I am stuck in the last weeks before my mum died

Hello, this is the first time I have ever posted on any forum - I am in a dark place and I thought maybe someone out there might be able to help me make sense of it all. I lost my Mum four months ago, she had lung cancer. She lived for 5 months after her diagnosis and these were the saddest most awful months. She was terrified from the beginning, she coped minute to minute but her fear was the worst thing as I couldn't help her with it. I keep reliving the last weeks, I just can't get past it. She suffered so terribly in all ways - emotional and physical. I did all that I could but I felt helpless and so very very sad for her. The last night was traumatic, the nurse said it was Terminal Agitation. It was just awful, mum seemed in constant pain and distress for the whole night. Nothing eased her suffering, no medication or comfort. I cannot explain how appalling it was to see her suffer in this way. Nobody should have to endure that, I can't come to terms with it at all. She had no peace. I can't stop myself thinking about it, it's like a film that keeps playing over and over in my head and it fills me with despair. I see her face, her pain and fear, I hear her cries. I wish I could have taken it all away from her. I carry this like a lead weight on my chest - life goes on, I have a loving husband, two wonderful teenage kids and a meaningful job but this darkness won't leave me. Can anyone help?

  • Hi Kenzie14.  Words cannot express how much I feel for you. What you went through is just awful and I'm not surprised it's running on a loop in your mind. 

    I believe you need help from a bereavement counsellor, but in the short term you might find a different forum more helpful. I suggest you also join the Sue Ryder Community forum, which deals specifically with helping people who've lost a loved one: https://support.sueryder.org/community

    I'm also sure that others here will also be able to offer help and support, so don't leave us now you've found us.

     

  • Hello Kenzie; so sorry about your mum.  It is hard enough to lose a parent without this added distress.  I am sure you did everything you could to try to relieve your suffering.  I have to agree that it sounds like a horrific nightmare.    As telemando suggests, a bereavement counsellor such as Cruse Bereavement Care may be able to help you with this.  I have never had any connection with them but I know they have a good reputation and can help people who are affected by the death of someone they loved.  They will know about terminal agitation and can probably help you through this period.  Their Freefone number is 0808 808 1677.  My best wishes.

  • Thank you for replying telemando - I have now joined Sue Ryder too.

    i did try to talk to my GP about counselling, no joy there really but maybe I will look elsewhere.

    i very much appreciate you taking the time to message me.

    x

  • Thanks Annieliz, I don't know much about Cruse but I will definitely try calling them. Having contact with anyone who knows the reality of a difficult passing might help me. I am very grateful for your advice x

  • Dear Kenzie14

    my deepest condolences go out to you and your family

    I lost my Dad on December 29, 2017 to a Cholongiocarcinoma... diagnossed November 15, 2017 so you see, Cancer took my Dad on little more than a month. 

    My sugestion to you would be to try and focus on the time BEFORE the diagnosis, on a time before that awful last weeks. THink of it this way, you had a chance to be with your Mum far more time than many ofother people had... I do not mean this in a bad way, quite the oppposite..you had the opportunity to say your goodbyes (I hope).. me.. I got to my Dad's bedside barely in time to have a conversation woth him for a day or two until he could not move or speak anymore.

    This dreadful Cancer takes away many things.. but it doesnt take away the LOVE in which surround each other.. it doesnt take away the fact that we are a FAMILY. It doesnt take away the MEMORIES of all the happy moments.. Im grateful even of the disagreements I may have had with my Dad.. but I dont even remember NOT EVEN A SINGLE ONE moment in which I said or thought that I was angry at him. I cant remember the bad times and Im grateful for it.

    Guess what I'm trying to say is to try and focus on the LOVE you have for your Mum and the comfort it gives to know they are in a better place.

     

  • Oh, thank you so much for your message. I try to think of happier days - right now any thoughts of Mum are very difficult but I take comfort in your words and I hope that I may get to a place where I can be more grounded. So sorry to hear that you had such little time with your Dad, I often find myself thinking that I wish my Mum had been taken quicker so she wouldn't have had to suffer but reading your words I can see that it's just the most awful thing however it happens isn't it? Thanks again for your thoughtfulness x
  • It is the most excrutiating pain I have experienced so far in my life ( so far because I know there will be more painful moments in life... we cannot avoid those, just accept them as they come)

    Hey, we all go to die someday.