Suffering Bereavement during WD - how did you cope?

[sunnysideup69]

Hello everyone,

My brother is in the end stages of brain cancer, so he has not died yet. Although we haven't really been a part of each other's lives for quite some years, it is still a big shock and has heightened WD symptoms for me over the last week. (I had just stabilised after many months of wobbling.)

 

I'd love to know how you coped and to possibly share resources here.

[Junglechicken]

I'm so sorry Sunnysideup69, there is no easy way to navigate through a close relative's palliative stage of life.  And especially when experiencing WD.

 

My father died 2 years ago (Parkinsons), and my grieving started 2 years beforehand.  He couldn't communicate anymore, and was unrecognisable.  It was extremely shocking to see his deterioration, and we had just returned from living overseas for several years.

 

TBH, I don't remember the WD part of those days, only rushing to the hospital after finding out my father had been admitted (again), and dreading phone calls from his care home.  In fact, today is the 2nd anniversary of his funeral.

 

Other than self-care and being VERY kind to yourself throughout this ordeal (and it is an ordeal), if you have close friends and relatives who are there for you, SO MUCH the better.

 

Sending you HUGE hugs xxx

[sunnysideup69]

Thanks so much @Junglechicken, am really struggling right now with huge anxiety. And grief. I've been grieving my brother since last August, when the tumour was discovered. Thanks for understanding. Am just struggling with big uptick in anxiety at the moment. Sometimes I don't feel capable of much more except breathing.

 

[Junglechicken]

7 minutes ago, sunnysideup69 said:

Thanks so much @Junglechicken, am really struggling right now with huge anxiety. And grief. I've been grieving my brother since last August, when the tumour was discovered. Thanks for understanding. Am just struggling with big uptick in anxiety at the moment. Sometimes I don't feel capable of much more except breathing.

 

 

I know, its just the hardest experience ever you'll go through.

 

After each hospital visit, I just exploded into tears (shock and denial at what was happening to my father).  I suffered from a heavy chest all the time (grief).

 

Just allow yourself to feel the way you do and BE at that moment.  

 

I'm still grieving, and will do so for the rest of my life.

 

Taking care of yourself is paramount, as the grieving process brings with it, it's own set of physical symptoms. 

[sunnysideup69]

Hello @Junglechicken and everyone else who has suffered a bereavement whilst in WD.

 

I need some advice/ to hear some stories, if you will, from anyone who has suffered bereavement whilst on meds. I'm in a bit of a bereavement induced wave at the moment. My siblings' funerals were both two weeks ago, I was ok that week and immediately after, but now have crashed. Is it 'normal' for bereavement to make you feel totally exhausted? Some days am ok, some days, I just want to sit on the sofa and not do anything. My body also feels totally heavy, like I'm weighed down with sacks of potatoes. I've not really experienced that as a WD symptom, I reckon it's more linked to bereavement.