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No more please.....so done with 2014

DarkStar's picture

Haven't posted about anything relevant for a long time.....commented a few times on other posts.

My mother died Mother's Day weekend this year of lung cancer. She did not speak to me or to my brother (the golden child) for the last 6 months of her life. She was very sick to begin with, had lupus. After smoking a pack a day for 40 years she was diagnosed with lung cancer and died 9 months later. She was a VERY difficult person. Borderline and narcissistic as the day is long. She isolated everyone during her final months, there were only about 15 people or so at her funeral. My brother and I were with her for the last week of her life. She was unable to speak much, which helped. We exchanged "I love yous" and she died peacefully in her bed.

My Dad's younger brother died about a month before Mom of prostate cancer. We were not very close, but I was there to support my Dad.

I was never able to be as close as I wanted to be with my aunts, my Mom's 2 older sisters. Mom was always putting herself in the middle, making up stories and drama, so things were always at arm's length. After Mom died, I thought I would be able to have a closer relationship with them. One month after my Mom died, my beloved Aunt M was diagnosed with leukemia. I was still wrapped up in my own grief with Mom and figured I would speak to her later. She died 2 weeks later. I will forever regret not being able to speak to her and tell her how much I loved her.

A few months after this, my Mom's youngest brother died of nose cancer. (I know....nose cancer????) He was in at-home hospice for 6 months so it was just a matter of time. We were not very close, but I was there for my Aunt C, who now had lost 2 sisters and a brother within just a few months.

My brother lives out of state, so in between funerals, I was attending to Mom's estate, and getting the house up for sale. She lived 3 hours away from me, and I probably drove back and forth at least 10 times through the whole process.

Last Friday, Dad tells me that Uncle R, his older brother, has leukemia. They are waiting on biopsy results, but the docs think that he doesn't have the "really bad" leukemia, and will have some time. We are close to Uncle R and his family, we took many family vacations together and celebrated holidays as a family.

I'm already on the highest does of Zoloft that I can be and was prescribed Xanax for the first time since my divorce. A couple of months ago, Dad decided to take a day trip and not tell ANYONE where he was going. When I couldn't reach him for a day, I had the biggest anxiety attack and about lost my mind. SO was so worried he was about ready to drive me to the hospital, hence the Xanax script.

The silver lining is my job is going very well, it has been my escape and I have been working my butt off. My relationship with SO and skids is the strongest it has ever been.

At the same time, I feel so lost and alone......scared that something is going to happen to my Dad, with whom I've always been very close. So much loss in such a short period of time....clinging to the family I have left....my Dad, my brother, my Aunt C, and reaching out to Uncle R and his family to be there for Dad and for family. Telling SO that I love him and wouldn't have been able to get through this year without him.

The dreams have been AWFUL. A very well-known side effect from Zoloft, but I wouldn't be able to get out of bed and function without it. I've woken up screaming, crying....even fell out of bed once trying to chase my Mom in my dream.

Trying to get through each day. Praying for my Uncle R and what little family I have left. Trying to be grateful for what I have, but with the holidays coming up, I just want to go to bed and wake up in 2015.

Comments

notsurehowtodeal's picture

Please try a different anti-depressant. There are so many available you should be able to find one that will work for you. I don't know what kind of a doctor you are seeing - but try and find a psychiatrist that specializes in medication management. You surely have situational depression and the right medication will help.

I went through a similar situation - although not nearly as bad as yours - and found a therapist was also helpful. I could dump my burdens on her instead of family and she was able to help me work through some of them.

I am so sorry you are going through this. The holidays were very hard for me as well.

DarkStar's picture

Thank you both for your concern. I was put on Wellbutrin and after a week I had to stop, I was so sick. The Zoloft is actually working well for me, it's just the dreams that really suck. They are mostly all about family....doesn't take Freud to figure out where THAT is coming from....although I did have a dream that I was friends with Kim Kardashian and all my friends were bugging me to introduce me to her. **Editor's note** I despise the Kardashians for the media whores that they all are!

I did go back and see a therapist, it did help. All the therapists and all the meds in the world won't fix it for me, but they do help me get into a frame of mind to fix it myself. Winter is brutal in the Midwest where I live, so I think I'm going to use the meds to help me through the winter, then try to wean off when sunshine and warmer weather comes back.

I went back to Zumba classes last week. My body is sore as hell, but I forgot how GOOD I felt after boogying and sweating it up with a bunch of middle aged ladies like me!

I'm taking a trip to visit my Aunt C next month and I've been hanging out with Dad at least once a week. I feel bad that it took this sort of loss to make me realize that I need to hold my family close.

BarkAtTheMoon's picture

I'm so sorry to hear about all of the loss you've been through. I can't even imagine. It sounds like you've got a good head on your shoulders, and despite all of the loss, you have managed to keep going. Yes, escaping into work can be therapeutic! I do it to get away from the SDs! It's also encouraging to read that you are doing Zumba. I'm one of those people who have chronic pain and make up every excuse in the book for why I'm not exercising. So it's nice to read that someone who has felt as low as you must have this summer, is getting out the door to dance at the gym.

It was nice to hear from you, I remember seeing you here a little in July when I started posting. Hang in there. I wish 2014 was over already, too. Smile

~ Moon

DarkStar's picture

Thanks Moon. I have been reading posts here almost every day. I do gather strength from all of the stories and the strong women (and men) that post here, it has been therapy for me, too.

It sounds kind of creepy, but some of the people that have horrible shitstorms going on in their lives with their DH's and skids (big HUGS to Luchay right now) remind me to be thankful for the positive that IS in my life.

DarkStar's picture

My family (both Mom and Dad's side) grew up in the East Chicago area.....in the middle of the US Steel business. It's a huge cancer cluster area. My Grandma on my Dad's side lived to 100 though.....go figure.

I've had early tests for a lot of cancer conditions, considering my family history....all good so far.

DarkStar's picture

Monkey I have been following your posts and I grieve your loss......I include all my STalk brothers and sisters in my prayers. Your precious pinto bean is in heaven along with all of our lost family members. ((hugs)) to you too.

Shaman29's picture

Darkstar. I'm so sorry about this last year. That was me in 2012 & 2013 and most of this year too.

Hugs to you and I hope you have an incredibly peaceful holiday.