TomB replied to the topic Introduce Yourselves in the forum Caring for a...
I’m Tom. I live in upstate NY with a wife bearing Fibromyalgia. We had our youngest child in 2010, and she was diagnosed in 2011. It came on suddenly, and we spent months with no idea what was wrong....
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Thank you, Denise. I have so many thoughts and feelings that have been bottled up for the last four years, and I find myself struggling to hold back the emotions trying to burst out right now. Just...
View ArticleTomB posted an update: I'm having a very peaceful and loving couple of days....
I’m having a very peaceful and loving couple of days. Jacob (my youngest son) and I are really connecting well. I know you’re not supposed to have a favorite child, but he is my little side kick.
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My heart goes out to you. G-d bless you, and I pray for your peace. In reply to - Janet wrote a new post, 18 Days Since I Lost the Love of My Life /aI know this a caregiving support group but I hate to...
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Maybe when Jacob is older parenting will be easier than care giving. My wife can tie her own shoes and put her coat on by herself and doesn’t spill her breakfast all over the floor…but I guess the...
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I’m at a loss for words. To have found a whole community of people who understand what I’m going through is overwhelming. I have to stop reading this site while I’m at work. I find myself choking on...
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Nausea…take a deep breath…go! In reply to - Denise wrote a new post, In Six Words, What’s a Caregiving Crisis Like? /aDuring the day, all can seem okay. Then, the clock strikes midnight and all goes...
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Hatch on an old, rusty Jeep. In reply to - Denise wrote a new post, In Six Words, Describe What’s Inside the Trunk of Your Car /aYou have closets in the house that hold your much-needed supplies. And,...
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Thanks! That pic pretty much sums me up. LOL It is a relief to be here, and I found it because I was telling my wife that with all her support groups online, I didn’t know of anywhere that had a...
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Huh…I’m still getting used to the user interface here. Haha In reply to - Denise wrote a new post, Thanks to You /aThanks to you: 1. The health care system continues. There’s only 834,769 physicians....
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TomB wrote a new post, Man...That Sucks
(Editor’s Note: Today, we welcome Tom to our blogging team. Please feel free to connect with him on his profile page: @tcbarrett3rd.) When my wife first got sick, we literally thought she was dying. It...
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I couldn’t help but laugh either. It was like G-d had just told me the funniest joke the universe ever came up with. In reply to - TomB wrote a new post, Man…That Sucks (Editor’s Note: Today, we...
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You handled that remarkably well. I probably would’ve blown a gasket and chased the guy down the street with his pants around his ankles…and gotten us both detained in the process. Level head you have....
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My heart goes out to you. That was beautiful and very moving. Thank you for being there for him and for you…and thank you for sharing your experience. -Tom In reply to - Sally wrote a new post, The...
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I’m so sorry. It sounds like your sister has a lot of insecurities. It seems like time and again there is always one child (usually a daughter) who “does everything” while the others kids basically...
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TomB wrote a new post, This is Life... Welcome to It
There’s a quote attributed to John Lennon. “Life is what happens when you’re busy making plans.” I’d read it here and there for years, but it never made much of an impact on me, always seen as a nice...
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It’s a strange tug of war that goes on between missing my old life and being so grateful for the lessons I’ve learned because of this whole turn of events. In reply to - TomB wrote a new post, This is...
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I hope you have a wonderful time on this mini vacation. In reply to - LilMagill wrote a new post, Preparations/a This weekend, we–Mom, husband, son, and me–are going to a wedding in Florida. We’ll stay...
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Thank you for sharing such beautiful memories. That picture looks like an angel is walking with him. In reply to - EllysGdaughter wrote a new post, Remembering/a The other day, my Grandmother Elly and...
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Reading this I felt a knot form in my stomach. You were blamed for “letting her get so bad” but did anyone else ever offer a hand or ask what you needed? Did anyone else ever step up to be her...
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TomB wrote a new post, Who Cares for the Caregiver?
On days like today with my runny nose, cough, sore joints, and muscle aches, I really wish I had a caregiver. I’m not bitter about it like I used to be. Like so much else in my life, I’ve adjusted me...
View ArticleTomB posted an update: I haven't gotten enough sleep this week. I'm really […]
I haven’t gotten enough sleep this week. I’m really dragging today. And what is this Sally pop up on the left of my screen? LOL
View ArticleTomB replied to the topic I feel so alone and lonely, in the forum Tell Us...
Hi Destiny, I’m a late comer to this thread, but I can relate to what you’re feeling. It’s a hard place to be in. Hang in there.
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Wow, that was powerful. I can relate to your dad. My temper used to be explosive. That kind of reactionary personality usually covers up a detachment from feelings that hurt us because boys aren’t...
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TomB wrote a new post, "I Feel Some Resentment..."
Last night I had a bothersome encounter in which my wife told me she was feeling some resentment that I wouldn’t go see the doctor for my back. It’s been bothering me for months, but because of a lack...
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Thank you! For what it’s worth I just set an appointment to have my back checked out. In reply to - TomB wrote a new post, “I Feel Some Resentment…”/a Last night I had a bothersome encounter in which...
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Thank you! I do already get exercise. It’s just that it’s usually at 6:00 AM (or earlier) and involves a barbell and/or kettlebells. My wife likes to take walks, but they usually bring on more pain...
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TomB wrote a new post, One More Blow Up
We got to the root of the “resentment” issue. I really should have seen this one coming. I know better. I know how I am, and I know how impatient I am with other people. I lack empathy. It’s something...
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TomB wrote a new post, My Diagnosis
I saw my doctor today to talk about my back pain. She had some Xrays done, and it turned out to be multi-level arthritis. It’s not nearly as bad as I was expecting. Evidently, I can keep lifting...
View ArticleTomB posted an update: TGIF Loving life. Loving wife. What more do I need?...
TGIF Loving life. Loving wife. What more do I need? Oh, yeah…something to get rid of those snakes nesting under the flashing on my house.
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TomB wrote a new post, General Physical Preparedness
My last blog entry had nothing at all to do with caregiving, nor did it have anything to do with my loving wife. It was all about me, and so is this entry to be. I’m coming to grips with my diagnosis....
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You’ve been very busy. I hope you’re keeping your chin up. In reply to - Larry wrote a new post, Update of 6/19/15/a On Monday afternoon, I received a call from the social worker for one of my clients....
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I’d like to delegate bath-time/bed-time for our 4 year old. I’ve been doing it every night for the last 4 years, and a break would be nice. In reply to - Denise wrote a new post, Tell Us: What Would...
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TomB wrote a new post, Spinal Rehab
Tuesday was my first appointment with my PT. She appears to be a lot more knowledgeable about spine health and athletics than my doctor does. For my first visit, she asked me a lot of questions about...
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My wife tells me every single day how much she appreciates how I stepped up and how much I do every day for the family since she got sick. In reply to - Denise wrote a new post, Seven Messages We Wish...
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Life: It’s Not About You In reply to - Denise wrote a new post, Broadway Called; What’s the Name of Your Play About Caregiving?/a During your caregiving, you often have a front row seat to theater like...
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“Have you tried a Gluten-free diet?” In reply to - Denise wrote a new post, Tell Us: “If I Hear (Insert) One More Time…”/a We hear certain phrases on a regular basis, some every day. Sometimes, the...
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Oh…here are some more now that the flood gate is open. “Maybe daddy can [insert something I don’t feel like doing at the moment]…” Way to come up with an idea and throw me under the bus for it. “I’ll...
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