Caring, watching and the after effects

Hi everyone, I feel very strange doing this however i see the aamzing coments and support this comunity provides. 

My parent died suddenly of a rare bowl cancer, diagnosis to death in 10 weeks. during that time he was in and out of hospital care, with many moments we thought he wouldnt make it due to infection etc. However towards the end he wanted to be at home so myself and my family made sure he could be. It was intense, with many nappy changes and carrying to shower to wash off the exrement. That along with medication and pain relief, watching him in agony. It was just horrific. Before home care could make it he passed. I couldnt face the room initially but when i finally did i rgretted it instantly, i did not want to ever see a parent i loved lying cold and hollow. I never wanted to and I always said i wouldnt do it when the time came. This was over a year ago now and although ive been through the process of grief, and yes things do get better and easier, I cant move on from the final image left in my head. I wake up in tears, i relive the moments, i just cant forget the traumatic and dramatic ending I never thought I would have to experience as then a girl in her late 20's.How do you move on and remember the good times, not the bad? How long does it take? I dont mean to sound self pittying at all, I know i'm not alone in my experiences. I just want to forget the end.

  • This is so very sad for you & you don't sound self-pitying at all. You just sound as tho' you are in pain & want it to stop & why would you not? You say you've been thro' the process of grief but you know a year really isn't such a long time in that process. It can take quite a bit longer - my mum died a bit less than 2 years ago & even now occasionally I can weep a bit for her. So please don't feel you should be thro' it all by now.

    Have you thought about asking your GP if you might see a counsellor about not being able to forget about your dad after he had died? It has clearly had something of a traumatic affect on you & sometimes talking thro' these things helps. Your GP will understand I'm sure & won't want you to be distressed like this.

    The only other thing I can say is that it wasn't really your dad you know, who you saw in the way you described at the end. Your dad was his personality, his character, the things he said & did which made you love him. His body was just the place he lived in not him. Try to make a list of all of the lovely things you most remember about him & look at photos of him in happy times - he was who your dad was.

    Do hope this helps a little at least. Keep posting here if you need to. x

  • Hi i had flashbacks in my place my partners death was so unexpectect you know people can get p.t.s.d over this it can be so troumatic it dosnt just happen in the services .so why dont you make a double apointment with your gp it cant do you any harm and may do you a lot of good .best wishs .paul

  • Thank you, it's good to hear that what i'm feeling is normal x

  • Yes a few f m friends have described ptsd, I thought that was something you only had after a hideous accident or something you know, but it does make sense after reading a little about it. I will book to see GP. 

     

    Thank you x

  • Hi good idea i cant think of anything more traumatic than seeing a loved on die .best wishs hope you get sorted memories do come back but its how they come back its not long realy for you  write it down before you go we genraly forget a lot when we go see the dr dnd ptsd is not to be taken lightly speaking from someone whoes sufferd from it .talking is best cure keep it in and it stays in .p