Re: Introduction and Coping as a new care giver>Earnest

[Guest guest]

Earnest,

I like what your friend sent you. I think it helps us all knowing

that. I also like and believe this:

God is...

Bigger than any problem I have.

God bless,

Belinda

> Hi Marty, my name is Earnest Brewer. I am new to this group, just

signed on

> yesterday. My wife, has been sick for about 16 years now. I

hired

> someone to take care of her for several years, but then took early

> retirement at age 55, three years ago. I take care of her 24 hrs a

day seven

> days a week. She is not able to do anything for herself any more.

The most

> recent suggested diagnosis we have is msa. The Doctors still don't

know for

> sure what is wrong with her. Early retirement like everything has

its good

> and bad. The time we have together is more important than anything

else. We

> find our strength in God, our family, and friends. I wish we could

offer you

> something better . You have received many good response already,but

I want

> to share something with you that a friend sent me. God bless you! I

ask the

> Lord to bless you today To guide you and protect you as you go

along your

> way... His love is always with you His promises are always true,no

matter

> what the tribulation you know he will see us through so when the

road you're

> traveling on seems difficult at best give your problems to the Lord

and God

> will do the rest.

>

> God Bless you and your wife.

> Earnest Brewer Introduction and Coping as a new care giver

>

>

> > Hello:

> > Let me introduce myself: I am Marty Siegel.

> > I have posted once or twice on this list but wish to ask for some

general

> > info to help me in my current problems.

> >

> > My wife has some sort of sporadic ataxia, perhaps OPCA and maybe

MSA but

> > she has not been clearly told this.

> >

> > Until about 8 months ago her problems while bothersome did not

seriously

> > affect our life style. My own personal medical problems seemed

more

> > worrisome (advanced prostate cancer) but in truth our life styles

were not

> > seriously affected.

> > Well that was then. Now her condition which was deteriorating

over the

> past

> > years (she has had some problem for seven years) has passed a

threshold.

> IN

> > fact she can hardly walk. We bought a four wheeled walker for he

last

> > December and it has become a necessity and in fact may no longer

be

> enough.

> > I find that I am being thrust into the role of a caretaker when I

am not

> > worrying about my own problems. I see that there are a number of

you who

> > have gotten into this role which I find very painful. It hurts me

to see

> > her struggle to do simple things like getting into or out of a

car or even

> > sit down on a dining room chair. I feel helpless in knowing that

there is

> > nothing I can do and that her problems are only getting worse.

> >

> > We are both about 60 and are trying to reevaluate our lives to

some

> extent.

> > She works (or has been working) as a college professor at a

community

> > college. She had to take a leave of absence after fracturing her

shoulder

> > this past March due to a fall, but is hoping to go back.Its not

clear she

> > will be able to however. I am also employed and wonder if I

should take

> > early retirement so we can be together.

> >

> > IN a sense I am not sure what I am asking any of you but I am

truly pained

> > by my (our ) situation and find it hard to get people to speak to

about

> it.

> > Most of our friends do not know what to say or are appalled at

what has

> > happened. I do use other support groups/people for my cancer

problems but

> > her situation is quite something else for me. She is not one to

reach out

> > to others and I feel really burdened at times by all that is

happening

> now.

> >

> > I am wondering how others have dealt with such difficulties at

least as

> > care givers or perhaps more.

> >

> > Thanks for listening,

> >

> > Marty Siegel

> >

> >

> >

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> > unsubscribe by sending a blank email to

> >

> > shydrager-unsubscribe@y...

> >

> >

> >

> >

> >