with. This is made worse because he’s not sleeping properly due to the pain caused by the back.
I think he recognises that something isn’t right because quite independently, he’s made an appointment to go and speak with someone for counselling which I think is a major step in the right direction. My mother however is putting all of her hopes on this being a quick solution & won’t listen when I’m trying to get her to realise that this is likely to be a long process.
Any advice, any guidance, anything at all which can help, i would appreciate. I should add that we live in Wales - where the lockdown still remains nearly fully in place
